Transcendental Taiko
Author: ICle
Date: Fri 01 Jun 2018
Back in the 90s I was in Japan studying taiko when I went along to see a taiko group at the now-defunct Apple Theatre in Shinjuku. I didn't know who they were, but their name was Kodo, and I settled in for what I thought would be an enjoyable evening. Well, it was enjoyable - but that was the least of it! Afterwards, I walked out in something of a daze, completely unaware of the usual craziness of Shinjuku. What affected me? A few things about their performance left me both depressed ("how could I ever hope to do that?!") & inspired ("wow, maybe I can find my voice through these instruments, too?!") Not least among the challenge/inspiration was the performance of none other than Yoshikazu Fujimoto. His playing of O-Daiko & Yatai-Bayashi was life-affecting.
Of course, adjectives like wonderful, incredible, dynamic, superlative etc etc come to mind, but Yoshikazu's performance transcended those words. As you can see, I'm struggling to describe what it was/is about Yoshikazu's playing that so affect(ed)/(s) me, but what can I say? He is here in Sydney next week, and we are thrilled that he will perform O-Daiko at our concert on June 9 at the Darling Quarter Theatre. I'm doubly honoured, because Yoshikazu will be playing my Tassie-made odaiko... maybe we'll even detect a slight Aussie accent in Yoshikazu's playing! Come and see/hear for yourself... you might find yourself similarly challenged & inspired!
Of course, adjectives like wonderful, incredible, dynamic, superlative etc etc come to mind, but Yoshikazu's performance transcended those words. As you can see, I'm struggling to describe what it was/is about Yoshikazu's playing that so affect(ed)/(s) me, but what can I say? He is here in Sydney next week, and we are thrilled that he will perform O-Daiko at our concert on June 9 at the Darling Quarter Theatre. I'm doubly honoured, because Yoshikazu will be playing my Tassie-made odaiko... maybe we'll even detect a slight Aussie accent in Yoshikazu's playing! Come and see/hear for yourself... you might find yourself similarly challenged & inspired!
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What's On
DOJO LIVE! 3-concert series
29 Jun to 23 Nov 2025
Taikoz’s creative fires are burning! And to celebrate our continuing creativity, we are presenting a series of three concerts in our Ultimo...
Transcendental Taiko
Author: ICle
Date: Fri 01 Jun 2018
Back in the 90s I was in Japan studying taiko when I went along to see a taiko group at the now-defunct Apple Theatre in Shinjuku. I didn't know who they were, but their name was Kodo, and I settled in for what I thought would be an enjoyable evening. Well, it was enjoyable - but that was the least of it! Afterwards, I walked out in something of a daze, completely unaware of the usual craziness of Shinjuku. What affected me? A few things about their performance left me both depressed ("how could I ever hope to do that?!") & inspired ("wow, maybe I can find my voice through these instruments, too?!") Not least among the challenge/inspiration was the performance of none other than Yoshikazu Fujimoto. His playing of O-Daiko & Yatai-Bayashi was life-affecting.
Of course, adjectives like wonderful, incredible, dynamic, superlative etc etc come to mind, but Yoshikazu's performance transcended those words. As you can see, I'm struggling to describe what it was/is about Yoshikazu's playing that so affect(ed)/(s) me, but what can I say? He is here in Sydney next week, and we are thrilled that he will perform O-Daiko at our concert on June 9 at the Darling Quarter Theatre. I'm doubly honoured, because Yoshikazu will be playing my Tassie-made odaiko... maybe we'll even detect a slight Aussie accent in Yoshikazu's playing! Come and see/hear for yourself... you might find yourself similarly challenged & inspired!
Of course, adjectives like wonderful, incredible, dynamic, superlative etc etc come to mind, but Yoshikazu's performance transcended those words. As you can see, I'm struggling to describe what it was/is about Yoshikazu's playing that so affect(ed)/(s) me, but what can I say? He is here in Sydney next week, and we are thrilled that he will perform O-Daiko at our concert on June 9 at the Darling Quarter Theatre. I'm doubly honoured, because Yoshikazu will be playing my Tassie-made odaiko... maybe we'll even detect a slight Aussie accent in Yoshikazu's playing! Come and see/hear for yourself... you might find yourself similarly challenged & inspired!