YAMATO The Drummers of Japan
“Hito no Chikara” – The Power of Human Strength
Freesheet
「人の力」”Hito no Chikara” – The Power of Human strength
Technology is a tool,
It is humans who wield it.
With the advancement of technology,
An era where technology possesses intelligence.
Will humans become tools used by technology?
What will become of human existence?
In this age where humans are alive,
Beat the Taiko drum.
Made of a huge wooden body and cowhide,
Resonating with the power of the human body.
It is the heartbeat.
The Power of Human strength.
“Artificial intelligence” has become a major topic of discussion recently.
Since the birth of humankind, people have been repeatedly making ingenious efforts to make our lives more convenient and better. The development of science and technology.
One of the products of this development is artificial intelligence.
It is said that “artificial intelligence,” technology as a tool for people to use, has the potential to surpass people.
It is said that artificial intelligence will take on many of the tasks that have been done by humans.
Will people be used by the tools they have created?
Or will we no longer need people in the future?
What will happen to taiko drumming?
Will there ever be a machine that can play taiko with unparalleled accuracy?
Will advanced algorithms make them sound human-like?
Leaving that aside…
Let us beat the taiko as we are YAMATO.
The sound that one strikes resonates with the human heart.
The sounds struck by the heart, resonating with each other, will become “Hito no Chikara” – The Power of Human strength.
We do not know when the end of humanity is, but we will strike until that moment.
Like the beating of the heart that will continue to beat as long as we live.
About YAMATO
YAMATO is a Japanese Taiko drumming group based in Asuka-mura Nara Prefecture which is well known by Japanese people as the hometown of Japan. They call themselves “YAMATO, the Taiko drumming group that travels all over the world”. They have given more than 5,000 shows across 55 countries around the world since their formation in 1993.
YAMATO’s Taiko work cannot be fully described by the word “performance”. They have performed in theatres, schools, all types of events, and even held workshops and Taiko lessons. They are spending a half year on a Japan tour and a half year for the world tour. Their motto is “We go everywhere when somebody needs YAMATO! And bringing energy to the people living in the world!”. They bring joy to the world.
On stage, they are standing with more than 40 Taiko drums and all of them are having different characters. For example, their largest drum called “Odaiko”, produced from a huge tree over 400 years old, is approximately two meters in diameter and weighs 500 kg. All other Taiko drums are different sizes and have different sounds. The members of the group have trained their bodies to the limit to beat these massive Taiko drums.
The acoustic pressure far surpasses what one could imagine.
They do not simply make their Taiko drums explode with sound; they produce delicate music that provides the listener with a palette of meticulously crafted sound. This is why YAMATO’s original performances are known as “Physical music”, and continue to receive high acclaim all over the world. YAMATO is sometimes intense, sometimes sad, sometimes comforting, and in the next moment comical on stage.
The audience is more than a group of bystanders at their performances.
The audience is engulfed in the sound of the Taiko, and sweat, cry, and laugh; they become one with the performers. All types of people gather around the sound of the Taiko, interweaving their lives, and feeling the power of each other’s inner passion and heart. They come together to create an instant in which they truly feel alive.
YAMATO is still traveling around the world.
Taiko drumming, to the unexplored field.
Read more about Yamato: “Hito no Chikara” – The Power of Human Strength
Artistic Team & Credits
Artistic Director Masa Ogawa
Music Composer Masa Ogawa
Lighting Designer Masa Ogawa
Costume Designer Akiko Ogawa
Production Manager Chisako Ninomiya
Technical Manager Naoki Ekihiro
Lighting Operator Haruta Ogawa
Sound Operator Masa Ogawa
Production Photography Hiroshi Seo, Masa Ogawa, Genta Ogawa
Drummers
Mika Miyazaki, Marika Nito, Kenta Ono, Naoki Ekihiro, Nene Miura
Jo Nakamura, Daisuke Jonai, Tatsuya Iwaki, Wakaba Sudani