Our Town Inagi 2017: Kunihiko Wakabayashi

I want to pass on tradition and connect it to the future.

Mr. Wakabayashi, born and raised in Omaru, is in charge of the transverse flute at the Omaru Bayashi Preservation Society. Influenced by his older brother, he started practicing bayashi at the age of 10, continuing to practice while stepping up to dance, drums, and transverse flute.
He won first place at the "1st National Transverse Flute Competition" held in September 2016. The competition, held in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, involved a preliminary selection through video submissions, followed by a secondary selection on stage, with the winners advancing to the finals. Participants competed by performing two pieces, with the required piece being "Hirosaki Neputa Bayashi" and a free choice piece.
On the day of the competition, the top 10 finalists performed on stage in front of an audience. Mr. Wakabayashi chose the original piece "Wakabayashi" for his free choice. This piece is an arrangement of the familiar Omaru Bayashi. It starts with a well-known children's song and gradually modulates into a sharp bayashi rhythm. He constructed the musical arrangement while performing, showcasing an engaging performance.
Reflecting on the day of the competition, he said, "I performed to convey Tokyo's bayashi to the whole country." His sound quality, dynamics, and the sharpness of his finger movements were highly praised, leading him to a splendid victory.
He practices twice a week on the designated practice days for Omaru Bayashi.
The results of his practice are showcased at festivals held at the Oomizukami Tenjin Shrine, the Omaru Yousui Renge Festival, and other regional and city festivals.
When asked about becoming number one in Japan and his future outlook, he said, "It is precisely because of Omaru Bayashi that I have been able to continue this far. I want to pass this culture on to the children so that it never fades away. I aspire to be a good instructor."

Mr. Wakabayashi's performances are available not only at various festivals but also on the video sharing site 'YouTube'.