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[title]When you hear the deep rhythmic rumble of drums at a Japanese event in Malaysia, it will most likely be the work of Wadaiko Syo, a group of performers of Japanese drums, or taiko.
The term taiko loosely refers to all kinds of Japanese drums: There’s the o-daiko (the really big thunder drum), nagado daiko (an elongated drum) and shime daiko (a smaller snare drum), all of which are used in Wadaiko Syo. One of the most distinctive aspects about taiko is its dynamic playing style, which is loud, hard, fast and involves lots of choreographed movements which is reminiscent, some say, of Japanese martial arts.
The Japanese drum is quite similar to Chinese drums. It’s believed that the taiko arrived in Japan, likely due to Chinese influences, during the Yamato period (fifth to seventh century) and were first used as war drums to rally the troops. Later on, they were used for religious rituals and eventually in traditional theatre.
'It’s as much a visual celebration of sound as well as an aural one'
Wadaiko Syo
The group was founded by Nakanishi Takayuki to raise awareness and interest in these magnificent drums. When he first started, Nakanishi-sensei conducted lessons at the members-only Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur (JCKL). All his students were Japanese except for Malaysian Yuki Chong, who remains with the group until today.
Eventually Wadaiko Syo Drum Centre, currently the only private taiko school in Malaysia, found a home in Seri Kembangan. The reason for its relatively remote location is the sheer noise of the practises. Sessions start sharp at 2pm on Saturdays, after neighbouring businesses have closed.
Attending Wadaiko Syo is not for the hobbyist. Neither is it for the beginner who hopes to perform at the end of a few months. The sessions are extremely physical, and Nakanishi-sensei is dead serious about protocol.
‘We’re a serious school. Taiko drumming here isn’t a hobby. Our lessons are very intense and in some cases, a five-year course is crammed into two for expats who are here only for that period of time,’ said Nakanishi-sensei.
However, looking at the dedicated faces of the drummers at Wadaiko Syo Drum Centre, there’s something that drives them to spend two solid hours on a Saturday afternoon beating their hearts out on these traditional Japanese drums.
As a troupe, Wadaiko Syo is quite well known in local Japanese circles, having performed for several Japan Club and Japan Foundation functions, corporate events and private dinners. It has also participated at government functions in Malaysia and Japan as well as international festivals in Brunei, Thailand and other Asian countries.
Nakanishi-sensei, the founder
Nakanishi Takayuki, 46, is an accomplished Japanese drum instructor who started drumming when he was 22. He arrived in Malaysia in 2003 and worked in sales, a far cry from his current occupation. In 2005, a company approached him to instruct their employees in taiko and from that day on, his passion took over. In 2006, he started Wadaiko Syo at JCKL.
Apart from the taiko, Nakanishi-sensei is also skilled at playing the Japanese flute and the tsuzumi, a small Japanese hand drum used in traditional Japanese theatre, from noh to kabuki to kyogen.
Nakanishi-sensei emphasises on the presence of ‘spirit’ during practises. He’s strict that taiko drumming at Wadaiko Syo ‘must follow 100 percent Japanese regulation in spirit and manners. There must be more “thinking” behind the playing and no just going through the motion of hitting a drum. No matter how difficult it gets, one must persevere and never give up.’
The passion of taiko drumming
It’s rare for a taiko drummer to own one, and even more unlikely is that you can practise at home, unless you live far away from civilisation where no one will be disturbed. None of Nakanishi-sensei’s students own their own drums. However, they do practise their drumming and pacing on all kinds of percussive contraptions to sharpen their skills. This is why time is so precious at those Saturday lessons – it’s the only time they can practise on a real taiko with all its thunderous power and feel the reverberations and nuances that the drums yield.
Someone once said that if there was ever a musical incarnation of raw physical power, taiko drumming has to be it. It’s definitely not something one can do half-heartedly, whether one is the drummer or the spectator. It’s as much a visual celebration of sound as well as an aural one. And at Wadaiko Syo Drum Centre, you’ll be able to witness that oneness.
RM100 for four lessons, once a week for two hours. For more info visit www.wadaikosyo.com.