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Taiko Drummers of Ota
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O.TA.I.KO ZA MYOJIN (when romanized - O.TA.I.KO ZA MYOJIN,
where "ZA" refers to group
and "Myojin" gracious god) was
first formed in the town of Ota. Ota Town,
situated in Fukui Prefecture, is rich in
Taiko history. The first drummers date back
to the start of the Edo Period (1600AD),
where local residents would beat drums at
Tsurugi Jinjya (the towns main shrine) as
a way of worshipping their same guardian
deity. The tradition was passed on through
generations and today. Ota Town has various
styles of Japanese drumming, each representing
the different folk customs and traditional
arts of the prefecture and Japan.
O.TA.I.KO ZA MYOJIN a more modern style of Japanese drumming
was first formed in 1989. Since 1990, through
the careful teachings of Mr Yoichi Watanabe,
a famous professional percussionist in Japan,
and strict, rigorous, physical training,
they made their first debut in 1991. Since
then, the level of their performance has
soared. The strong will and passion of their
drumming has impressed audiences all over
Japan. They have performed throughout the
nation including the 1993 National Culture
Festival, and the lwate Prefecture Governor's
National Taiko Awards Ceremony, receiving
first prize.
O.TA.I.KO ZA MYOJIN have successfully developed a traditional
performing art into something more modern.
The sound of the drums both old and new are
combined into a vital, spiritual performance,
leaving listeners dazzled and breathless.
The physical energy and excitement of their
performances has made them popular with audiences
all over Japan.
July 7th - Establishment of the O.TA.I.KO
ZA MYOJIN
Teacher and Composer: Mr Yoichi Watanabe
(a world famous percussionist)
August 24th - first annual O.TA.I.KO Festival.
Debut of their first melody "Yumei Kaigan"(Discover
Your Dream), performed live in front of 16,OOO
people
January 1st - New Years Eve concert at Tsrugi
Shrine, Ota Town, recorded live on NHK radio.
May 5th - NHK Golden Week Fair at the NHK
Broadcasting Centre, Tokyo.
August 22nd - 1992 O.TA.I.KO Festival.
Debut of their famous African Beat Melody,
performed live in front of 24,OOO people.
October 24th - Fukui Prefecture's "Furusato
Zukuri" (Prefectural Development) Fair,
recorded by Fukui Broadcasting Television.
January 27th - Fukui Broadcasting Commission's
"New Year's Festival held at Fukui Phoenix
Plaza.
July 14th - Appeared live on NHK's "Don
Don Furusato Plaza" at the Nagoya NHK
Broadcasting Center
July 31st - Fukui Broadcasting Commission's
1993 Radio Fiesta live at Fukui City Central
Park.
August 2lst - 1993 O.TA.I.KO Festival.
October 11th - Participants and winners in
the Iwate Prefecture National Governor's
Taiko Awards Ceremony.
November 12th - Concert at the Performing
Arts of Hokuriku. Recorded for television
for the 25th of November.
February 19th - The Iwate Prefecture National
Awards Ceremony was aired on NHK National
Broadcasting Satellite Television (BS2).
July 27th - Performance at Mie. Prefecture's
Festival Exposition.
August 6th - Performance at Niigata Prefecture's
Teradomari Harbour Festival.
August 20th - 1994 O.TA.I.KO Festival.
September 25th - Performance at Takefu Industrial
Fair.
October 23rd - Performance at the Fukui Technical
College of Advanced Education
November 6th - JTB's Echizen Gala Performance
at Fukui's Phoenix Plaza.
November 20th - Participants in the "Iki
Iki Furusato" contest at the Nagoya
NHK Broadcasting Center, aired on NHK on
November 27th
.
January 20th - Performed live in the National
"Furusato" Fair at Tokyo Dome's
"Big Egg"
August 19th - 1995 O.TA.I.KO Festival.
January 15th - Performance at the Takefu
"Seijin" ceremony, Takefu Culture
Center
March 1st - 6th - Guest performance in the
1996 Adelaide International Festival of Arts, Australia.
Venues include : Elder Park Opening
Concert
Red Square
Her Majesty's Theatre
April 14th - Performance at Himeji Castle's
Cherry Blossm Taiko Festival
June 22nd - Performance at "Hotaru"
(fireflies) Festival, Natasho Town, Fukui
Prefecture
July 8th - Members of the group toured and
performed with Hayashi Eitetsu on his national
"Winds and Clouds" tour
Included : NHK Hall ,Tokyo
Shiga Festival Isikawa Prefecture
Daikyo Festival, Akita Prefecture
1996 O.TA.I.KO Festival, Fukui Prefecture
Japan's National Theatre, Tokyo
National Culture Festival, Toyama Prefecture
August 24th - 1996 O.TA.I.KO Festival.
