Stir Q&A: YAMATO Drummers of Japan's taiko beats unleash "the power of people"
Group’s founder and artistic director Masa Ogawa talks compassion and connection ahead of Chan Centre presentation
YAMATO Drummers of Japan. Photo by Hiroshi Seo
The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts presents YAMATO Drummers of Japan on March 29 at 8 pm
AFTER 4,700 SHOWS in 55 countries (and counting), the Japanese taiko group YAMATO will return to Canada this spring.
Founded in 1993 in Nara, Japan, the musical group’s title derives from the capital city’s former name. Just as its birthplace is known as the source of contemporary Japanese culture, YAMATO honours a tradition that is described as the sound of Japan itself. Featuring over 40 drums played by more than a dozen drummers, the co-ed team invites audiences around the world to celebrate “hito no chikara”, the power of human strength. Vancouver listeners will experience just that when the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts presents the group here on March 29.
Across performances and live albums, the spirit of YAMATO can be felt not only in its heart-stirring rhythmic patterns, but also in the ever-present, warrior-like vocalizations of the drummers, and the audible responses from international and Japanese audiences alike. Like its ongoing workshops and educational efforts for taiko, YAMATO’s true power lies in its call for community and live engagement around the globe.
In anticipation of the drummers’ upcoming performance, Stir caught up with Masa Ogawa, founder and artistic director of YAMATO, to talk about his philosophy and creative process.
YAMATO Drummers of Japan. Photo by Hiroshi Seo
YAMATO is touring throughout Europe, the U.S., and Canada this year. As the producer for the group, where do you find inspiration and creative ideas when designing a new show?
The inspiration for YAMATO’s shows comes from daily life—or rather, I actively seek it out. Every day, countless events unfold around the world, both good and not so good. First, I take time to reflect on these things. Then I think about how we can connect with them through our performances. When we meet people, I imagine the landscapes of each city, the stage we set there, and the sound of our taiko drums resonating through the space. I am always thinking about how we can deliver energy and courage to people’s hearts.
What is “hito no chikara” and why is it important to celebrate this idea?
“Hito no chikara” literally means “the power of people”—the strength inherent in human beings. In this program, rather than focusing on physical strength in contrast to technology, we emphasize the power of the heart—the ability to care for one another—and the creativity to bring new ideas to life. It is about believing in the potential of the human spirit. Our goal is to express the beauty of the pure strength that people possess and the incredible energy that emerges when we come together as a group.
As YAMATO’s producer, you are also the music composer and movement choreographer. You must be comfortable juggling different roles. Is there one that comes more naturally than others to you, or are they perhaps challenging in different ways?
Each role comes with its own challenges, but composing, choreographing, and producing are all means of shaping YAMATO’s unique world. It’s difficult to say which comes most naturally, but at our core, we live together and play taiko—that is our foundation. All of our ideas stem from that shared experience. By translating the relationships and interactions of our daily lives into music and performance, we create expressions that feel more natural and authentic.
Do you have any advice about working with a large team and having successful collaborations in general?
I believe that the most important value in YAMATO’s work is compassion. While respecting each individual’s personality and uniqueness, it is crucial not to simply push one’s own opinions, but to maintain a sense of mutual respect. At YAMATO, we emphasize the importance of each member taking initiative with a sense of objectivity, fostering a strong sense of unity that comes from the shared awareness that we are all creating the show together.
YAMATO Drummers of Japan. Photo by Hiroshi Seo
Are there any memorable experiences from YAMATO’s travels and performances that you reflect on fondly?
YAMATO’s journey is a continuous series of new experiences, but what leaves the deepest impression is not just the performances themselves—it is the encounters with people that surround them. Our performances are only possible because of the connections we make with local staff, audiences, and countless others along the way.
Even when cultures and languages differ, the sound of the taiko transcends borders and resonates in people’s hearts. Through taiko, people connect with one another, and that resonance is not fleeting—it lingers, becoming a driving force that sustains us.
A woman who saw our performance years ago now brings her child, saying, “I listened to your music while I was in my mother’s womb; I remember it,” and embraces us. A person who cannot hear comes to us smiling, saying, “For the first time, I was able to experience music.” A 90-year-old woman, with tears in her eyes, tells us, “I have lived this long so that I could meet you. Thanks to you, I want to keep living.” Her eyes sparkle with life.
These moments are beyond words—deeply moving and profoundly joyful. The most precious treasure is the instant when the audience’s energy and our performance resonate as one. The heartbeat of our passion is passed on and spreads further. And today, once again, I know we will feel it. 
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