Japanese Taiko drummer to perform in Cd'A
"He's very dramatic," Coeur d'Alene Music Conservatory Artistic Director said about Takumi Kato, a Taiko drummer who will perform at the conservatory Sept. 22.
Photo courtesy of the Coeur d'Alene Music Conservatory
Takumi Kato and his four sons will perform in a Taiko Drum concert at the Coeur d'Alene Conservatory Sept. 22.
Award winning Japanese Taiko drummer Takumi Kato will be performing a free-will donation concert at 6 p.m. Sept. 22, at the Music Conservatory of Coeur d'Alene, 627 Government Way.
“Our concert will be on how we're looking forward to introducing Mr. Kato to the Coeur d'Alene community,” said conservatory Artistic Director Julienne Dance.
Takumi’s performances are high-energy and world-class. He came from small beginnings, born in a small town called Ena City, in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, but has risen to play at international events across the U.S., Europe and Asia.
In 2008, Takumi was honored with the grand prize in the “Large Drum (Odaiko) section at the “Tokyo International Japanese Drum Contest”, which is considered the highest level in the world of Japanese drums and is not awarded every year.
Since then, he has performed several times in front of the Japanese royal family, the prime minister of Japan, as well as many other countries’ leaders. He was also the first Japanese drummer to be asked to perform at the Pacific Area Leaders Meeting and the official residence of the Japanese prime minister.
Now, Takumi lives in California and will play with his four young sons in Coeur d’Alene as part of a Pacific Northwest and Midwest tour.
“He’s very dramatic,” Dance said. “But he says he doesn’t want to scare people. He says I’m here to reach the heart.”
Currently, Takumi is the honorary director of Tokiwaza in Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture — one of the three best known Kabuki theaters in Gifu Prefecture. He is also the ambassador of tourism for Ena City, Gifu Prefecture — the third appointed such ambassador after Kankuro Nakamura and Shichinosuke Nakamura, according to his bio.
“We are excited about this show because we’re going to start our very first Taiko drumming class for youth students,” Dance said. “It’s a lot about Japanese culture, like respect, paying attention and following directions. And with the rhythm, you’re more attuned to learn good behavior. It’s to mentor kids into a good, obedient life.”
Asuka Lewis traveled to japan and brought back kinder Taiko drums, which she’ll use to teach students Taiko drumming in the conservatory.
