Taiko instruction-Taiko and me (Back Number) of the Fukui Pref. Mikuni-cho designated intangible cultural treasure fire of Kuni

Tu. 06 Oct. 1998 contributor
[So the Taiko is good.]

The sound of the Taiko rings directly my body. I share the excitement with the Taiko at the moment. I can't express my searching color and sound of the Taiko easily.
But I can see things which are lacking for me. I come to play it and I have a lot of fun. I feel just "The taiko is my pleasant and my glad" whithout saying something to others.
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Sat, 03 Oct. 1998 contributor

[As falling love with Taiko...No.4]

I think Taiko players have various theories. Though I am in a no position to say something yet, I am sure that it is important for Taiko to be sounds, and that is all the practice. I never can play the Taiko with good sounds without keeping my body basic figures. My teacher often tell me to be not only listened good sounds, but also shown good performances to the audience. And "At least for from 5 to 10 minutes, Taiko player need to continue playing with basis figures." he said.

In the practice, if some of menber can't keep playing with figures, he slides out the line of playing the Taiko to have them rest because they may be troubles for other members. And after a while, he let them join the practice again. I come to know it is not easy to play the Taiko. But I am inspired by my teacher's performance, so I am building up my body and support my mind with him. I hope the audience will be impressed by my performance such as my teacher's someday. I am always looking forward to coming next practice day.

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Wed, 30 Sept. 1998 contributor

[As falling love with Taiko...No.3]

The sounds of Taiko by skilled players snak into my heart. Delicate playing figures appealed to me. Then I have been in this clud of Taiko for two months soon. However, my practice time had only 18 hours an three-hours day for every month.

Taiko

For the first day, I began to handle stick and have figures as special my only lesson. As I was impresive for my teacher's drive, I forgot the pain of pricking blisters on my fingers and I practiced at basic playing. I went on playing to the accompaniment of my teachers slow and high. Gradually my hands were numbed and fallen into my figure by playing it for five or six minutes. When the tiredness wrapped my body and went my chin into the air, my teacher gave me a cry of scolding. The sweat stood on my brow, and the sweat became tears into my eyes.

There was nothing to be like scores for the practice. So I studied how to play from some patterns which of rhythms, for example binary or trible time and so on, to add them to various strength, with my body. Until I learned by my heart them, I have gone to play it very hard. For the first time, beginner, as I was, devoted myself to learning each pattern with the figure. That was all my practice.

If it take them level up and will make my practices added more complicated rhythm, but I have the whole future before me. Recently I knew that it was an elder player who was a about four-year-old boy before a month I entered this club. If I were this boy, I would be a great player someday. Paying my respect to the little boy, I was in a hurry to have his playing figures. And I forgot the pain of my hands at that time, I thought a passion for Taiko over again by the time I become a longing for Taikos' player.

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Sun, 13 Sept. 1998 contributor

[As falling love with Taiko...No.2]

I think Taiko players have each different feeling because they have different processes that falling love with Taiko.
Taiko

It's very surprised that for a person who despised Taiko, only I think the great sounds and rhythms are played by some people who went through training for a long time. Listener's or watcher's mind is moved at such a performance and it's tha most surprising I believe that my teacher's guidance will make me a good player who is playing like a clean stream and exploded with anger by the strong sounds.
I have practiced for three hours today, it's not easy to do so. What was worse my figure was still in beginner and I couldn't keep up with the rhythms. I am feeling a pain in my hand because of blisters now. Will my dream come true someday...?

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Wed, 30 Sep 1998 contributor

[The depth of Taiko]

I very often have come to watch Taiko performance with regardless of amateurs or professionals to study and for my hobby since I began to play the Taiko.
Professional Taiko with a tence atmosphere is nice and impression. But recently I was moved at watching traditional Taiko of Fukushima Pre. which was playing it with massive and short sticks. I'm sure it is different from some playings I have seen before. When I thought so, I was aware of no matter that how to play and whether it is right or not. Eventually the players or audiences may be able to choose whichever they like.
Then, what do I believe to play the Taiko? I wonder it is my liking. I may be an irrensolute person. It is important to play the Taiko and I feel much better. I must be able to go on with playing while I have such feeling.
And I think Taiko has the depth as I know more about it.

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Mon, 21 Sept. 1998 contributor

[That's Taiko I play it!] (I like them.)

I have any chances to see other Taiko's performance, but I'm completely contented with only doing. Because I wasn't playing at that time. So I have chose going to Taiko practice over listening good performance. My pleasure is occompaing on based playing(Jikata). It's painful to be shown off them.

About quality of sounds, first I hate the sound of the drums which are played in Rock'n'roll or Jazz. They sound noisy for me. I like Japanese drums, Taiko. One of them low and gentle sounds I like best. Also Shino-bue(Yoko-bue, Japanese flute) is good, but "Ryuteki" or "Syakuhachi" is not so good.

By the way, Sansa-Odori(Sansa-Dance) I like one. When I played Taiko with the sound "DAN!", my body stretched on tiptoe of myself. It's difficult to play Taiko with dancing, I'm becoming crazy about it. My most favorite thing is it because I know no other joy than this performance. And this joy is getting more member to be player as I don't have other things to say. About the stage, I like to contact with eyes during performance. I love to cope with accidents concent raning to create sounds of invisible space all together.

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Sat, 05 Sept. 1998 contributor

[As falling love with Taiko...No.1]

　When I think a practice day is tomorrow, I am excited. I wonder why I feel excitement or tension. I really don't know my feeling and myself likes falling love with Taiko.
My leg's was stiff, the skin of each finger (thumb, fore, middle) have peeled off as it's hard to hold sticks during the several times. So even , I'd love to play Taiko and I can't restrain myself. I wonder Taiko has Japanese mind...I don't know at all.
However I surely felt change in my mind after I finished training. Driving toward my house to get home, I think so. Maybe the sounds of Taiko which are shiverd me soften my heart.

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Sun, 16 Aug 1998 contributor

[Enjoy Playing Taiko ]

Japanese drums, Taiko is becoming very popular in Japan recently. It's so glad for a parson playing the Taiko for a long time to hear that, but you think some players are tied down to the style, don't you?
I think some players who only enjoy playing Taiko and beat with good sounds. We should do something before we think about costumes or playing figures.
However I often see some players who feel enough career that they have played the Taiko for a few years. They think they became good player, but I don't think so...

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Mon, 19 Oct 1998 contributor anonymity

[Taiko-and-me]

My daughter and I have been playing taiko for almost 2 years. My daughter is 14 years old. We went to the lumber store and bought wood dowel to make our own bachi. We had to cut them on the saw and then sand them. It was a lot of work!! They didn't stay good for very long - they started to chip and split.
We have good Japanese bachi now but we still keep the old ones because we put so much work in to making them.

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'98,Sept. 09 contributor

[New my sticks]

I began to play the Taiko when I was a junior high school student. Though I have played it for eight years, I didn't have my sticks. I was borrowing sticks from my school still now.
And I bought "my sticks" at last. I went to Asano Daiko's shop of next Pre.Ishikawa to buy them during Summer vacation. They are heavier than old sticks, I also feel much better playing with them. I joined several performances with old sticks, so they are imbued my sweat, and my memories.
Now I am a little sad when I look at new sticks.... and I am only nineteen. I'll associate with new my sticks from now on for long time.

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'98,Aug. 17 contributor

[Festival Taiko]

My summer holiday was very simple. I went to "Inabu festival" which was held in Inabu town, it took about two hours from Nagoya to this town. In the festival Inabu Taiko was a little unusual that some people playing the Taikos by turn.

They were dancing on the sounds of Japanese flute with shaking sticks, and beating a Taiko part of the way. The rhythm was easy, but it seemed to be difficult to beat a Taiko with the rhythm and change place at a better time. However, the look of beating people was very fun, I would have jointed the dancing ring, I thought it several times.

This event could join from the outside, but I declined to do so because there was no woman in it. All of participants from the bottom of their heart were crazy about dancing (or beating) and I also had good time too. I think there is something to breathe in every local culture, don't you?

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'98,Aug. 11 contributor

[I knew a severe trial]

The sounds and the rhythms of Taiko, and the figure of a Taiko's player seemed to move my body and soul. Their manliness looked even a fantasy. I felt that the player, whose skill of sticks couldn't be described sexy, tried to beat the best of his power. Before I was aware of it, I couldn't help but be swept by the wave of excitement. Since I had a chance to watch a Taiko performing by a perfect team, Taiko is always on my mind. I thought now, a such thing is in the world. I felt attracted by the sounds and the rhythms of Taiko, and I could enter a team of Taiko with thinking it's too late.

My first practice day was Aug.9.'98. I had mental strain as a new member of the team, but my heart softened at the sounds of a Taiko. Elder members have playing carrer for from three to five years. They were practicing hard with resounding of a Taiko at that time. And, my teacher began to teach me guidance soon. For example, how to grasp sticks, how to have have a figure, how to beat a Taiko, I spent most of my practice time for them for three hours. I went on to beat without a Taiko every 15 minutes, keeping a base figure. After while I was weaker and weaker, but I felt I was flung sticks in my elbows or waist by my teacher. It will not allow me to compromise. I must not miss a such practicing to become a player of a Taiko as attracted me. I knew a severe trial. But I give way to attraction of Taiko.

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