1. 1. Hiryu San Dan Gaeshi - composed by Daihachi Oguchi

Performed by Mountain River Taiko 

Hiryu Sandan Gaeshi was composed by Grandmaster Daihachi Oguchi, who is considered to be the grandfather of modern taiko drumming. This piece is based on a Shinto rhythm from Osuwa Shrine in Nagano, Japan, which calls a dragon god down from above. Within the piece, the players shout a prayer: “Tenka Shoufuku Sokusai Enmei” (転禍招福 息災延命）which translates roughly to “may misfortune be turned into good fortune, and may we be spared from disaster and enjoy long life.”

1. 2. Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko 

      1. Tachiutushi  

Tachiutushi is one of Okinawa's classic songs. It represents the sound of water flowing down from a waterfall, and some say that it evokes the footsteps of a horse running through the grasslands.

1. 2. 2. Gokoku Hojo 

Gokoku Hojo is a song by the Okinawan band Parsha Club. The lyrics were written by its main vocalist and a sanshin (Okinawan musical instrument) player, Yukito Ara. This piece celebrates the blessings of nature, gives thanks to the harvest, and prays for an abundant harvest in the coming year.

1. 2. 3. Mirukumunari

Mirukumunari by Hidekatsu is one of the signature songs of Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko. In Okinawa, Miruku is the god who brings good harvests from far beyond the seas to the islands once a year. “Munari” means dance in the Balinese language. It is a piece about reverence and persevering through adversity.

1. 3. Ryomen Odori - traditional 

Performed by Junko Kumamoto (dance) with live accompaniment by Abby Kingman & Eien Hunter-Ishikawa

This Ryomen Odori (double mask dance) comes from Wakayama Shachu, a traditional arts ensemble nationally recognized as an Important Intangible Cultural Asset of Folk Arts. The female mask is Okame which is a well-known character in Japanese culture. The male character is Warai and provides a comedic contrast to the dance. The accompaniment music is called Ninba.

1. 4. Odore! Dore Dora Doraemon Ondo 

Performed by Amherst Japanese Language School Students

Doraemon is a beloved cultural icon in Japan, created by the manga artist Fujiko Fujio. He is an earless cat robot from the future! Doraemon sings his own version of a "bon odori" or traditional summertime dance. 

1. 5. Raku - composed by Shidara

Performed by Mountain River Taiko, RIE. Hayashi, Joy Jarme, Kumiko Yamamoto, and Mayu Yamamoto

Raku was composed by Chabo-san, the artistic director of the professional wadaiko group Shidara, based in Aichi Prefecture in Japan. Featuring a lively fue (bamboo flute) melody and playful movements, the performance of this piece embodies its title: Raku (楽) means joy, fun, and contentment.

~ INTERMISSION ~

1. 6. Edo Kotobuki Jishi - traditional 

Performed by Junko Kumamoto (dance) with live accompaniment by Eien Hunter-Ishikawa & Abby Kingman 

Edo Kotobuki Jishi is the traditional celebratory lion dance of Tokyo. This version comes from Wakayama Shachu, a traditional arts ensemble nationally recognized as an Important Intangible Cultural Asset of Folk Arts. The shishi is a mythological creature and shishimai has been used in Japan for hundreds of years to bring good luck and drive away evil. The shishi is known to gently bite heads for good luck, and audiences in Japan often wave bills of money to entice the shishi to come in their direction.

Stick around after the show for a FREE shishimai dance workshop with Eien from 5-6pm!

1. 7. Kurokami - composed by Koide Ichijūrō (d. 1800), Lyrics: Anonymous. 

Performed by Anne Prescott (koto) & Mary Ellen Miller (shakuhachi)

A woman sleeps with her black hair trailing across her pillow, dreaming of her unrequited love.

"To think that I let down both my black hair and my guard to share my bed with that man! I sleep alone and regret the pillow we shared. Now my lonely kimono sleeve is my pillow, even though he said we are like man and wife. He has no idea of a woman’s complicated heart. Ah, the temple bell echoes through the silent night air. In the morning I awaken from my dream, longing, still desiring him. My feelings pile up, unaware, like the white snow."

(translation from Blasdel, Christopher with Gunnar Jinmei Linder, Jiuta Sōkyoku Lyrics and Explanations: Songs of the Floating World, Routledge, 2024, p. 142.

1. 8. Step by Step - composed by Takeru Matsushita

Performed by Mountain River Taiko

Mountain River Taiko learned Step by Step from Takeru Matsushita when he came to western Massachusetts in 2017. Since then, this piece has become a staple of our repertoire with its dynamic presentation and rhythms that are accessible to all skill levels. We are excited to bring MRT member emeritus Lynne Mia back to the stage for this piece.  Please "HA!" with us! 

1. 9. Yui - composed by Ryo Shimamoto

Performed by Mountain River Taiko, RIE. Hayashi, Joy Jarme, Kumiko Yamamoto, and Mayu Yamamoto

Yui (結) means to tie a knot, or to connect.  Incorporating Latin rhythms with Japanese instrumentation, Ryo composed this piece to express the joy of connecting with people all around the world through taiko. The theme of connection that is integral to this piece is reflective of the community of performers that came together for this Bunka no Hi performance.  We are thrilled to connect with our fellow taiko players through this piece of shared repertoire! 

• Mountain River Taiko

  • Mountain River Taiko is a multi-generational community group sharing our love of Japanese drumming in western Massachusetts and beyond for over 10 years. MRT practices at the Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity in Florence, MA and offers performances and workshops. 

  • For more information, visit www.mountainrivertaiko.com

  • Performers: Tim Bennett, Kokoro Bensonoff, Andrea Green, Abby Kingman, Adrienne LaPierre, Conan Magee, Amanda McNamara, Sabine Merz, Lynne Mia, Alix Sniffen, Miho Connolly (Artistic Director)

• Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Massachusetts (RMDMA) 

  • RMD MA was established in 2020 as the Massachusetts branch of Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko, a modern Eisa group founded in 1982 in Okinawa, Japan. The name Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko translates to Ryukyu Kingdom Festival Drums. Okinawa was formerly known as the Ryukyu Kingdom and is the southernmost prefecture of Japan. Eisa is a form of folk dance that is traditionally seen during the Obon festival to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors. RMD MA is known as a creative eisa group because they perform all year round and use a combination of karate form and traditional Eisa movements, along with both traditional and contemporary Okinawan and Japanese music. 

  • For more information, visit http://rmdma.org

  • Performers -  Yuri Azuma, Nikki Donnelly, Max Hayashi, RIE. Hayashi (Branch Leader), Tomoe Mullins, Meg Murata, Brenna Parker, Mayu Yamamoto 

• Abby Kingman

  • Abby Kingman started playing taiko in 2013 and soon began to explore a wide range of taiko styles by attending conferences and taking intensive workshops with renowned and beloved performers from throughout the United States, Canada and Japan. She has a strong connection with the North American taiko community, having been an enthusiastic participant in a number of community taiko ensembles. Abby’s main focus areas in recent years have been Eisa, an Okinawan performing art that combines drumming and dancing, and traditional festival music of old Tokyo. She started learning Edo Bayashi and Edo Kotobuki Jishi in 2017 at an intensive workshop from Kyosuke Suzuki sensei, and has appreciated the many rewards of this continuing study.

• Junko Kumamoto

  • Junko Kumamoto is a member of Ensō Daiko under the umbrella of Taiko Arts Midwest based in Minnesota. In 2017, she joined the TAM Edo Bayashi Ensemble, where she began studying the intricate rhythms and melodies of traditional Japanese festival music. In 2018, she expanded her expertise by learning the Ryōmen Odori (double-masked dance) and Shishimai under the guidance of Master Kyosuke Suzuki from Wakayama Shachu in Tokyo, while also receiving regular instruction from her senior, Master Eien Hunter-Ishikawa. Currently, she is focused on studying the dance of Modoki (clown-like servant), further broadening her repertoire in traditional Japanese dance.

• Eien Hunter-Ishikawa

  • Eien Hunter-Ishikawa is a musician, educator, and composer specializing in taiko, shinobue, percussion, and shishimai. Recognized for his musicianship and versatility, he integrates his training in jazz, Western percussion, and traditional Japanese music to create an original, distinctive approach to instruction and performance. After receiving early training from Saburo Mochizuki of the renowned Tokyo ensemble Sukeroku Daiko, Eien earned his Bachelor of Music Education at Central Michigan University where he performed as a member of the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble. He received his Master of Music in Percussion Performance at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. During his seven years in Honolulu, he performed extensively as a member of the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble and taught classes at the Taiko Center of the Pacific. Eien has collaborated with many pioneers of innovative music including the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble, Kenny Endo, On Ensemble, John Kaizan Neptune, Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos, Colleen Lanki, Bruce Huebner, Masa Ishikawa, Patrick Graham, and the Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra. 

  • Eien is a passionate advocate of Edo Bayashi and Kotobuki Jishi and continues his study under Kyosuke Suzuki of Wakayama Taneo Shachu, a professional ensemble holding the distinction of Nationally Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset. Eien is the founder of Portland Shishimai Kai, a group dedicated to the preservation and expansion of Edo Kotobuki Jishi by offering performances and workshops around North America and beyond.

  • For more information, visit www.eienhunterishikawa.com

• Amherst Japanese Language School 

  • Amherst Japanese Language School is for all children who want to learn Japanese. Our small class size allows us to provide an individualized education that values each student. We are located in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Every Saturday morning, our Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, and JSL (Japanese as a Second Language) students come to our school to study Japanese. We also hold traditional Japanese events to help children experience Japanese culture beyond textbooks. We place great importance on creating an environment in which students can enjoy learning the Japanese language as well as creating opportunities for them to develop an interest in Japanese culture and traditions. We are always accepting new children and students who are interested in studying with us (JSL class is waitlisted). Please feel free to contact us at any time for a tour or trial classes. 

  • For more information, visit https://www.amherstjapaneselanguageschool.org/en/

• RIE. Hayashi

  • Rie was born and raised in Okinawa, Japan. She began her taiko journey in 2008 in Houston, Texas with Kaminari Taiko and Eisa (Okinawan drumming and dance) with Ryukyukoku Matsuridaiko. She also plays sanshin, the traditional Okinawan 3-stringed lute. Rie is currently the Branch Leader of the Massachusetts branch of Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko(RMD MA), an Eisa (Okinawan dance) group.

• Joy Jarme

  • Born in the Philippines and raised in Southern California, Joy’s taiko story started in 2016 at the Los Angeles Taiko Institute (LATI), where she studied odaiko and naname styles under Yuta Kato and Isaku Kageyama. A three-time cancer survivor, she celebrated earlier this year by taking kaDON’s week-long "groove and katsugi intensive" with Kaoly Gocoo Asano and Eri Uchida. Joy currently plays with Shindaiko, a contemporary taiko ensemble based in Concord, MA and is happy to contribute the odd bass guitar riff to their original compositions.

• Mayu Yamamoto 

  • Mayu started taiko in 2011 with The Genki Spark. Since then, they have played with Genbu Daiko and Odaiko New England. Currently they are an active member with Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Massachusetts Branch (RMDMA).

• Kumiko Yamamoto

  • Kumiko was born and raised in Japan. She started taiko with The Genki Spark 2011. Currently she is playing and teaching a class with Odaiko New England. During the last summer, she has organized “parents and kids taiko” classes.  If she is not playing taiko, she is always running!

• Mary Ellen Miller

  • I’ve been following the sound of the shakuhachi for 42 years. I went to Sapporo, Japan in the fall of 1982 to study at the University of Hokkaido.  I had received a Japan Ministry of Education scholarship.  I was introduced to Seizan Nakajima, Cultural Treasure of Sapporo and founder of Seirinsha Shakuhachi Society.  And so began the practice of sounding the way of bamboo, guided by Nakajima Sensei who says “The bamboo is the teacher.”

I returned to Sapporo many times for study and performances. I have coordinated, hosted and performed in many cultural exchange concerts throughout the Pioneer Valley, Cambridge and Boston with Nakajima Sensei and the members of his Society and local shakuhachi musicians and koto players.

I have played in concert halls, for Government Delegations from Hokkaido, skilled nursing facilities for residents living with Alzheimer’s disease, by the bedsides of dying loved ones, colleges, public schools, peace concerts, and New England Peace Pagoda ceremonies. I have recorded music for the NHK/PBS program “Japan’s Secret Garden."  I have also recorded music with friends on their CDs and for the Boston Museum of Fine Arts Instrument Collection.

Nakajima Sensei describes the sound of the shakuhachi as the “quintessence of music”, the way of music is the place where silence and sound meet. Let’s meet there today as we celebrate Bunka no Hi!

• Anne Prescott 

  • Dr. Anne Prescott is the Director of the Five College Center for East Asian Studies (FCCEAS). Trained as an ethnomusicologist, Anne has been playing the koto since she was an undergraduate at Cornell College in Iowa. She studied koto and shamisen in Japan for eight years, including one year as a research student at Tokyo University of the Arts (東京芸術大学) Her dissertation focused on the works of koto master Miyagi Michio. As a member of group Aya (彩), she performed in a concert attended by Empress Michiko in 1996. She translated or wrote the liner notes for 15 CDs produced by Sony Records Japan and Kyoto Records. Several of those were licensed to Sunset France (Playa Sound label) and released in the US and Europe. She has taught music survey courses, East Asian music, Japanese culture, and Japanese koto at the University of Illinois, Indiana University, and Augustana College (IL).