TOKARA Press and Events

Reviews

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Audience / Media Reviews:

“It was an incredible experience. And I would emphasize the word - experience, because what we witnessed there transcends music, performance, dance, entertainment. It was all of that, and beyond. The crowd was captivated from beginning to end.”
Ivan Francuski (Slovenia 2023)

“This was a fantastic show - a rare chance to experience excellent taiko in an intimate space. The performers have a wonderful and beautiful energy - you will feel uplifted to have experienced their love for and dedication to their art form. I loved their intricate rhythms and fusing of different styles and was blown away by their musicianship and energy. If you've never seen anyone play the big odaiko drum before, don't miss this.”
Helen Price

“If you go to one show make it this one. Exciting, dynamic, energetic. The performers give it their absolute all. We were transfixed throughout. If they are back next year so will we be.”
Donald Graham

“Taiko drumming at its most skilful. The expertise, commitment, sensitivity, musicality and raucous enthusiasm of Tokara is an inspiration to anyone who has every tried to master an instrument. But then, Art Lee is widely acknowledged as the grand master of taiko, need I say more? Go whilst you have the opportunity to see them, you will leave inspired.”
Anna Jones

“Joy, power, speed, discipline, emotion, talent...Heart pumping, floor shaking, mesmeric drumming! All performed by Tokara, a Japanese based multicultural Taiko drumming group... awesome...and for the grand climax, you can dance, clap, jump around, take photos and be a part of the experience...”
Clare McIntyre

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“Music is made into martial art by Wadaiko Tokara, here all the way from Japan. Sharp and swift as swordsmen, this renowned, ethnically diverse group master breath-taking force and graceful beauty. Moments of intense focus merge into outbursts of joy, bringing an original beat to the ancient Japanese discipline of taiko drumming. With expert precision, and including informative, friendly explanation, the famous performer Art Lee and his fellows also seize the chance to have some fun. The imagination is transported away from the grey skies of Edinburgh; the eyes are opened to the versatility of percussion. With your seat shaking, your heart reverberating, you’ll enjoy it just as much as the artists themselves. Visually enthralling, culturally enlightening, musically invigorating. Five Stars.”
Three Weeks Review (Edinburgh Fringe Festival)

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Performance Video

Performance Images
Available in larger printing sizes for events featuring TOKARA.

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Performance Highlights

2016 ~ 2021年

• Performance with Brussels Philharmonic "Monoprism" (Maki Ishii) Belgium Premiere
• Art Lee Solo Tour "Tashu Tayou"
• AC Japan National Olympics Campaign
• Performance with Okanagan Symphony Orchestra featuring "Monoprism"
• Japan Taiko Representatives at the Japan Cultural Week in Prague, Czech Republic
• Art Lee 25th Anniversary World Tour in Japan, Germany, Netherlands "Gouki Kadan"
• Okanagan District 33 School Tour - Canada
• Japan Taiko Representatives at the Japan Cultural Week in Helsinki, Finland
• Tohoku Disaster area Charity Performances
• Tokara/Mugenkyo 20th Anniversary of Friendship United Kingdom Tour

2011 ~ 2015年

• Collaboration with Okanagan Symphony Orchestra - Canada
• Workshop leader and performance at ECTC Conference - U.S.
• "1,001 Buddhas" Music compose and performance debut in Collaboration with Ragamala Dance
• Japan Taiko Representatives at the Japan Cultural Week in Poznan, Poland and Bern, Switzerland
• Performance at the largest arts festival in Belgium, Odegand
• 43 concert tour Kazakoshi World Tour - Europe
• Kazakoshi Japan Tour 20 concert national tour
• Reached mark of 500 school performances

2004 ~ 2010年

• Hirugami no Hibiki One month concert run in Hirugami Hot Spring Resort
• Europe Tour in Germany, Belgium, Spain and Holland
• Japan Taiko Representatives at the Japan Cultural Week in Valencia, Spain
• India Delhi Performance for Maruti Suzuki Motors
• Tenchi Shinmei Japan Tour
• 41 concerts at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
• Tenchi Shinmei concert and workshop tour in United Kingdom and Ireland
• Japan Taiko Representatives at the Germany/Japan Friendship Exhibition Week in Frankfurt, Germany
• "Sva" World Tour collaboration with Ragamala Dance - North America, United Kingdom, Japan

• Two weeks of 12 performances at the 42nd Street Theater Off Broadway New York
• One month 30 concerts - Tokara Summer Festival Showcase "Hirugami no Hibiki"
• India Tour - Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Mumbai
• Asano Taiko 400th Anniversary Concert performance
• "Tengei" - Tokara collaboration with Ensemble Rivelta (Bamboo Flute and Koto group) Japan Tour
• "Kougeki Junrei" - Art Lee selected as one of three "Masters of the Odaiko" Japan Tour Concerts
• Kansai Super Show - Tokyo Dome, Japan (Art Lee selected as one of five Odaiko Drum Leaders)
• Art Lee receives award from the American Composers Forum for composition of music for "Sva"

• Art Lee selected to perform at the "All-Stars of Japan" Taiko concert at Aoyama Gekijyo in Tokyo
• Tokara performs at the Takayama City All-Japan Championship Wadaiko Concert
• Japan Representative Group at World Drum and Dance Festival in Taipei, Taiwan
• Australia Performances for Year 2006 Australia/Japan Friendship

COMMISSIONED WORKS

• "1001 Buddhas": Debut 2013 at the Cowles Center for Performing Arts in Minneapolis, MN.
  Commissioned by Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy for collaboration between TOKARA (Japan), Rajna and Anjna Swaminathan, (U.S.A.), Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan (India), and Ragamala Dance (U.S.A.)
• "Fukuro (The Owl)": 2008 Commissioned by Hokkaido, Japan Taiko Group, Kurisaku Shimafukurou, as their signature performance piece at all concerts for 2008 and 2009.
• "Sva (Vital Force)": Debut 2008 at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis, MN.
  Commissioned by Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy for collaboration between Ragamala Dance (Minneapolis, Minnesota) and TOKARA (Iida City, Japan).
• "Kagiri": 2007 Full Concert Composition for concert tour collaboration with Shakuhachi and Koto Ensemble Liberta.
• "EXISTENSION": Title work composed for collaboration with Electone Performer Katsumi Otsuka. Japan Concert Tour.
• Art Lee has also composed numerous pieces for TOKARA for performances tours with the titles of: "Michi no Sekai E" and "Tenchi Shinmei".

TV/Documentary

• 2022 - NHK BS1 Documentary "Drumming for Life" **in English**


• 2021 - NHK Evening Shinshu 「Kiwamebito」


• 2020 - AC Japan National Olympic CM


• 2015 - BS12 Sahel Rose Ichioshi NIPPON


• 2013 - Kanjani no Shiwake


• 2012 - Begin Japanology **in English**


• 2004 - Waratte Koraete