尺八を吹く虚無僧　Komuso monks play the Shakuhachi

As part of Kaiyuten in Yawata komuso monks wander around the Yawata district and here and there plays the Shakuhachi, a traditional Japanese wind music instrument. What is komuso? A komusō; also romanized komusou or komuso) was a Japanese mendicant monk of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism, during the Edo period of ō were characterised by the straw basket (a sedge or reed hood named a tengai) worn on the head, manifesting the absence of specific are also known for playing solo pieces on the shakuhachi (a type of Japanese bamboo flute). These pieces, called honkyoku (“original pieces“) were played during a meditative practice called suizen, for alms, as a method of attaining enlightenment, and as a healing modality. The Japanese government introduced reforms after the Edo period, abolishing the Fukè sect. Records of the musical repertoire survived, and are being revived in the 21st century. （quoted from Wikipedia)