Choichi Terukina

Choichi Terukina (Japanese: 照喜名朝一, Terukina Chōichi, 15 April 1932 – 10 September 2022) was a Japanese Ryukyuan classical musician and sanshin grandmaster.

Early life Terukina was born in Okinawa on 15 April 1932. When he was 6 years old, he started playing the sanshin, an Okinawan three-stringed instrument. At age 25, Terukina started formal sanshin lessons under Haruyuki Miyazato, a sanshin master. Miyazato's lessons relied more on imitating the teacher's music rather than reading off of musical notes, which is an essential part of uta-sanshin, the style of playing that Terukina taught.

Career In 1960, Terukina opened his first sanshin dojo, teaching students the Afuso Ryu style of uta-sanshin.

Terukina was the leader of the organization Ryukyu Koten Afuso-ryu Ongaku Kenkyuu Choichi Kai, which has 1,300 members worldwide.

Personal life and death Terukina had a son named Tomokuni, who also plays the sanshin. Choichi Terukina died at his home in Naha City on 10 September 2022, at the age of 90.