Starting this month, the wadaiko group Drum Tao will perform until November in Tokyo, thrilling both residents and tourists with daytime and nighttime shows.
The group has so far performed in 500 cities in 24 countries and territories, entertaining nearly 8 million people with their acrobatic dancing and beautiful visual effects, as well as their stunning drumming. Their modern, original elements make the band stand out from other drumming acts.
The show is titled "Mangekyo," which means kaleidoscopic sounds in Japanese, and will feature traditional and avant-garde drum sounds and dancing, accentuated with projection mapping to represent the nature and four seasons of Japan, and exotic, futuristic stage costumes designed by Junko Koshino.
A total of 241 performances will be given, taking place nearly every day from May 19 to June 20 and Sept. 1-30 at Alternative Theatre in Yurakucho, and Oct. 4 to Nov. 20 at Lumine 0 (zero) near JR Shinjuku Station. Both venues are easily accessible by train and subway lines. The Alternative Theatre seats 400 people and Lumine 0 seats 300, allowing the audience to watch the show up close.
Drum Tao will host the event to make the metropolis a more dynamic place to visit, a spokesman for the group said. "It's challenging for us to perform for such a long period in Tokyo, but we thought it would be nice to offer a show filled with Japan's traditional beauty, such as the moon, cherry blossoms and wadaiko sounds, particularly for people visiting from overseas, so they can feel like they're traveling around the country."
The group will also present a new production at Toyosu Pit in Koto Ward, Tokyo, in July as a part of a national tour. Titled "Jiku Ryokoki" (Travel beyond time and space), the show is designed to be an updated form of Japanese traditional performing arts, featuring samurai soldiers clad in armor to take the audience time traveling.
During the July event, Drum Tao members will meet visitors in the venue's lobby area for two hours before each performance and provide mini concerts, autograph signing and photo sessions.
The group will also perform in July in France during Japonismes 2018, a large-scale event that introduces Japanese art and culture.
"Mangekyo" will be staged almost daily from May 19 to June 20 and Sept. 1-30 at Alternative Theatre in Yurakucho, Tokyo, and Oct. 4 to Nov. 20 at Lumine 0 (zero) near JR Shinjuku Station, at 1:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. (no performance on several days and only one or two performances on some days). Please visit mangekyo-tokyo.com/en/ for details.
"Jiku Ryokoki" will be held July 19-27, with a total of 15 performances, at Toyosu Pit in Koto Ward, Tokyo. Visit www.drum-tao.com (in Japanese).
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
