Renzan, the famous taiko drummer, allows both women and foreigners on his team. But you’ll forget about everything except the music once they start playing…
Taiko performers only recently added various instruments – like the hand cymbals and the flute– and jazzed up the beat. But in the end it all comes down to hours of hard work and relentless discipline.
Taiko, it turns out, it as much about how you look as it is about how you sound. You have to learn extend your arms, spin smoothly, and remember whether to look up or towards the audience. All while still keeping the beat. And never, ever glance down at your music sheets.
Renzan’s troop is on the road together constantly. These guys are more than just a team – they’re family. And once they arrive, they move into action like a well-oiled machine. Setting up is an enormous amount of work, and they can’t afford to make mistakes. One drum alone is worth almost 400, 000 dollars.
Renzan is neither meek nor modest. In many ways he’s very un-Japanese. But being such a showman is exactly what makes him so popular. He embodies everything the average Japanese simply cannot afford to be.
And tonight, they get to be a part of it.
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