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.