Last month, Soh Daiko had the tremendous honor of traveling to Japan to participate in the annual Hakusan International Taiko Extasia concert on July 12th.
Extasia first began in 1993 as an outdoor taiko concert, then named 壱刻壱響祭 (“One Moment One Resonance”), and has been held annually since. This year’s concert, held in Hakusan City’s Mattō Cultural Center Pino, was entitled “The Path to Devotion” and featured performers and performing groups from all over Japan.
Before our trip, the Ambassador and Consul-General of Japan in New York, Mr. Satoshi Katahira, and his family invited us to their residence in New York for a “send off” party. We sincerely appreciated their warm and generous hospitality!
Soh Daiko opened the concert, Part 1 entitled “この道をゆく”, or “Walking this Path”, with “Matsuri Daiko” (arranged by Soh Daiko) and “Hachidan Uchi” (composed by Jennifer Wada and Peter Wong). The stage was then assumed by Gonbei Jr. Ryo Kagaribi from the Fukui Prefecture, the winners of the National Japan Taiko Junior Competition in 2024, followed by the Fukumitsu Mochitsuki Taiko Preservation Society from Toyama Prefecture.
Part 2 of the concert was titled “太鼓芸のきわみ”, or “The Pinnacle of the Art of Taiko Performance”, and started with a performance by Yoshikazu Fujimoto, former member of Ondekoza, member of Kodo, and longtime friend of Soh Daiko. Another former member of Ondekoza and renowned solo taiko artist Yu Imafuku performed next, followed by the Hachijo Taiko Association from Hachijo Island playing their signature style of Hachijo-daiko. Unoura Hounen Taiko from Ishikawa Prefecture played their traditional style of “Hounen Matsuri Taiko” which has been passed down for generations in the Noto Peninsula. Finally, the concert culminated with a vibrant performance from Taiko Honpo Kaburaya, based in Hiroshima.
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Mr. Akitoshi Asano, the members of the Extasia Executive Committee, Katsuji Asano, our fellow performers, Hase Mikita, and everyone who made this concert possible. It truly was the honor of a lifetime to perform in Japan. We would like to extend an additional thank you to Alan and Merle Okada for traveling with us and for their unwavering support throughout Soh Daiko’s 47 year history, the family and friends who travelled to Hakusan to see us, and to everyone back home who sent their well wishes and thoughtful contributions of support!
