Eitetsu Hayashi
After 11 years of performing in a group, Eitetsu started performing solo in 1982. In 1984, he debuted at Carnegie Hall as the first Japanese taiko drum soloist and gained international acclaim. In 2000, he performed with the Berlin Philharmonic in Waldbühne, Germany, and overwhelmed an audience of over 20,000. Since then, he has performed with many symphony orchestras and artists of different genres worldwide.
Eitetsu has pioneered the field of traditionally unprecedented taiko solos, including the Odaiko solo techniques and the creation of original techniques using a set of multiple taiko drums. He has developed a new genre of "Taiko Music" to be transmitted from Japan to the world, and is active in Japan and overseas. In 2018, he performed 6 concerts in 4 cities in the Japan-Canada Friendship 90th Anniversary Tour in Canada and in October performed in the official performance of the Japan-France Friendship 160th Anniversary Japan Expo “Japonisum 2018”. This year, he worked for production and recording as a concept video production staff for the “Tokyo 2020 NIPPON Festival”.
Eitetsu contributes to a large number of large-scale dispatches for introducing Japanese drum music and culture for each International Friendship and Exchange Year for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Relations Foundation, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
He has authored many publications, including the newly refurbished version of "Ashitano Taiko Uchie" (Hatori Shoten), autobiography "Taiko Hizuki-Dokuso no Kiseki" (Kodansha), and many other articles in journals and magazines. He has received the 1997 Minister of Education Prize for Arts and Culture, the 2001 Japan Traditional Culture Promotion Award, and the 2017 Matsuo Entertainment Awards.
#TaikoCelebration2021
ARTIST
Waraku Soden
Waraku Soden is a music project of up-and-coming Japanese instrumentalists led by
Shogo Yoshii, Taishi Yamabe, and Tsuyoshi Maeda.
Their unique world of music that blends and develops Japanese music
has been highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad.
The ensemble uses a variety of Japanese instruments,
combining with folk and traditional songs from across Japan,
creating a unique world. In a literal sense, “Waraku Soden” means
“passing on the Japanese music through performance.”
They convey the concepts and notions behind the performing arts
as they have been passed on as a part of local life culture.
“Waraku” also means “music of harmony.”
The artistic director, Shogo Yoshii, aims to present the stage
not as a mere collection of different instruments, but as a music ensemble
with his original compositions. In this performance, Waraku Soden will perform
with a special collection of musicians.