Residents of Kamloops are invited to commemorate 20 years of Japanese drumming at a special event hosted by the local group Raiden Taiko, taking place at the Sagebrush Theatre.
The event, titled Raiden Taiko 20 – A Cultural Collaboration, will occur on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Lance Yamada, a founding member of Raiden Taiko, shared that the first half of the event will showcase Japanese cultural music and dance, while the second act will highlight Taiko—traditional Japanese drumming.
The concert will feature performances by Rob Gretsinger, known for his sound meditations using gongs and singing bowls, a children’s choir, and an ensemble playing traditional Japanese instruments.
“You’ll begin with a soothing atmosphere of zen music from the gongs, gradually increasing in pace, tempo, and energy as the concert progresses,” Yamada explained.
Following an intermission, the Taiko showcase will commence, featuring Raiden Taiko.
Founded 20 years ago under the Kamloops Japanese Canadian Association, Raiden Taiko began with a beginner’s workshop that generated positive feedback from community members, leading to the establishment of the local group. Yamada and Les Tabata are the only two remaining founding members in the ensemble.
Raiden Taiko has performed at various local events, including Canada Day, the Kamloops Tapestry Festival, and Overlanders Day. However, Yamada emphasized that this concert will offer a longer performance with a variety of drums.
“We’ll have 20 to 25 drums of different sizes on stage. You’ll see drums you’ve probably never encountered before,” Yamada noted.
The show will feature theatrical lighting and excellent sound quality, promising an impressive experience for attendees.
As a keepsake, each guest will receive a Japanese uchiwa fan to use during interactive portions of the performance.
“There are a couple of songs where we’ll encourage the audience to wave the fan. We definitely want to engage with the crowd,” Yamada added.
He mentioned that tickets for Sunday’s event are limited and selling quickly, with prices set at $25 for adults, $15 for children aged six and up, and $5 for kids under six years old. Tickets can be purchased through the Kamloops Live! Box Office.
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