Eitetsu Hayashi
After 11 years of performing in a group, Eitetsu started performing solo in 1982. In 1984, he debuted at Carnegie Hall as the first Japanese taiko drum soloist and gained international acclaim. In 2000, he performed with the Berlin Philharmonic in Waldbühne, Germany, and overwhelmed an audience of over 20,000. Since then, he has performed with many symphony orchestras and artists of different genres worldwide.
Eitetsu has pioneered the field of traditionally unprecedented taiko solos, including the Odaiko solo techniques and the creation of original techniques using a set of multiple taiko drums. He has developed a new genre of "Taiko Music" to be transmitted from Japan to the world, and is active in Japan and overseas. In 2018, he performed 6 concerts in 4 cities in the Japan-Canada Friendship 90th Anniversary Tour in Canada and in October performed in the official performance of the Japan-France Friendship 160th Anniversary Japan Expo “Japonisum 2018”. This year, he worked for production and recording as a concept video production staff for the “Tokyo 2020 NIPPON Festival”.
Eitetsu contributes to a large number of large-scale dispatches for introducing Japanese drum music and culture for each International Friendship and Exchange Year for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Relations Foundation, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
He has authored many publications, including the newly refurbished version of "Ashitano Taiko Uchie" (Hatori Shoten), autobiography "Taiko Hizuki-Dokuso no Kiseki" (Kodansha), and many other articles in journals and magazines. He has received the 1997 Minister of Education Prize for Arts and Culture, the 2001 Japan Traditional Culture Promotion Award, and the 2017 Matsuo Entertainment Awards.
#TaikoCelebration2021
WTC 2020
ABOUT WTC
Due to the global pandemic, we decided to move the entire inaugural World Taiko Conference (WTC) 2020 online. Around the world, we have all had to spend a lot of time at home and apart this year. It is difficult to travel, domestically and internationally, and playing taiko has been a challenge for most of us with limited opportunities to gather, perform, or practice at all. The WTC Committee would like to look at this challenging time as a chance to deeply reflect on the journey that taiko around the world has evolved into the art form that we enjoy today.
This event will connect people from around the world through taiko (Japanese drums) and share the wonder of taiko with a wider global audience.
Taiko, also known as “wadaiko” (Japanese drumming), originally emerged as a performing art in Japan around 70 years ago. This art-form continues to expand worldwide, enjoyed by people of diverse cultures and ethnicities, of all ages and any gender. Today, taiko stands out as a form of Japanese culture that has spread extensively around the world despite its relatively short history.
Two distinct qualities that set taiko apart from other musical instruments are its rich, powerful resonance and the ease with which anyone can make a sound when they first attempt to play it.
WTC will offer a multifaceted lineup, designed for attendees to enjoy regardless of their taiko experience. The program will feature taiko performances along with exchange-centered activities and discussion sessions.
The first-ever taiko conference took place in 1997 in Los Angeles, USA. Ever since, North America Taiko Conference has been held as a biennial event, for a total of 11 times to date.
Since 2016, Europe also has its own annual gathering: European Taiko Conference (ETC).
In 2020, WTC will be the first taiko conference in Japan, where the art-form first began.
Event Goals
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To introduce taiko culture, which has become popular around the world, in its country of origin—Japan—to share its appeal and increase interest in the art form.
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To act as a significant step towards further cultural creation centered around taiko.
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To provide a place and opportunity for everyone to gather, interact, and forge new networks in Japan and on a global scale.
Objectives
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Further expand and develop taiko—a performing art that originated in Japan.
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Facilitate meaningful exchange between taiko enthusiasts (players and spectators alike) from Japan and abroad, regardless of their different languages, ages, and physical abilities.
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Convey the joy of taiko to all attendees.
What to expect:
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WTC Premium Talks by key figures in the global taiko world, sharing their thoughts and ideas about all things taiko, past, present, and future.
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a Special Lecture by taiko performance pioneer Eitetsu Hayashi.
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a WTC Free-Source Taiko Piece for everyone to play.
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a Taiko Community Video Forum, where everyone can share their own thoughts and ideas about various taiko topics.
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a Taiko Composition Library, where anyone can share their own free-source taiko pieces for everyone to play.
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a Taiko Event Database, where you can find out about events held around the globe.
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the 22nd National Special Needs Taiko Concert with Nippon Taiko Foundation, co-hosted by the WTC Committee.
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the 4th Asakusa Taiko Festival in Tokyo with Nippon Taiko Foundation, co-hosted by the WTC Committee.
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and more! (TBA)
Why Taiko?
Culturally significant Japanese art form
In 2020, the Tokyo Olympic Games will draw global attention to Japan and its rich culture. Taiko acts as an ambassador for Japan, connecting people around the world. So the Olympic year is the perfect occasion to promote this musical instrument and art form.
Diversity
Drums have the longest history of any musical instrument and have been found throughout the world for thousands of years. Like other drums, it only takes a simple beating action to play taiko, which means anyone can play it easily right from their first encounter. Taiko drumming is a source of enjoyment for people of any background, culture, age, or ability.
Increasing taiko population around the world
The number of taiko players continues to grow, with numerous groups not only in Japan but also spread across six continents worldwide. Outside Japan, annual and biennial taiko conferences attract experienced players and newcomers to share, learn and network, which in turn helps the community to grow in size and strength.
Power to connect people
From ancient times, taiko has played a significant role in connecting people through festivals and performing arts. In a world where modern life is becoming increasingly individualized and diversified, perhaps we all need taiko’s inherent social mechanism in our lives now more than ever before.
WTC FAQ
Q: Who can participate?
A: People of all cultures, backgrounds, genders, and abilities are welcome to take part. No previous taiko experience is required.
Q: What language will the conference be conducted?
A: The conference will be conducted in Japanese and English.
Meet the WTC team
Executive Steering Committee
Executive Steering Committee Chair:
Tadahiro Konoe
(curioswitch inc., Creative Director / CEO)
Executive Steering Committee Vice-Chair:
Makoto Shimazaki
(Professor Emeritus at Musashino Art University)
Executive Steering Committee :
(Alphabetic order)
Derek Oye
(Board Chair, Taiko Community Alliance (U.S.A.)
Member, Kinnara Taiko (Los Angeles, CA))
Jonathan Kirby
(Artistic Director, Kagemusha Taiko (UK)
Director, UK Taiko Festival and European Taiko Conference)
Katsuji Asano
(ASANO TAIKO U.S., Inc., CEO/ President)
Kazuhiko Osawa
(Nippon Taiko Foundation, President)
Nobuyuki Nishimura
(NOBU Representative, Producer)
Tomoharu Inoue
(Inoue Business Consultants, Inc., CEO/
Culture Vision Japan Foundation Inc., Board chairman)
Yoshihiko Miyamoto
(Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten Co., Ltd., President)
Advisor:
Akitoshi Asano
(The Asano Foundation For Taiko Culture Research, President)
Organizing Committee
Organizing Committee Chief Coordinator:
Nobuyuki Nishimura
Organizing Committee Coordinator:
Yui Kamiya
Organizing Committee(Alphabetic order)：
Ami Akimoto
Atsushi Sugano
Kohei Inde
WTC Staff
(Alphabetical order)
Akiko Iwasaki
Asumi Nishida
Atsushi Sugano
Aya Yoshida
Emma Ziker
Erina Watanabe
Issa Takada
Karuna Tembata
Kohei Inde
Kozue Koriyama
Kyoka Yuda
Makiko Omae
Mami Oyama
Masaharu Miyano
Masayuki Murashita
Masumi O’Brien
Miho Kudo
Melanie Taylor
Midori Sanbongi
Sara Tembata
Sarah Gilbert
Sho Jeffrey Yoshida
Shun Kiyota
Takayo Hoshiai
Tsubasa Nitta
Yumi Célia
Yuta Kato