Masakazu Yoshizawa

was a Japanese American flutist and musician known for his mastery of the bamboo flute, specifically the shakuhachi. Yoshizawa also mastered several other traditional Japanese flutes, in addition to other Japanese and Western musical instruments.

Early life Masakazu Yoshizawa was born on September 10, 1950, in Hida, Gifu, Japan. His mother was the only obstetrician in their village and his father was a veterinarian. Yoshizawa was required to play a musical instrument in his elementary school. He began playing the accordion when he was 9 years old, and soon moved to the piano, several woodwinds and the shakuhachi, which he was to become world-famous for playing.

He soon became a proficient musician, especially with the shakuhachi. Yoshizawa began playing as both a studio musician and in orchestras in Tokyo by the age of 19. He studied Western music at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, where he earned a degree in the early 1970s. All of the music was written by Yoshizawa. The group was made up of him, Tateo Takahashi, Hirome Hashibe, Daniel May and Jimmy Brandmeier. However, it ceased with Yoshizawa's death.

Death Masakazu Yoshizawa died at his home in San Gabriel, California, of stomach cancer on October 24, 2007. He was survived by his daughter, Chrissy Tama Yoshizawa (then, Chrissy Tama Langley and now, Chrissy Yoshizawa Wirt); his son, James Naoki Yoshizawa; his sister, Chieko and his granddaughter, Cassandra Marie Langley. He was a divorcee.

John Williams released a statement to the Los Angeles Times following Yoshizawa's death: "Masa was a brilliant musician and a very important member of the orchestra, and he will be greatly missed."