Our Town Inagi 2019 Mr. Yoshiki Hanami
Updated: July 1, 2019
A bridge for international exchange through taiko
Photo courtesy of: Tsunagari-Taiko Center & Creative Dance Troupe Hosen
Mr. Hanami, a monk taiko drummer living in Nagamine, participated in the "Hanami Event" held at the Parc de Sceaux in France from April 19th to 23rd, 2019, and received the "
Due to the repeated demonstrations in France and the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral, the event venue had to be changed and we had to suddenly stay with a French person involved in taiko, so there were many concerns, but on the day of the event, a large number of spectators from overseas gathered and it was a very lively event. Hanami-san improvised a rendition of the national anthems of Japan and France on flutes and drums, and at the end, she danced the Awa Odori dance together with the audience, saying it was an experience she will never forget.
Photo courtesy of: Tsunagari-Taiko Center & Creative Dance Troupe Hosen
Mr. Hanami first encountered taiko at the age of 17, when he was a monk in training at Kenchoji Temple in Kamakura. While balancing rigorous training and academics, I learned that the taiko drums in the temple were "necessary things to convey my heart." Since then, I have visited disaster areas such as the Miyakejima volcanic eruption, the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake, the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the Kumamoto Earthquake, and have been working as a volunteer using taiko drums.
Mr. Hanami's future goal is to create an environment that facilitates international exchange. He said, "I want to do what I can do because I am from Inagi City, and what I can do because I am a citizen of Inagi."
For Hanami, the taiko drum is like a naughty and troublesome child, but it is a passionate instrument that conveys people's hearts. Hanami's challenge continues, hoping to deepen international exchange through taiko.
Inquiries regarding this page
Inagi City Planning Department Secretary Public Relations Division
2111 Higashi-Naganuma, Inagi-shi, Tokyo
Phone: 042-378-2111 Fax: 042-377-4781
