If you are looking for a relaxing Sunday afternoon, a world renowned Japanese flautist known for the Zen spirit of his music, will be performing next week.

The Bermuda International Language and Arts Institute (Japanese Department) will be hosting 'A Celebration of Japanese Traditional Music (Shakuhachi)' with Master Yodo Kurahashi on February 28.

Mr. Kurahashi is considered one of the foremost masters of shakuhachi in Japan. A shakuhachi is a bamboo flute.

As a soloist, Mr. Kurahashi premiered and showcased some of the most exciting music written for shakuhachi in this century. He has performed world-wide.

It is said that his powerful performance commands the full attention of his audience for a full-length concert.

The Bermuda International Language school's executive director, Riquette Bonne-Smith said this would be the second time Mr. Kurahashi would perform in Bermuda.

"The first time I bought Master Yodo Kurahashi to Bermuda was in 2003," said Mrs. Bonne-Smith. "It was through the Japanese department of the school. I had a Japanese teacher who knew him. I thought it would be a wonderful occasion to bring a true Japanese flautist to Bermuda."

Mrs. Bonne-Smith said Mr. Kurahashi's traditional music was "very zen and inspiring".

This time, Mr. Kurahashi will visit Bermuda after finishing up a tour ending in Colorado.

"He has been wishing to come back to Bermuda to play again," said Mrs. Bonne-Smith. "Three years ago I was in Paris and it happened that he was playing there. I went to his performance to surprise him.

"It was wonderful to hear him again. So I promised him that I would bring him back to Bermuda."

His music programme includes such Japanese classics as Flute Sounds from the Foggy Ocean, Sunset, Plum Blossoms and Plovers, among other things.

For some musical numbers, he will be accompanied by local florist Mikiko Inoue who will perform another Japanese instrument, the stringed koto.

Ms Inoue and Mr. Kutahashi are both from Osaka, Japan. She knew him before moving to Bermuda five years ago.

"I learned how to play Koto from his wife, but I met him first," said Ms Inoue.

She first heard him perform while she was in college in the United States. He was on tour.

"It was my first experience of a Japanese concert in the Western World," she said. "After that I went to one of his concerts in Japan and I saw his wife playing. I was so inspired. His wife plays so beautifully. So I changed teachers."

She said there was a tranquility to Mr. Kurahashi's music that gave it a meditative quality.

"I hope everyone will come out for a relaxing evening," said Mrs. Bonne-Smith. "And they will be supporting our programme at the same time. This will be a true Japanese moment."

Mrs. Bonne-Smith said interest in Japanese language and culture was growing amongst younger kids in Bermuda partially due to an increase in interest in the martial arts, and Japanese animation.

"We also have some adults at our school learning Japanese for business reasons," she said.

She urged people to book in advance because seating was limited.

The concert will be on February 28 at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) at 5.30 p.m.

After the concert there will be a Japanese style buffet dinner at the Harbour Front Restaurant.

Tickets are $100 and available at 21 Woodlands Road, Hamilton at 296-7259 or email international.languages@northrock.bm.

The Bermuda International Language and Arts Institute is a registered charity.