Japan might be known as a nation of techies now, but even before the technological universe’s exponential expansion (Tamaguchis anyone?), the Japanese were way cooler than we ever will be. OK, maybe cool isn’t the right word… but intriguing certainly is. We teach our kids to eat cheeseburgers, while their young ones train to be ninjas. All inappropriately stereotypical comments aside, Japan deserves credit for its low-tech musical expertise also—as manifest in the form of big ol’Taiko drums. Taiko players themselves are easy to spot, as their forearms are almost as muscular as their biceps. This muscle mass isn’t for nothin’. It’s the result of and means by which musicians beat their giant drums and create resounding rhythms that can shake you to your very core. Taiko can be performed by a solo artist or in a duet, making rainy forest sounds perfect for yoga meditation. Then there’s the Taiko we hear at summer Bon Dances—fast, unified and energizing. Get all the riveting action at the 11th Annual Taiko Festival, which joins together Maui’s popular Zenshin Daiko ensemble, along with San Jose Taiko of California and the Haijicho Drummers from Japan. 808-242-7469, www.mauiarts.org
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