So I Think I Can Drum

Before I jump into things here, I’d like to be candid on the issue of this blog’s state of inactivity. I love living in Japan. I have a lot to say about what it is I love, though I must admit that it often is brimming with hollow romanticism. In fact, the volume of what I’d truly like to be writing about here is so vast that it is often this that pulls me away from ever actually doing it.

That said, today on my 2-hour train ride home my thoughts wandered to many places. I have many stories I could tell, from the pestering man this morning who wanted to speak English with me for an hour (but I understood not a word), to the beauty of the fall scenery peppered with tiny bright oranges, to my ongoing language journey. But, I’ll set this all aside to share with you the essential event of my day: my first performance with Shippu Uchi Daiko.

Colin and I took the express train north to Yuasa early this morning to meet my taiko group, Shippu Uchi Daiko. I did not expect anything to be significantly different than performing taiko in the US, and it wasn’t. But, it has been more than one year since I performed with other people (I’ve played solo twice in Japan since we’ve been here). So, it was performing in general I feel I was unprepared for. The presence of adrenaline was surprising, but, oh it was a good feeling!

Photos below!

Pre-Show Posing

Yui--the last song. Can you see me clapping in the back?

Girls having fun after the show.

Home after the show.