'It is amazing that I have participated in 12 out of the 31 performances of the 'Nihon no Taiko' program that started at the National Theater of Japan in 1977," says the drummer Eitetsu Hayashi, who helped start the wadaiko (Japanese drums used in festivals) boom that has lead to the formation of more than 3,000 taiko groups in Japan. "I can trace my development as a taiko player through those performances. I was a member of the Ondeko-za taiko group when we were invited to take part in the third program in September 1979."
Hayashi's striking power may be observed in an ensemble performance of "Shichisei (Seven Stars)" scheduled for Sept. 27 and 28 at the National Theater as part of his production "Jinchi Senkyo (The Power of Human Wisdom Resounding)." The number was first conceived, oddly enough, in 1995 as a commercial for Japan Tobacco's Seven Stars cigarettes. For the original performance in 1996, Hayashi was given a prize by the ministry of education.
In the 13-minute drumming session, the 56-year-old musician will lead 12 members of his Fuun-no-kai group that he assembles whenever needed for performances. In a typical set, Hayashi stands with his legs apart, lowering his hip and bending backward, while striking the face of the taiko, which is covered with cowhide that has been cured and dried. His strength is transmitted to the drum through the sticks carved of hinoki (Japanese cypress). Carved out of a block of a keyaki (Zelkova) tree several hundred years old, Eitetsu's taiko is larger than the others, measuring 120 cm in diameter.