Hachijo Shodo
For the last few years, I have made shodo certificates for the members of Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan at the end of the year. Some are for graduating, for going the extra mile and learning a song outside of normal practice times, or for just completing the year. This year, I made a series for the whole team that expresses lyrics from Hachijo Taiko.
“太鼓たたいて
人様よせてよナ
わしも逢いたい
人があるよ
Taiko tataite
Hitosama yosete yo na
Washi mo aitai
Hito (kata) ga aru yo
Hit the drums to gather the people.
There are people (there is someone), I long to meet.”
The image shows a drum along the shores of an ocean. Large clouds float in the air. Ever since I was young, the sight of large clouds on the horizon filled me with a desire to see the world. I like to imagine someone else seeing the same cloud on a different horizon. Though far apart, we are connected by a passing moment. Music is the same way.
This is my last year with Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan. It’s bittersweet. This team has been my home for so long, but it’s time to float on. I’m happy for the time we’ve had and I hope to still connect people, far apart, through brief, beautiful moments in time.
The stamps were made by Lisa as goshuin for one of our events. She did such an amazing job! We arranged a version of “Hana Hachijo” together, too. We’ve played it a few times, mostly during programs where we’ve taught taiko and a bit about its North American history to Nikkei students. I also taught Madi, whom I have had the pleasure of mentoring in taiko, and we played it together at our showcase - my last and her first live one.
I’ve learned the format a few times at workshops in the past, but this current direction was inspired by Chieko Kojima’s “Hana Hachijo Infinity Project” for the inaugural World Taiko Conference. Kojima sensei is the author of “Hana Hachijo,” who hopes that the seeds of her song will “bloom as a unique flower when each individual play[s] their own rendition of Hana Hachijo.” Thank you for the wonderful vision, Kojima sensei!
