Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai
Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai is a series of peace-themed albums by new age artist Kitarō, inspired by the classic Buddhist pilgrimage to the 88 sacred temples on Japan's island of Shikoku (see Shikoku Pilgrimage).{{cite web|url=http://www.domocart.com/domo-store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_10&products_id=20|title=Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Vol.1 (2003) by Kitaro|publisher=Domo Music Group|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422040903/http://www.domocart.com/domo-store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_10&products_id=20}} Each album in the series has been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album.
''Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Vol. 1'' (2003)
{{Infobox album
| name = Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Vol.1
| type = studio
| artist = Kitarō
| cover = Kitaro_Kukaivol.1.jpg
| alt =
| released = September 9, 2003
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = New-age
| length = 68:36
| label = Domo Records
| producer = Kitarō, Gary Barlough
| prev_title = Daylight, Moonlight: Kitaro Live In Yakushiji
| prev_year = 2002
| next_title = Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai, Vol. 2
| next_year = 2005
}}
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Kitarō
| title1 = Michi
| length1 = 7:46
| title2 = Kagero
| length2 = 5:19
| title3 = Shizuku
| length3 = 5:20
| title4 = Flow
| length4 = 5:08
| title5 = Nen
| length5 = 4:44
| title6 = The Wind
| length6 = 4:57
| title7 = Gi
| length7 = 5:05
| title8 = Evening Sun
| length8 = 4:52
| title9 = Silence
| length9 = 6:12
| title10 = Earth In Bloom
| length10 = 7:44
| title11 = Kuu
| length11 = 5:04
| title12 = Cocoro
| length12 = 6:25
}}
{{clear}}
''Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Vol. 2'' (2005)
{{Infobox album
| name = Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Vol.2
| type = studio
| artist = Kitarō
| cover = Kitaro_Ku-Kai2.jpg
| alt =
| released = February 22, 2005
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = New-age
| length = 56:21
| label = Domo Records
| producer = Kitarō, Gary Barlough
| prev_title = Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai, Vol. 1
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title = Spiritual Garden
| next_year = 2006
}}
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Kitarō
| title1 = Shining Spirit Of Water
| length1 = 5:33
| title2 = As The Wind Blows
| length2 = 5:01
| title3 = Koki
| length3 = 4:48
| title4 = Kan-non
| length4 = 5:10
| title5 = Whispering Earth
| length5 = 6:28
| title6 = Inner Lights
| length6 = 6:34
| title7 = Dancing Flower
| length7 = 4:48
| title8 = Floating Lotus
| length8 = 5:30
| title9 = Peaceful Valley
| length9 = 5:07
| title10 = Crystal Field
| length10 = 4:53
| title11 = Ritual Waves
| length11 = 4:29
}}
=Charts=
{{clear}}
''Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Vol. 3'' (2007)
{{Infobox album
| name = Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Vol.3
| type = studio
| artist = Kitarō
| cover = Kitaro_ku-kai3.jpg
| alt =
| released = September 25, 2007
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = New-age
| length = 60:49
| label = Domo Records
| producer = Kitarō
| prev_title = Spiritual Garden
| prev_year = 2006
| next_title = Toyo's Camera
| next_year = 2009
}}
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Kitarō
| title1 = Sky And Ocean
| length1 = 8:58
| title2 = Crystal Winds
| length2 = 6:20
| title3 = After The Rain
| length3 = 7:32
| title4 = Sacred Fountain
| length4 = 7:02
| title5 = Winds Blow Over The Hill
| length5 = 6:31
| title6 = Into The Forest
| length6 = 5:45
| title7 = Voice In Blue
| length7 = 8:04
| title8 = Circle Dance
| length8 = 10:51
}}
{{clear}}
''Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Vol. 4'' (2010)
{{Infobox album
| name = Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Vol.4
| type = studio
| artist = Kitarō
| cover = Kitaro_Ku-Kai_vol.4.jpg
| alt =
| released = September 14, 2010
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = New-age
| length = 57:46
| label = Domo Records
| producer = Kitarō
| prev_title = Impressions of the West Lake
| prev_year = 2009
| next_title = 442 – Extreme Patriots of WWII: Kitaro's Story Scape
| next_year = 2010
}}
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Kitarō
| title1 = Lotus Mountain
| length1 = 9:04
| title2 = Yakushi
| length2 = 8:32
| title3 = Magic Seeds
| length3 = 8:39
| title4 = Reflection Of Water
| length4 = 7:06
| title5 = South Wind
| length5 = 5:30
| title6 = Circle Pray
| length6 = 7:16
| title7 = Requiem
| length7 = 7:45
| title8 = Ritual Winds
| length8 = 4:17
}}
{{clear}}
''Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Vol. 5'' (2017)
{{Infobox album
| name = Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Vol.5
| type = studio
| artist = Kitarō
| cover =
| alt =
| released = April 21, 2017
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = New-age
| length = 60:17
| label = Domo Records
| producer = Kitarō
| prev_title = Final Call
| prev_year = 2013
}}
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Kitarō
| title1 = Soul from Ocean
| length1 = 5:57
| title2 = Breath of Light
| length2 = 6:30
| title3 = Reflection of the Heart
| length3 = 5:36
| title4 = Wave Rotation
| length4 = 5:02
| title5 = Time and Space Cry
| length5 = 6:11
| title6 = Sea of Clouds
| length6 = 6:44
| title7 = Floating Lotus Flower
| length7 = 4:15
| title8 = Wind Invitation
| length8 = 7:59
| title9 = Journey for Nirvana
| length9 = 6:47
| title10 = Water Miracle
| length10 = 5:16
}}
{{clear}}
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Award !Result |
|---|
| 2004
|Grammy Award for Best New Age Album |{{nom}} |
| 2006
|Grammy Award for Best New Age Album |{{nom}} |
| 2008
|Grammy Award for Best New Age Album |{{nom}} |
| 2011
|Grammy Award for Best New Age Album |{{nom}} |
| 2017
|Grammy Award for Best New Age Album |{{nom}} |
Personnel
- Kitaro - Producer, Composer, Arranger, Engineer, Mixing, Keyboards, Photography
- Gary Barlough - Producer (V.1), Engineer (V.2)
- Allen Sides - Engineer (V.1)
- Doug Sax - Mastering (V.1, 2, 3)
- Joe Chiccarelli - Engineer (V.2)
- Robert Hadley - Mastering (V.2)
- Randy Miller - Orchestration (V.3), Arranger (V.3)
- Steven Miller - Engineer (V.3)
- Ian Ulibarri - Engineer (V.3)
- Timothy Beach - Engineer (V.4)
- Tim Gennert - Mastering (V.4)
- Paul Lamb - Mastering (V.5), Engineer (V.5)
;Musicians
- Kristin Stordahl Kanda - Flute (V.1, 2)
- Rie Shimomura - Violin (V.1)
- Tu Shang Xian - Pipa (V.1, 2)
- Jonathan Goldman - Chanting (V.2)
- Paul Pesco - Guitars (V.2, 3)
- Franci Miho Shimomaebara - Vocals (V.2)
- Nawang Khechog - Tibetan Flute & Chanting Voice (V.2)
- Keiko Takahashi - Keyboards (V.2, 3, 4), Composer (V.3), Arranger (V.3)
- Masayuki Koga - Shakuhachi (V.3)
- Alexander Adhami - Cello, Santoor, Guitar, Ebow, Flute (V.3, 4)
- Steven Kindler: Violin (V.4)
- Diana Dentino: Keyboards (V.4)
- Voyce McGinley: Percussion (V.4)
- Shinji Ebihara (V.5)
;Additional Personnel
- Eiichi Naito - Producer, Executive Producer, Management
- Dino Malito - Artists & Repertoire, Management
- Howard Sapper - Business & Legal Affairs
- Tatsuya Hayashi - Marketing (V.1, 2)
- Hitoshi Saito - Marketing (V.3, 4)
- Atsuko Mizuta - Marketing (V.4)
- Kio Griffith - Art Direction, Design
External links
- [http://www.domomusicgroup.com/kitaro/index.php Kitaro Official site (English)]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100705142936/http://www.diaa.net/kitaro/index.php Kitaro Official site (Japanese)]
- [http://www.domomusicgroup.com/kitaro/kukai.php Kitaro Shikoku Peace Bell Project]
- [https://www.facebook.com/Kitaro Kitaro's Official Facebook]
- [https://www.youtube.com/user/kitarotv/playlists Kitaro's Official YouTube page ]