This March, we are delighted to highlight the growing links between Irish–Japanese culture with the first appearance of the Experience Japan
This free event will take place in Collins Barracks.
As well as 2 hours of performances from the Taiko Team over the weekend, the programme includes many other exciting performances and demonstrations. Don’t miss it!
Bios
Born in Nagasaki, he was an active member of the internationally-renowned taiko group, KODO, for seven years from 1985 and performed on more than 800 stages all over the world. Became a solo player in 1992 and was a member of Takio Ito (the most famous Minyo singer in Japan) and TAKIO BAND for two years.
Havashida is an excellent player as well as a composer and producer. He is an artist who has the musical ability to create compositions that are very difficult to find in the taiko world. He, especially, has the rare ability to produce musical taiko ensembles that are one-of-kind in this music genre.
Hayashida was invited to play at various international events, such as the WTO Show in Singapore, Japan Week 1997 in the Netherlands, Expo 2000 in Hanover, the closing ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in France, 50th Anniversary Concert of Doudou N'Diaye Rose UNESCO's World Heritage and a leading African percussionist in Senegal. He has also done a lot of work in Japan, including composing, arranging and directing taiko scenes in works by renowned theatrical writer, Soh Kuramoto, The Convoy Show and Takeshi Kitano's movie Zatoichi. In 2004, he was invited to play with his group, ZI-PANG, at the Award Ceremony of the Japanese Academy Award. In 2008 he produced the opening and closing ceremonies of the Short Short Film Festival and was highly praised by Amon Miyamoto. And the Taiko Entertainment "Hiroyuki Hayashida and ZI-PANG" was produced synthetically. With his unique ability and technique, he has also received recognition in Japan.
Especially he is a leading player of the Katsugi Okedaiko, a unique shouldering taiko. Also, he is a pioneer player of the instrument, and his unique technique is something that no one can easily follow. He composes music and holds workshops all over Japan as well. He released a manual video and started producing a new taiko type with a renowned taiko maker. In 2003, he developed Electronic Katsugi Okedaiko with an international electronic musical instrument manufacturer. And "Katsugi Okedaiko 21 Century Model was developed jointly by him and a
biggest taiko manufacturer, and the revolutionary functionality was admitted, and it won the Japan Good Design award in 2004. In 2011, worldwide percussion instrument manufacturer (REMO Inc.] sold his signature model "Katsugi Okedaiko". With his ideas and foresight, he never stops being a pioneer in the taiko world. As a solo taiko player, composer, and producer, Hayashida is a one and only taiko player and has a big influence on the taiko world.
Luke was exposed to percussion instruments from an early age and started playing with a local Japanese Taiko group at the age of 14. Having experience of performing at international festivals around the world, he began his professional career as a member of ZI-PANG, a unique and vibrant Taiko ensemble group. Appearing on Japanese TV programmes and as a supporting musician for famous Japanese artists, including performances at the Tokyo Dome. Developing a dynamic playing style and fast-hitting technique using different types of Taikos, such as Oke-daiko, Nagado daiko, combination of sets and Oodaiko, he really wants to show the potential of Japanese Taiko music to the world.