I play taiko and this summer the group, Tomodachi Daiko, went on a tour of Japan attending workshops and performing. Before we left we practiced hard and performed several concerts.
Before going to Japan on a taiko tour we got to play in the 4th of July parade on the Asian float and it won first prize!
When we got to Japan we met up with Chokama, the group we were going to perform a joint concert with, and practiced for a couple of days.
Then when we were done we had a party and played some more
Our group in Japan before our first performance at a Taiko Festival
Our host family and our teacher in Chofu, just outside of Tokio. Left to right: Kachang (Leader of Chokma Taiko and a great teacher), me, Jacki (my wife), Hiroshi and his wife Mesaio, Judith, Maggi, and Mary (friends, fellow taiko players and travelling companions of the trip), and Jordan (our teenager)
Can you see the real me? I am in one of these festival costumes that are used for blessing of farm land ceremonies
Dengukuza (a professional taiko group) and our adults celebrating a successful set of workshops and our new friendships
Chilling out on the way to Sado Island on the ferry
Kodo is the top Taiko performance group in the world. We were there two days and were fortunate to take two days of workshops. This is the room where we had classes So many drums, so little time....
The man in the center is Mr. Fujimoto, the founder and leader of Kodo. Here he is teaching us to play an odiako drum. It is more fun than I could have imagined.
and of course we had a party when we got home to cap the whole experience off
I build taiko drums
I like to Fish
Fishing the Kenai
Going on Bicycle tours in Napa Valley
Hiking around the beach area near Hope with my best friend
Snowshoeing is fun
That is all for now