Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers News Page


April – May 2006	Tour of UK see tour dates


September – October 2005 Joint tour with Hanayui In September we were very honoured to welcome the delightful Hanayui, sister group of the world-renowned Kodo Drummers. Hanayui came to Scotland in March last year, performing as special guests at our concert at the Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh. Following the success of this concert, Hanayui decided to return to the UK for a joint concert tour with us, returning to many of our favourite venues, as well as going to a few new ones.

	September 2005 BBC Proms at Glasgow Green We performed a 20-minute set as part of this exciting event, televised live on BBC2 as part of the BBC Proms 2005: the Last Night of the Proms, including a joint piece with Scottish bagpipes player, Stuart Cassells, who was awarded the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2005.

	April 2005 Sold out concerts at Glasgow Tramway and Edinburgh Queen’s Hall, with Masaaki Kurumaya Sensei as special guest To co-incide with Masaaki Kurumaya Sensei’s visit for the Dojo Grand Opening, we performed two concerts with Kurumaya Sensei returning to play with us as special guest – both concerts were completely sold out, and the lead-up and the final scramble for tickets caused a real buzz of excitement. Kurumaya Sensei was on top form, displaying his amazing skill and charisma to a spellbound audience. Mugenkyo too were firing on all cylinders, the emotion of the moment lifting all the players. It was a concert of heightened energy and intensity – a fitting thank you to Kurumaya Sensei for being the inspiration which started it all. The audience responded with an instantaneous standing ovation and bouquets of flowers for Kurumaya Sensei.

	May 2005 UK tour, which included an appearance on S4C television in Wales For the Uned 5 television programme for S4C, we performed a shortened version of Todoroki. Miyuki and Adam also accompanied the welsh folk singer Meinir Gwilym on taiko and gong. March 2005 New drums arrive Another shipment of new nagado drums, to complete our “second set” of drums, which will allow more touring possibilities.
April 2005 Grand Opening of Mugen Taiko Dojo 2005 Since the group started, it has been our dream to build a Taiko Dojo – a permanent base and rehearsal space for the group, and a place where people can come to learn both the technique and the background to taiko drumming. It took many years to renovate the Dojo as it was a self-funded project, and this year it was finally complete. It was our great pleasure to invite our teacher, Masaaki Kurumaya Sensei from Japan for the Grand Opening. See dojo news for full report & photos.
	January 2005 Mugenkyo performance in Tokyo at the Opening Event of the 2005 EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges We were very honoured to be invited to represent European taiko at this prestigious event in Tokyo. Also performing at the event were Exeter-based Kagemusha Junior group representing European junior taiko, Tokyo-based Amanojaku representing Japanese taiko and Matsukawa Kyogaku Daiko representing Japanese Junior taiko. It was a very special event, not least because we were re-united with one of the best taiko groups in Japan, and our old friends, Amanojaku.