Today’s A Journey
through Aesthetic Realms
will be presented
in Japanese,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian,
Italian, Japanese,
Korean, Malay,
Mongolian, Persian,
Portuguese, Russian
and Spanish.
Energetic viewers,
welcome to A Journey
through Aesthetic Realms
on Supreme Master
Television.
You have just enjoyed
a taiko drum performance
by the internationally
renowned Ondekoza
ensemble from Japan.
Taikos are stick
percussion instruments
important in Japanese
folk and classical
musical traditions.
The simple and rhythmic
drum presentations,
combined with
the disciplined training
and teamwork,
have been part of
the rich culture of Japan
for more than 2,000 years.
The modern style
taiko performance
was pioneered in 1951
by virtuoso drummer
Daihachi Oguchi.
He was the first to use
a large Japanese drum set
in tandem with jazz music.
The genre was
further enriched by
the Yushima Tenjin
Sukeroku Daiko group,
established in 1959,
which introduced tempo,
strength, as well as
unique choreography
into the performance.
The success
of the initial drum groups
led to the great popularity
of taiko in the country
in the 1960s.
Ondekoza was created
during that period.
It was founded
45 years ago on an island
called Sado-ga-shima.
A group of young people
gathered together
because they wanted
to do something new.
Playing taiko drums
became their final decision.
They named their group
Ondekoza.
After it was founded,
the group started
to tour all over Japan.
They performed
at different places
continuously.
What are
the unique aspects that
distinguished Ondekoza
from other taiko groups?
In Japan, there are
about 5,000 taiko groups.
All of these groups play
similar types of taiko drums.
Our specialty is performing
with our entire body.
In other words,
the bodies of
performers themselves are
a tool for performance.
That’s why
they have to go through
comprehensive training
starting from
their daily lives, so that
they can present themselves
on the stage
to the audience.
I think this is what sets us
apart from other groups.
Besides their unique style
of performance,
Ondekoza drummers also
wear special costumes
on stage.
This is called
“half-length sleeves,”
a traditional
Japanese costume.
In olden times,
people used to wear them
as their work clothes.
Like this pocket:
it was used to store tools.
See the design here?
This design is used to
distinguish the group
that people belonged to.
Later, people also
wore this kind of clothes
to attend festivals.
Ondekoza also
follows this tradition.
When Ondekoza
gives performances
around the world,
one central theme is peace.
We emphasize this theme
because our founder,
Den Tagayasu,
having experienced wars,
had wanted to promote
the message of peace
through drum playing
throughout the world.
We wanted
to reflect this ideal,
so we chose “Prayer”
as our first program.
Let’s now enjoy
the taiko performance
entitled “Prayer” by
the Ondekoza ensemble.
I’m You Kuboya.
I watched the performance
by Ondekoza while
I was in kindergarten and
I was also very moved
at that occasion.
So right after I graduated
from high school,
I joined the group.
I’m Dai Nakamura.
While I was studying
in the United States,
I watched the Ondekoza
drum performance
for the first time,
and I was deeply moved.
When I came back to Japan
I made a decision.
This is my 9th year.
According to
Ondekoza tradition,
its members receive
rigorous training
including studying
Japanese folk arts,
experiencing communal
living, and undertaking a
physical exercise regime
of a professional athlete.
To us, the most basic
training is running.
Like this morning, we ran
about 10 kilometers.
We start running
at 6 every morning.
In Japan,
every day we would run
20 to 30 kilometers.
Every year, I would
go climb Mount Fuji.
I would start
running up the mountain
from the base,
and I often go to the top.
Our performances usually
last about two hours, so
this training is necessary
to build our stamina.
In 2004
in Formosa (Taiwan),
we were on the road
for about a month.
Every day
we ran 30 kilometers.
When I finished the run,
I felt so great!
Our second program
is called “Playing Taiko
on Hachijo Island.”
According to legend,
a samurai was homesick
for his hometown,
so he tried to play drums
with wooden swords
to console himself.
Through rigorous training,
Ondekoza drummers
become very disciplined
in their daily activities,
which is the foundation of
successful performances.
They show good discipline
in rehearsals
and they carefully
preserve their drums.
Their performances
are very powerful.
I think
they are very dedicated
to their profession.
For example,
right after playing,
they would always
store their drum sticks
in a secure place.
The venue
that the group plays at
also influences
their performance.
The atmosphere at the site
is determined by
the mood of the audience.
The scene also
creates a mood.
We performed at
Seiin Temple in late May.
We just
whole-heartedly felt
the power of that temple,
and that was why
we could have such
a perfect performance.
We always feel
the atmosphere of the site
and perform accordingly.
Ondekoza’s
trademark performance is
the ōdaiko or “grand taiko.”
They are the largest drums
in a taiko ensemble.
Performing
with the ōdaiko requires
strength, stamina,
coordination, musical sense,
and teamwork.
The players exert
all their might and power
to strike the drums.
This is the signature
program of Ondekoza.
Combining strength
with art, taiko bands
have sprouted
all over the world
since the 1960s.
In North America alone,
there are approximately
150 taiko groups.
It is now truly
an international art form.
I’ve been with
the Ondekoza group
for 15 years.
Right now our members
are running around China
on tour.
They start from Shanghai,
and run to Kunming,
from there
they run to Xi’an,
and then to Beijing.
They finally
run from Beijing
back to Shanghai.
My hope at the moment
is to finish
the run around China.
I hope Ondekoza
will continue for
some decades ahead,
even 100 years from now.
If it continues like this,
that will make
me very happy.
For myself, I hope
that I will gain all sorts
of experience while I’m
with the Ondekoza group.
We thank
the members of the
Ondekoza taiko ensemble
for sharing with us your
brilliant performances
and valuable experience.
May you continue to
bring joy to appreciative
audiences worldwide
through your
amazing art form.
Heaven bless
beautiful Japan.
For more details
on Ondekoza,
please visit
Dedicated viewers,
thank you
for your presence
on today’s episode of
A Journey through
Aesthetic Realms
on Supreme Master
Television.
Up next is
Vegetarianism:
The Noble Way of Living,
after Noteworthy News.
May inner melodies
uplift your spirit.