Students had the unique opportunity to experience the art of Wadaiko, traditional Japanese drumming, through iCLA’s iEXPerience Program.
The iEXPerience Program at iCLA is held at culturally or historically important places around the prefecture with the aim for students to deepen their understanding of Yamanashi Prefecture and Japan. Students can experience arts or cultural activities with guidance from local experts in the field or professors specializing in the subject.
The Wadaiko workshop was hosted by Nirasaki Kogyo High School. The high school’s Taiko Club is renowned in the Yamanashi region for its impressive award-winning performances and its links to the late Amano Sen, who was the head of the Amano School of Wadaiko and Intangible Cultural Property of Kofu City. Currently, the club receives guidance from the direct disciples of Amano Sen who are members of the professional Wadaiko group “Arahan”. Founded in 2001, the club celebrates its 25-year anniversary this year.
Nirasaki Kogyo High School students warmly welcomed 20 iCLA students and Interdisciplinary Arts Professor Dr. Mike Blow to their campus. This is the third time which iCLA students have visited Nirasaki Kogyo High School for the iEXPerience Program, and each time has been an amazing and special experience. The taiko experience opened with an awe-inspiring performance from the Taiko Club, which told the life of a samurai from birth to death. More than just music, it was the spirit and body language of the high school students that brought this story to life, passionately expressing the myriad of emotions associated with the tumultuous fate of a warrior. Their performance truly demonstrated the powerful rhythm of the Wadaiko to iCLA’s students.
During the hands-on workshop, students learned the basics of Wadaiko under the enthusiastic guidance of the Taiko Club members. With a combination of simple English and Japanese words, hand movements and unbridled enthusiasm, they showed that a shared passion is all it takes to unite people at heart. In only a few minutes, the iCLA students went from practicing their first rhythms to performing together as a team. The booming sounds of the drums, supported by the haunting melody of a Shinobue flute, filled the room as the students harmonized their beats and transformed a duet of simple rhythms into a full-blown song.
The visit to Nirasaki Kogyo High School also offered a glimpse into Japanese high school life. The program concluded with a campus tour around the Nirasaki Kogyo High School grounds, where iCLA students could see the classrooms in which the high schoolers study and the machinery they work with as a technical high school.
For many of the participating university students, it was their first encounter with Wadaiko. The students were impressed by the dedication, passion, and skill of Nirasaki Kogyo High School’s Taiko Club members who practice devotedly throughout the year to prepare for performances. iCLA students were also able to enjoy chatting and make friendly connections with the Nirasaki Kogyo High School students, who were excited to make international friends as well.
After the Taiko experience, iCLA students also visited the nearby Nirasaki Heiwa Kannon statue. The statue stands at 18.3 meters tall, overlooking Nirasaki City. The statue depicting the Bodhisattva of peace was built as a prayer of peace for the city residents and the safety of mountain climbers.
“My favorite part of the field trip was listening and watching the students perform, but also getting to walk and chat with them around the school.” – Mithera, iEXPerience Program Participant
Links
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Experiencing Tradition: Students Learn Japanese Tea Ceremony and Flower Arrangement on Campus
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iCLA Students Tour Kofu City Hall and Learn Disaster Preparedness
From Vine to Glass: Exploring Yamanashi’s Wine Industry