Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Just finished read “zen guitar” by philip toshio sudo. Really enjoyed it and couldnt help but notice the zen guitar philosophy is very in line with guitar wisdoms philosophy.

Several times i had to check to see if the authors name was tomo fujita! I dont know if youve read the book or not tomo but its a great book to read that combines zen approach to guitar . Which is how i also percieve guitar wisdom , a zen like philosophy for guitar

Thanks for sharing! I also did my Karate. Lived in Japan (21 years!)

By the way, my book (best seller in Japan!) from Rittor Music is called " Playing by ear and feeling"
We are translating in English! I cannot say when... but it's gonna be available soon!

Thank you.

Tomo

Thats great news tomo! I look forward to reading your guitar philosophy book! Will you also be translating the guitar solo etudes book into english?

Yes! Thanks for mentioning this book
I love that book Zen Guitar so much. I'm so sorry Philip Toshio Sudo passed away. His work will remain.

I like the simple but useful concepts like:
1, Have a beginner's mind.
2. Tie on your white belt. Pick up your guitar, tune and play.
3. Unlock the song we're born with inside that makes us human. It is just waiting. No hurry.
4. The moment you think you know everything you have lost the way.
And on and on. I keep that book nearby. Like I do with Tomo's etude book. Such accurate transcriptions you don't need English!
Can't wait for english translations of Tomo's other books.
Anyway, glad to hear someone else has experienced Zen Guitar!
Very best,
Kurt in Seattle

Thanks Kurt for sharing this.

So sorry to hear that. I didn't know.

My book from Rittor Music... I am working on translation so maybe around May 2025... My book (philosophy / guitar lesson / life lesson) will be available in English worldwide via streaming (with additional videos) This will be so helpful to many people. Tomo Fujita's Guitar Wisdom!

Thank you.

Tomo

Hi Tomo,
I am so happy and excited to hear you are working on the translation. That is great news. Thank you so much for making it happen. Let me know when I can pre-order :-)

Re: Zen Guitar-
Yes. Mr. Sudo still inspires and motivates a lot of people even though he passed away in 2002. Here is a little about him for anyone interested.

Philip Toshio Sudo was a Japanese American musician and writer who studied Zen extensively and wrote four books on the subject for popular audiences: Zen Guitar, Zen Computer, Zen Sex, and Zen 24/7. On April 2, 2001, he visited his doctor to find out whether he had a stomach ulcer, as he had been suspecting. Following is what he wrote in his personal journal after that visit:

Today I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I am 41 years old. I have a wife and three children, ages 6,4, and 1. I don't want to leave them to a life without me. But if fate should have it that way, God watch over them and give them strength.

We all must die. We cannot choose our time. The way of zen is the resolute acceptance of death, and, having talked the talk through four books, we shall see how I walk the walk, how I fight the fight. The test is here.

Every day is a beautiful day — even this day of cancer.
Love will endure through those whom we have loved.
Life is sorrowful, but to be lived in joy.

In Zen 24/7 he wrote “Zen says, don’t wait until the car accident, the cancer diagnosis, or the death of a loved one to get your priorities straight.”

I encourage people to check out his Zen Guitar book at some time during their journey.

Kurt