Kari (Japanese music) - Kari

...Because the finger holes are covered directly with the fingertips, it is possible to play not only fully open or fully closed, but also half open or quarter open, allowing for subtle changes in pitch. The pitch can also be subtly changed by changing the gap between the lips and the mouthpiece (this is called meri-kari, and in practice you lower the note by pulling the chin in and raise the note by extending the chin). By using half-open finger holes in combination with meri-kari, it is possible to produce all the microtones in the range and also to use portamento playing, which is a major feature that gives the shakuhachi its unique flavor....

*Some of the terminology that refers to "kari (Japanese music)" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…指孔を指先で直接押さえるので，全開･全閉のみならず，半開，四半開も可能で，音高を微妙に変化させ得る。また，唇と歌口の間隙を変える(これをメリ･カリといい，実際にはあごを引いて音を下げ，あごを出して音を上げる)ことによっても，音高が微妙に変化する。指孔半開とメリ･カリの併用により，音域内のすべての微分音を奏し得，かつポルタメント奏法も可能であり，これが尺八独特の味わいを出す大きな特色となっている。…

※「カリ（邦楽）」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報