The inaugural World Taiko Conference (WTC) will be held in November this year. I decided to share my signature piece, Hana Hachijo, as part of this event. I created it 21 years ago, based on a traditional folk art, Hachijo Daiko, from Hachijo Island south of Tokyo. “Hana” means flower in Japanese, and my piece incorporates rhythms from Hachijo with dance-like movements that add beauty, grace, and color.

I have traveled the world with “Hana Hachijo,” sharing its seeds with many people to date. With each encounter, I hoped those seeds would one day bloom as a unique flower when each individual played their own rendition of Hana Hachijo.
To commemorate the first WTC in Japan, I would like to start a baton relay that connects our Hana Hachijo flowers around the world. Please play Hana Hachijo, share your rendition, and pass on the baton by using the hashtag #hanabaton. Let’s pass it right around the world!

Please submit a video of you playing “Hana Hachijo,” using the videos below as a guide. There are two versions: one without metronome clicks and one with metronome clicks.

We will compile all the videos we receive to create one collaborative “Hana Hachijo” video featuring everyone. We are going to submit this final video as an exhibition at Niigata Prefectural Cultural Festival in November. After it is shown at the festival, I will share the video on social media for everyone to enjoy. WTC and Kodo will share it, too.

I’m looking forward to receiving everyone’s “flower baton” videos! Thanks in advance for taking part!

*This collaborative video is scheduled to be shared on Nov. 18, 2020 on the Niigata Prefectural Cultural Festival “Niigata Stage Channel” on YouTube. 

Details about World Taiko Conference Song Submission:
https://en.wtctokyo.com/songsubmissions