In November 2023, we embarked on the long-awaited project of creating an EC site for shakuhachi. Honestly, it felt late—we wanted to start much earlier. However, with no prior experience in site creation, we quickly hit a roadblock and faced an 8-month hiatus. What caused the delay? It was the site design and the main visual (the featured photo for the top page). We struggled to design the site as envisioned and had no idea how to create the main visual or which photographer to hire.

　　　　　　　However, this time, we refused to give up.

　In October, we resumed the project, and discovering a website builder resolved the design issue. As for the main visual? To keep initial costs low, we decided it wasn’t necessary at this stage, which cleared that hurdle as well.

　Today, no-code tools have made it possible to create websites without writing complex code. Ten years ago, I gave up creating an academic site due to the challenges of coding. Hiring professionals, of course, meant incurring significant costs. While the tools are more convenient now, building a site is still no easy task. Design, product registration, multilingual support, and creating a smooth purchase flow—these challenges required significant thought. Still, the strong desire to create a global platform for Japanese-made shakuhachi kept us motivated: “If there isn’t a site showcasing various brands of Japanese shakuhachi to the world, let’s build one ourselves!”

　The site supports Japanese, English, and Chinese. We want to make shakuhachi accessible and enjoyable for enthusiasts worldwide. The end of the year was hectic, but we’re thrilled to announce that the site was finally completed on December 15.

　China’s strict information restrictions make it challenging to reach a wide audience there. However, we are determined to expand awareness step by step.

　Shakuhachi is one of Japan’s proud traditional instruments. Driven by a passion to share its beauty with the world, we’ll continue to evolve this project. Thank you for your continued support!