Justin Senryu Williams, originally from England, has been living in Asia since he was 18, studying Buddhism in and around the Himalayas. Drawn to the sound of the shakuhachi and specifically the Buddhist repertoire of shakuhachi honkyoku, he started studying Kinko Ryu Chikumeisha with Michael Coxall while in England for a year. Eventually Justin moved to Japan for full time study of both playing and making, where he has been living since 2005.

He studied the full repertoire of Yokoyama Katsuya's school Chikushinkai under Furuya Teruo and Yokoyama Katsuya and was awarded the rank of Shihan and the professional name as a performer and authorized maker, Senryu (泉龍) by Yokoyama Katsuya in 2007. He went on to study sankyoku and the complete Kinko Ryu honkyoku repertoire from the head teacher of Kinko Ryu, Araki Kodo V, from whom he received his second Shihan. Araki Kodo also authorized his instruments with his own prestigious hanko, "Kodo sen", "Chosen by Kodo".

Justin has paid particular interest to the older styles of honkyoku and has traveled across Japan researching old instruments and playing styles, searching out the most authentic and capable players of the various often rare lineages spread across the country.

Within Japan Justin continues his work as a performer, teacher and maker, as well as his own ongoing study and research. He also transmits his extensive repertoire to people around the world via internet lessons using Skype, with students in Europe, Australia and the US.