The powerful beating of drums has long been linked to Buddhist and Shinto prayer.
¡°Since ancient times, it has been the role of the taiko player to offer prayers and drive away evil,¡± says taiko (Japanese drum) artist Eitetsu Hayashi, who is taking this responsibility to heart.
This month, the drummer will perform a pair of concerts as tributes to those who were and continue to be affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake a decade ago, as well as a world that continues to be plagued by COVID-19. While his March 14 concert in Shichigahama, Miyagi Prefecture, will focus on offering solace and hope, his solo concert at Tokyo¡¯s Suntory Hall on March 17 will also mark his 50th year as a taiko musician.
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