By JOWIT SALUSEKI –

THREE international artists, namely Naomi Kaizumi, Keiko and Kenichi Koizumi, last Tuesday fascinated the huge swarm of attendees at the Japanese Taiko drum concert at Lusaka’s Hotel Intercontinental.
The evening’s key form of artistic expression was an ancient Japanese style of percussion using large drums which are called ‘Taiko’ in Japanese.
One of Taiko’s most defining aspects was its dynamic playing style which involved a lot of choreographed movements with loud, hard and fast pitch music.
The first piece that was performed was the Shibuki (splashes) which was performed on an Okedo–taiko (tub drum). In this performance, the instruments created the ambience of splashing water. The play was composed by Kenichi Koizumi.
Yoake-mae (before the dawn) followed next. This piece conveys the image of the pre-dawn darkness. Attendees enjoyed the solo performance on a Shinobue (Japanese bamboo flute) made of shikotake, a specific type of thin bamboo with widely–spaced joints. This play was composed by Naomi Koizumi.
Another amazing piece that was played was the Banrai (thunder). The Banrai was a combination of performance on various taiko drums that uses the sounds of various types of drums to convey the image of thunder.
The last play to be performed was the Bon Odori Medley or Bon Dance.
According to Japanese officials, this play is familiar on most festivals and is closely inter-woven with the lives of the rural Japanese people.
All in all, the massive crowd enjoyed 13 different music plays which were showcased on the night.
Speaking during the same night, Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Kiyoshi Koinuma said: “Music is a good example of different cultures. Rock, Classic or Jazz might be different in music genres, but music can easily cross the ocean and bridge cultures. We might have different nationalities, but music can bring home to us how closely we are sharing the same values.
“It is my since hope that this concert will enrich the relationship between Japan and Zambia by bringing about a better understanding of Japanese culture and arts”.
Those who missed the Taiko drum concert should not worry as yet another epic in the Japanese Film festival is to be screened from September 16-18, at Ster-Kinekor Arcades Mall Cinema in Lusaka during the Japanese week.
The festivities are part of 50th anniversary of Zambia–Japan diplomatic relationship.