(Story courtesy the University of South Carolina Aiken Etherredge Center)
YAMATO: The Drummers of Japan will bring its Hito no Chikara – The Power of Human
Strength show to Aiken at 7 pm. Feb. 11 as part of the University of South Carolina Aiken’s 2024-2025 cultural series.
The Taiko troupe has performed more than 4,000 times to nearly 8 million throughout its 32-year history, This year’s tour includes seven stops in Canada and 29 venues throughout the United States, according to news release.
“YAMATO believes that the drumbeat, like the heartbeat, is the very pulse of life and the
epitome of the Japanese spirit,” said Masa Ogawa, the troupe’s founder and artistic director.
The physically powerful cohort of musician-athletes work and live together as a community in
the Asuka Village, said to be the birthplace of Japanese culture. There they strength train and
create their own musical compositions, theater productions, sets, lighting design, choreography,
performance techniques, costumes, makeup, stage settings and props.
They make their own bachi sticks used to play the traditional Japanese instruments, beginning each show by hitting a Wadaiko drum weighing half a ton, made from a single piece of wood from a 400-year-old tree. In every program, the drummers play 35-40 different Japanese drums, each varying in size and
tone.
“After composing each song, I give a score to the drummers. From that point, YAMATO’s true creation begins. The drummers put their thoughts and spirit into each note. We open the eyes of the heart to find a sort of synchronicity with the other drummers. Our final purpose is to connect to the heart of the audience,” he said.
Since its formation, YAMATO has been committed to preserving and respecting the Taiko tradition, while infusing originality and innovation into the ancient practice. Notably, YAMATO broke from Taiko’s long-standing patriarchy and has always included women in the troupe. And while the members train
rigorously, YAMATO imbues each performance with joy and a sense of fun, breaking from the
stereotypical stoicism associated with this ancient art form, the news release continued.
Tickets for YAMATO: The Drummers of Japan are $50 for adults, $45 for military
personnel and seniors, and $5 for students. Tickets may be purchased by visiting the Etherredge
Center box office, by calling (803) 641-3305, or by visiting www.etherredgecenter.universitytickets.com.
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