YAMATO Japanese Taiko Drum Ensemble

Biography

Yamato was founded by Masa Ogawa in 1993 in Nara, ‘the land of Yamato” which is said to be the birthplace of Japanese culture. Presently based in Asuka Village, Nara Prefecture, Yamato travels all over the word with Japan’s traditional Wadaiko drums, putting its very souls into the unusual instruments, whose sound stirs the hearts of people everywhere. Its performances are infused with the idea that the drumbeat, like the heartbeat, is the very pulse of life.

Since its formation almost a decade ago, Yamato has played to more than a million people, giving over 1,000 performances in about a dozen different countries. It continues to travel with several dozen large and small drums (including an O-daiko made from a huge tree over 400 years old), displaying the instruments’ versatility and instinctive appeal, both in impromptu street performances and in concert halls holding several thousand people.

Besides travels throughout Japan, Yamato has participated in numerous overseas tours to China, South Korea, Indonesia and Singapore, as well as to South America and Europe. Yamato makes its fifth cross country tour of the U.S. in the fall of 2009 after four highly successful tours in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Website: www.yamato.jp

Critical Acclaim

“Huge, wonderful and amazing. Great show- wonderful people to work with - great school show- the whole nine yard. This was a really GREAT show; filled with great artistry; and we were all really happy, in a profound way, to be sharing it together. It reminds me of why I do this work. Thanks for bringing this to us…”

Email Ken Foster, Director of University of Arizona Presents

“Everyone here agreed that this was one of the best performances for this kind of attractions we have ever had and the audience seemed to echo our opinions-giving the group a standing ovation.  Too, the school show was absolutely superb and the feedback from the teachers was exceptional.”

Email Bill Wright, Director Wharton Center for the Performing Arts Michigan State

“Pure energy meets spiritual high”

The Scotsman