Gorō Yamaguchi  Gorō Yamaguchi (山口 五郎; February 26, 1933 – January 3, 1999) was a Japanese shakuhachi player, known for his musicality, phrasing, impeccable technique (and modesty) in both solo and ensemble performances. He headed the Chikumeisha shakuhachi guild and became a world-famous Japanese performer and teacher. In 1967–1968 he was appointed Artist in Residence at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, United States, along with his wife, Yamada-school koto performer Namino Torii. While at Wesleyan, Nonesuch Explorer Series recorded his "A Bell Ringing In The Empty Sky" LP, an influential first recording of shakuhachi in the United States. NASA included one honkyoku from that LP, "Tsuru No Sugomori" (Nesting of Cranes), on the Voyager Golden Record which was sent into space. In 1992, the Japanese government designated Yamaguchi a Living National Treasure ("Ningen Kokuhô").