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
PARTNERED EVENTS
WTC 2020
WTC will co-host two events with Nippon Taiko Foundation, and one event with Nippon Taiko Foundation’s Tokyo Branch.
Participation in these events is open to all groups and individuals, regardless of whether they are affiliated with Nippon Taiko Foundation.
About Nippon Taiko Foundation:
Nippon Taiko Foundation was established in 1997 with the aim of promoting the development of Japanese taiko and encouraging its expansion.
Within Japan, taiko is showing remarkable growth and is increasingly valued as a traditional art form by regional communities, as exemplified by the performances at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Internationally, taiko has drawn great interest as an art form that expresses the “spirit of Japan”, and many groups have been established outside of Japan. As a method of promoting mental and physical health, taiko is enjoyed by people across the ability spectrum, including people with mental and/or physical disabilities.
Nippon Taiko Foundation will continue to promote the spread of taiko through wide and diverse activities.
22nd National Challenged Taiko Festival *CANCELLED
From the Nippon Taiko Foundation website:
The 22nd National Special Needs Taiko Concert on October 4th, 2020 has been cancelled due to the current situation of COVID-19. We thank you in advance for your understanding of this decision, and that there will not be a postponed date scheduled for this year.
4th Asakusa Taiko Festival
Date: Tuesday, November 3rd 2020 (Public Holiday)
Location: Sumida Park, Sanyabori-Hiroba (by Taito Riverside Sports Center)
Set in Asakusa, a festival town and hub for traditional arts, this event celebrates the art of taiko, which is growing in popularity worldwide. The festival also aims to encourage cultural tourism in Taito City and revitalize the area. Visitors can enjoy hands-on activities provided in cooperation with local groups; walking maps, food/drink, and tourist information are easily accessible. In partnership with Nippon Taiko Foundation, taiko groups from all over Japan gather to perform at this festival, and aim to provide performances that are high-quality on a national level.
24th Japan Taiko Charity Concert
* during WTC
Date: Sunday, November 22nd 2020
Location: National Olympic Memorial Youth Center, Arts Building, Large Hall
This concert is by invite only. Tickets are not available for purchase.
Aimed chiefly at significant figures in government and commerce, as well as opinion leaders across different areas, this concert aims to widen awareness and understanding of taiko.
2020 Nippon Taiko Foundation (Tokyo Branch) Workshops
* during WTC
Date: Saturday, November 21st and Sunday, November 22nd 2020
Location: National Olympic Memorial Youth Center, Arts Building, Large Hall
WTC will be co-hosting a workshop series with Nippon Taiko Foundation Tokyo Branch.
These workshops will be conducted in Japanese only.
The workshops are mainly open to taiko players in Japan, with or without Nippon Taiko Foundation membership.