One of the many things I love about travel is the new experiences it opens up for me, the different culture it gives me the chance to get immersed in, even for a day. And that is probably the reason I like the internet too, when I am not traveling, the internet gives me this chance, to learn about something new. The same goes for reading too. That feeling that I am living outside my skin, even for a very short period of time, is thrilling. I feel very lucky to live in a world that is very open, a melting pot for many cultures, a country where a short drive takes one to Chinatown for a little Chinese experience, to an Indian Reservation for a glimpse of the past, or to a Little Italy for an Italian flavor, it is really a beautiful thing.
Here on Maui, many cultures blend in, but today I am highlighting an aspect of the Japanese culture. More specifically I would like to talk about Taiko: the art of Japanese drumming. If you have ever seen it in person, or watched it on TV or on the internet, or even heard it on the radio, I think you will agree with me at how awesome it is. The harmony of the rhythm, the elegance of the moves, and the determined looks, all make for an amazing show.We had the chance to attend a short,but magnificent, Taiko show at the mall here last month(photo above) performed by the local Taiko group, and I've been meaning to write about it since then.
The word taiko in Japanese means drum, and if you check Wikipedia, you'll find many types of drums developed in Japan. Taiko was developed in Japan more than 1500 years ago, many believe that the concept came from Buddhism in India, but Taiko is attributed to Japanese craftsmen. In the old days, Taiko was used to set village boundaries(your village borders are as far as you can hear the drum), in religious ceremonies , to scare away the evil spirit, and in the battlefield to scare away enemies and coordinate battle movements.
Today, Taiko has become an international art form that is played and enjoyed around the world. It is a beautiful display of tradition, style, sound and choreography. Here is a link to many Taiko videos on YouTube. If you ever get a chance to experience it in person, please do,you won't regret it.
Comments (6)
I love drumming but have never heard of Taiko; thanks for the introduction to it! I agree completely with your feelings about being part of a melting pot world; it's wonderful.
Love the photo too and the contrast between those exotic drums and the Kay store sign. :)
Posted by Annie | August 13, 2009 6:49 AM
Posted on August 13, 2009 06:49
Interesting post, Candi! I've never heard of Taiko before but checked one of the videos in the YouTube link. Wow, pretty amazing!
Posted by María I. | August 13, 2009 10:17 AM
Posted on August 13, 2009 10:17
Hi Candi, great post! I've had the pleasure of watching several Taiko performances and they are intensely cool! Great photo.
And I so agree with your comments about the wonderful delights of learning about different cultures. It's one of the greatest things I love about travel and non travel...
Have a great weekend!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | August 14, 2009 7:15 AM
Posted on August 14, 2009 07:15
I love what you say about the travel experience and your love of encountering all the different new things that go with travel.
We are all lucky to live in such a diverse world and lucky are those of us that get to experience the diversity first hand. Taiko drumming is so exciting. We recently went to a local baseball game and they had a Taiko drumming group perform pre-game. It was exhilerating.
Posted by Barb Cabot | August 15, 2009 7:09 AM
Posted on August 15, 2009 07:09
Candi, this is so interesting. Thanks for introducing me to this tradition, I'd not heard of Taiko before. What a cool way to set village boundaries! I love that. I must watch some of the videos, thanks for the link.
Posted by Anne | August 19, 2009 6:03 AM
Posted on August 19, 2009 06:03
I have been very fortunate to see Taiko drumming a couple of times in person. A girl at the preschool our class used to visit did Taiko drumming. It is so cool! Glad you have also been able to experience this in person. Cool post!
Posted by girasoli | August 24, 2009 3:02 AM
Posted on August 24, 2009 03:02