Taiko Drummer Revisits SRU

Takumi Kato, a Japanese Taiko drummer, performed at Slippery Rock University Saturday April 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Swope Music Hall.  The performance was a part of the Kaleidoscope Arts Festival which took place from April 15-29 across the SRU campus.  There was great anticipation for Kato’s performance, as he performed here at SRU in the past. 

Taiko drummers combine dynamic drumming and movement using the Taiko drums, Shamisen (three-string Japanese instrument) and Shinobue (Japanese transverse flute). 

This performance was Kato’s largest performance in North America this far, and he repeatedly let the audience know that he was nervous.  He had a translator accompany him, because he is not fluent in English. 

Kato adorned an outfit made by his mother which he cherished, as well as armbands made by his grandmother back in Japan.   Most of Kato’s song choices related to his family and friends and their support throughout his music career.  He started playing the violin at a very young age, but laughed when he told the audience that his instructor suggested that he started playing the drums instead.  Kato admitted that he was not very good at playing the violin. 

Other songs that he played included one about his noisy household at home, where he mocked his mother yelling at the children.  Kato is the youngest of three children in his household and let the audience know that he is still a little childish. 

It takes a tremendous amount of upper body strength to play the Taiko drums, so it required Kato to push himself at a younger age to work out constantly by doing pushups.  Many of the women in the audience gushed over Kato, even asking him to take off his shirt to play one of his songs. 

When the performance was over, Kato took a picture of himself with the audience in the background.  He said that he loves coming to Slippery Rock because he can sense a strong family connection and bond between the people in this area.  It reminds him of his family life back in Japan. 

Audience members asked questions, including how old the Taiko drums were and how long they maintain its durability.  Kato said his current drums were about 50 years old and that the skins usually last about 10 years, depending on how often they are played. 

The crowd checked out Kato’s CD’s and t-shirts for sale when the performance was over, and could donate to his charity which supports the Japanese tsunami victims and family members affected by the storm.  Kato personally lost a 20-year-old cousin in the tsunami. 

He also made sure to take pictures with fans when the hour-long show concluded. 

Kato will be performing for Japanese Emperor Akihito later this year.