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Japan’s Yamato drummers are performing free taiko concerts via livestream

One of Japan’s finest taiko drumming troupes are making their shows free to watch in February

Emma Steen
Written by
Emma Steen
Former writer, Time Out Tokyo
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Since their establishment in 1993, the Yamato drummers have performed for more than a million people worldwide through over 4,000 performances in 54 countries. While the troupe is usually on tour six to ten months of the year, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced the performers to take a brief hiatus for the time being. However, not all is lost; the musical group is now performing their sensational concerts via livestream. 

Every weekend for the rest of February, Yamato will perform from six different venues at Asuka village in Nara Prefecture, where the group originated. The next performance on February 6 will take place at the scenic rice terraces of the Hosokawa district whereas the February 27 closing show will be broadcast from the top of Amakashi Hill, where you'll be able to see the stunning natural scenery and ancient ruins of the area.

All of the online performances are free, but any donations received will be distributed to the historical sites hosting the performances, which include the Kitora Kofun Tumulus (a seventh century tomb) and the Okadera Temple. 

Here's the full list of upcoming performances:

Saturday February 6: The Beat of the Prayer Vol. 3, to be performed at Asukanotanada rice terraces

Sunday February 7: The Beat of the Prayer Vol. 4, to be performed at Gufukuji Temple 

Saturday February 20: The Beat of the Prayer Vol. 5, to be performed at the Kitorakofun

Sunday February 21: The Beat of the Prayer Vol. 6, to be performed at Asukaniimasu Shrine

Saturday February 27: The Beat of the Prayer Vol. 7, to be performed at Okadera Temple 

Sunday February 28: The Beat of the Prayer Vol. 8, to be performed at the top of Amakashi Hill

Each show will start at 5pm JST and will last for about an hour. Bear in mind that the videos will not be available after the livestream, so you might want to set a reminder on your devices to not miss out on this rare event. You can view the full performance schedule on the official website.

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