Joji Hirota & The Taiko Drummers



Joji has been performing Taiko since the 70s. Joji's greatest influence is his training with the group Hokkai Daiko, led by the great Taiko master ltto Ohba, based in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido. (Taiko/Daiko is a Japanese word for drums.) He was very impressed by their music and found it to be the spiritual centre of his drumming. Ohba gave Joji permission to use the name 'Hokkai Daiko' to describe his drumming.
Since the 90s other Taiko drummers started playing and Taiko groups were established in the UK. Joji also plays Taiko music with other taiko drummers as "Joji Hirota and the Taiko Drummers". Concert programmes also include Joji's performances of shakuhachi flute and vocals of Japanese folk songs arranged by him.

Taiko Drummers
KUMIKO SUZUKI
From Kawaguchi-shi, Saitama, Japan. She started playing the Taiko at the age of ten with Hatsuuma Daiko, a local performing art of Kawaguchi-shi. While working as a kindergarden staff in Japan and England, she instructed performance of Taiko to children and her colleagues. She joined Joji Hirota and the Taiko Drummers in 2001, and has been taking active role in performances and workshops all over the world. Some examples of events she performed are; WOMAD (Caseres 2003, Reading 2003, 2006, Sri Lanka 2005, Korea 2006), Rythm Sticks Festival (2003, 2006), Bruges festival (2004), US tour (2003, 2004), Concerts in Italy, Spain, Turkey, Croatia, etc.
SHINGO KARUBE
He started playing Taiko Drums in 1996.
He has been playing with Joji Hirota since 1998 in Italy, Spain and all over UK. He is currently the supervisor for 'AKATSUKI DAIKO' of Gyosei College, Reading, UK.
YUKIKO KATO
From Sakura-shi, Chiba, Japan. In 1999, she learned the art of playing the Taiko with Yokohama-Tsuzuki Taiko Group and boarded 'The Ship for World Youth' to introduce the Japanese culture over the world. Joined Joji Hirota and the Taiko Drummers in 2006. Performed at numerous occasions all over the world such as WOMAD (Reading 2003, 2006, Sri Lanka 2005, Korea 2006), Rhythm Sticks Festival (2003, 2006), Bruges Festival (2004), concerts in Italy, Spain, Turkey, Croatia, etc.

ASAKO SACH
In 1998 she started to play Taiko at 'KODAMA DAIKO' in Kashiwa, Chiba prefecture, Japan.
She also supported a local traditional folk music 'Tega Bayashi' in Shonan, Chiba. In 2002 She became a member of Joji Hirota & The Taiko Drummers. She is also a member of Tamashii Daiko.


Keisuke Moriya
Fascinated by Taiko in 2003, when he was studying at Artist course of Meitoku-Gijuku High School, Japan. Played the Taiko at ceremonial occasions such as the 30th Anniversary Ceremony of Meitoku-Gijuku High School, Yokozuna Promotion Ceremony for Asashoryu-zeki (sumo wrestler Asashoryu's rise the highest rank in Sumo hierarchy), and then trained by Mr Nishioka, the chief of Tosa-Yamada Taiko Group. Joined Akatsuki-Daiko, Reading, UK in April, 2004. Subsequently joined Joji Hirota and the Taiko Drummers in October 2006 and performed in many countries such as Italy, Turkey, Spain, Poland, Luxemburg, Korea, Sri Lanka.
LIZ WALTERS
She started playing Taiko with Mugenkyo in 1995. She Joined Joji's Group in 1997 and has toured extensively in the UK, Italy, Spain ,USA etc. She gives annlual workshops in Fukui, Japan with her teacher Masaaki Kurumaya. She leads her own female-only Taiko group 'TAMASHII DAIKO'.
MARK ALCOCK
He studied, performed and taught Taiko drumming for two years with the Tennon Daiko durmmers of Wakayama prefecture in Southern Japan. His teachers included Katusji Kondo, former front man of the world famous Kodo drummers. Mark was also one of the original members of Mugenkyo. In 1994 he began playing with Joji Hirota and has toured all over the UK, Italy, The Canary Islan, USA etc. He gives numerous workshops. He has established his own Taiko group 'TAIKO MEANTIME' based in Greenwich.
Emi Watanabe (flute)
Born in Utsunomiya, Japan. She graduated from the music college in 1990, and went on to study ryuteki and shinobue under Michiko Akao and nohkan under Yukimasa Isso.
She has toured the UK with the UK-based Taiko group Mugenkyo and appeared on BBC TV. She started to play with Joji's group in 2000 and has toured all over the UK, Italy, Norway and USA.

*Ryuteki*
The ryuteki came from China over 1000 years ago. 'Ryuteki' means 'dragon flute', as the sound is very similar to that of a dragon according to Chinese legend. It is made of bamboo. The inside of the flute is lacquered and some places are wrapped with strands of bark from cherry tree. It is mainly used in Gagaku, which is Japanese court music.
*Shinobue*
Also made of bamboo, but a different kind. Lacqured and wrapped with bark. Its structure is much simpler than ryuteki, and is mainly used for festival music and Kabuki which is a form of Japanese theatre.
*Nohkan*
Also made of bamboo and used in both Noh theatre and Kabuki. Although it looks similar to the ryuteki outside, there is an extra pipe called nodo (= throat, in English) inserted inside.
This unsual structure gives it a mysterious high-pitched sound called hishigi. It is said that this sound is used to call spirits.