Our Town Inagi 2019: Hanami Yoshiki

A Bridge for International Exchange Through Taiko

Mr. Hanami, a taiko drummer residing in Nagamine, participated in the "Hanami Event" held at So Park in France from April 19 to 23, 2019, and interacted with the French taiko group "Tsunagari Taiko." Upon hearing that the French taiko group had established the first Awa Odori troupe in Europe, Mr. Hanami brought an Awa heitaiko from Japan to cooperate with the event and headed to France.
Due to repeated demonstrations in France and the fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral, there were various anxieties such as changes in the event venue and an impromptu homestay with French taiko officials, but on the day of the event, a large number of spectators gathered from overseas, and it was very lively. Mr. Hanami improvised performances of the national anthems of Japan and France with a flute and taiko, and he shared that it became an unforgettable experience as he danced Awa Odori together with the audience at the end.

Mr. Hanami first encountered the taiko drum at the age of 17 when he was a trainee monk at Kencho-ji Temple in Kamakura. While balancing rigorous training and studies, he learned that the drum is "an essential tool for conveying the heart." Since then, he has visited disaster-stricken areas such as the Miyakejima volcanic eruption, the Niigata Chuetsu earthquake, the Noto Peninsula earthquake, the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the Kumamoto earthquake, engaging in volunteer activities using the taiko drum.
Mr. Hanami's future goal is to create an environment that facilitates international exchange. He expressed, "I want to strive for things that can be done because we are Inagi City and things that can be done because we are citizens of Inagi City."
For Mr. Hanami, the taiko drum is like a mischievous and demanding child, yet it is a passionate instrument that conveys feelings to others. His challenge to deepen international exchange through the taiko drum continues.