When I met a friend for tea at Happy Earth Tea in the South Wedge neighborhood in Rochester, NY I had no idea I’d be treated to a performance by a world-renowned percussionist.
Takumi Kato is a world champion taiko drummer from Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and he is on a mission to spread world peace through music. Since 2022 Kato has been traveling throughout the United States with his wife and three children Yamato, Ryoma, and Sogen, performing taiko percussion pieces at nearly every venue imaginable. The entire family is involved with the performance as the ensemble known as “Peaceful Forest.” Though Takumi certainly leads the way, his children all get a chance to perform on the traditional instruments, including a drum from Japan that is more than 100 years old.
Taiko drums have been performed on in Japan for more 1400 years, with some historical accounts of this drum style dating as far back as 588 CE. In feudal Japan taiko drums were used as a way to communicate during battle, in traditional Japanese theatre to increase dramatic tension, and as a part of festival and religious celebrations. Kumi-daiko, the ensemble-style of performance on taiko drums, was popularized in Japan in the 1950s and broke onto the international stage in 1964 during the Tokyo Olympics.
This Olympics connection continued when Takumi Kato was a torch bearer for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. In addition to his involvement with the Olympics, Kato has many other impressive performances on his resume, including having received the top prize at 2008 Tokyo International Wadaiko Competition, performing for the Emperor and Empress of Japan at the Japanese National Games, and performing at numerous shrine dedications.
In 2022 Kato moved to the United States with his family hoping to perform 1000 times in all 50 states in 5 years. Nearly 2 years into this journey they are nearly halfway there. The performance I got to witness at Happy Earth Tea marked the 401st performance, and his performance that evening at the Korean United Methodist Church in Rush, NY was his 402nd.
Takumi’s journey to Rochester began in California this year, and nearly 5,000 miles later he has just started to head back towards his home. Takumi’s performances are largely organized through grassroots connections with local organizations, so if you know of anyone on the route to California who may be interested in sponsoring his family as they return home contact them through their Instagram or Facebook.
It was such a privilege to get to hear Peaceful Forest perform, and I wish them luck as they head on their long journey back home. If you would like to learn more about Takumi and his family you can visit their YouTube or website.
