Ichitaro (Taiko drummer)
Encyclopedia
Ichitaro Japanese Taiko
drummer (born 1 March 1975, Kuwana, Japan
).
Ichitaro was born in Kuwana, a small town in the Mie Prefecture
of Japan
. In the year 1990, he joined then-revolutionary Japanese Drummers Group Ondekoza
and run 15,000 km across the United States
over the next 3 years. During that time he managed to give over 500 concerts at a wide variety of venues, among them 4 performances at the prestigious Carnegie Hall
in New York
. His mentor was Den Tagayasu, the founder of Ondekoza
, who gave him the stage name of Ichitaro with his wishes for him to become the No.1 Wadaiko drummer in the world (Ichi means one in Japanese).
Before his debut as a solo drummer in the summer 2004, he has given more than 2000 performances alongside Ondekoza several spots around Europe and Asia. His solo performance was held at the Tokyo Cultural Hall.
In 2008, he performed at the opening ceremony of the World Sumo Wrestling Championships, which took place in Rakvere
in Estonia
. This was followed by several performances around Estonia
and Finland
, including a guest performance at the 2009 Estonian Song Festival parade.
In 2010 started with thunderous applause and standing ovation in Turkey
and Algeria
when the Japan Foundation, within the framework of celebrations for "Japan Year 2010 in Turkey", selected Ichitaro as a main performer in a series of concerts in Turkey as well as Algeria.
In the summer of 2010, a Nordic tour titled “Fujin Raijin” was launched with several performances at major festivals in Finland such as World Village Festival in Helsinki, Tampere Theater Festival, Kotka Sea Festival and collaboration works with the Japanese embassies, Tallinn Philharmonic Society and Musik- & Teatermuseet in Stockholm.
And, for 2011, a tour around Northern Europe is being planned.
Outside of performing, Ichitaro is also known for his compositions, which include not only traditional instruments but also more modern musical styles, such as Jazz.
Ichitaro is being promoted by Daigo Takagi in Europe.
Taiko
means "drum" in Japanese . Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums and to the relatively recent art-form of ensemble taiko drumming...
drummer (born 1 March 1975, Kuwana, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
).
Ichitaro was born in Kuwana, a small town in the Mie Prefecture
Mie Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province....
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. In the year 1990, he joined then-revolutionary Japanese Drummers Group Ondekoza
Ondekoza
, sometimes referred to as "Za Ondekoza", is a Japanese troupe specializing in taiko drumming.Founded in 1969 by Den Tagayasu, in Sado island, Japan. Ondekoza was influential in the rise of the kumi-daiko style of taiko...
and run 15,000 km across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
over the next 3 years. During that time he managed to give over 500 concerts at a wide variety of venues, among them 4 performances at the prestigious Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. His mentor was Den Tagayasu, the founder of Ondekoza
Ondekoza
, sometimes referred to as "Za Ondekoza", is a Japanese troupe specializing in taiko drumming.Founded in 1969 by Den Tagayasu, in Sado island, Japan. Ondekoza was influential in the rise of the kumi-daiko style of taiko...
, who gave him the stage name of Ichitaro with his wishes for him to become the No.1 Wadaiko drummer in the world (Ichi means one in Japanese).
Before his debut as a solo drummer in the summer 2004, he has given more than 2000 performances alongside Ondekoza several spots around Europe and Asia. His solo performance was held at the Tokyo Cultural Hall.
In 2008, he performed at the opening ceremony of the World Sumo Wrestling Championships, which took place in Rakvere
Rakvere
Rakvere is a town in northern Estonia and the county seat of Lääne-Viru County, 20 km south of the Gulf of Finland.-History:The earliest signs of human settlement dating back to the 3rd-5th centuries AD have been found on the present theatre hill. Probably to protect that settlement, a wooden...
in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. This was followed by several performances around Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, including a guest performance at the 2009 Estonian Song Festival parade.
In 2010 started with thunderous applause and standing ovation in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
when the Japan Foundation, within the framework of celebrations for "Japan Year 2010 in Turkey", selected Ichitaro as a main performer in a series of concerts in Turkey as well as Algeria.
In the summer of 2010, a Nordic tour titled “Fujin Raijin” was launched with several performances at major festivals in Finland such as World Village Festival in Helsinki, Tampere Theater Festival, Kotka Sea Festival and collaboration works with the Japanese embassies, Tallinn Philharmonic Society and Musik- & Teatermuseet in Stockholm.
And, for 2011, a tour around Northern Europe is being planned.
Outside of performing, Ichitaro is also known for his compositions, which include not only traditional instruments but also more modern musical styles, such as Jazz.
Ichitaro is being promoted by Daigo Takagi in Europe.