Autumn Grand Taiko Workshop in Togakushi

Led by taiko drummer Kensaku Sato, the workshop titled “Strike the Grand Taiko! Unleash Your Full Power!” was held in Togakushi. William Reed Sensei had the pleasure of participating in this event.

Kensaku Sato performed the grand taiko as Japan’s representative for the next host country at the closing ceremony of the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

He is also the first in the taiko world to receive the Newcomer’s Award at the Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival, marking him as a distinguished artist with an impressive career and exceptional skill, both domestically and internationally.

Despite his remarkable achievements, he remains approachable, humorous, and down-to-earth—a truly warm and genuine individual.

The seminar was held at Zeishokukan（是色館）, a spiritual site in Togakushi where Sato-san regularly trains.

As for the content, it included practices already familiar to Reed Sensei, such as the “Himo-Tore” technique and balancing exercises using single-toothed geta sandals. These exercises are designed to enhance body balance and movement quality.

Additionally, Sato-san delivered a fun and engaging lecture on his unique training techniques for playing the grand taiko, incorporating lively gestures and humor throughout.

One might think this would be second nature for Reed Sensei, but…
Something seemed different, perhaps due to unfamiliar movements incorporated specifically for taiko drumming. It appeared to be a bit of a struggle.

However, even early on, it was clear that this movement training would provide valuable insights for daily life going forward—a realization that became more and more apparent as the session progressed.

And then came the grand moment: the arrival of three taiko drums!
Among them, the most striking was Fuji (不二), said to be one of the largest taiko drums in the world owned by an individual.

Sato-san generously demonstrated multiple times, and the indescribable tones and vibrations of the drum were truly out of this world!

Even the resonance left a lasting impression—it was simply extraordinary.

“I can’t believe I get to play this!”
Caught up in the moment, Reed Sensei was beaming with childlike excitement, almost forgetting this was a seminar!

Barefoot drumming.

Drumming while wearing balance geta.

Drumming while skipping at times.

All the training from the beginning of the session came into play here.

At first, the sound was light and gentle, but to everyone’s surprise, by the end, it transformed into a deep, resounding tone full of weight. The vibrations and sound of the drum vividly reflected the changes throughout the process, making the evolution easy to sense.

Striking those massive taiko drums with two bachi (drumsticks) delivers an incredible impact. It requires far more physical strength than one might imagine.

After each powerful strike, the deep, resonant sound and lingering reverberations echo profoundly in the heart.

Perhaps it was this indescribable sense of exhilaration that drove Reed Sensei to pour his heart and soul into the drumming, working up a sweat as he continued to strike with unwavering focus.

Even after the long session, Reed Sensei showed no signs of fatigue. Instead, he appeared energized and full of life.

It was as if the usual stresses of daily life had been completely swept away, leaving him with a refreshed and rejuvenated presence.

Despite his regular practice of Himo-Tore, Aikido, and other forms of training, Reed Sensei experienced a remarkable improvement in his body’s flexibility and range of motion following the pre-session and post-session training in this workshop.

Since ancient times, the Japanese taiko drum has been used in festivals, kabuki, noh theater, and rituals at shrines and temples. It has served to honor the gods, cherish nature, and bring healing to people.

In Japanese mythology, it is said that a barrel was overturned and struck to create sound during the scene of Ama no Iwato (The Cave of the Sun Goddess). Could this be the origin of the Japanese taiko drum?

It was a day that deeply reminded us of the profound richness of Japanese culture.

heartfelt thank you to Kensaku Sato and to all the participants who shared this experience on the day.

[Side Note]

Since we were in Togakushi, we first paid our respects to the gods of Togakushi and then fully indulged in the delicious Togakushi soba noodles.

Perhaps thanks to that, we were able to dive into the training with full energy and enthusiasm! (laughs)

Kensaku Sato Website：http://tihayable.jp
Marumitsu Himo-Tore：http://www.m-bbb.com