Foreign students in Hokkaido drum up affinity with Japanese culture
Students from abroad experienced Japanese taiko drumming to deepen their understanding of the country's culture.
A Japanese-language school in Nakashibetsu town, located in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido, hosted an event on Thursday as part of a cultural studies class.
About 50 students participated.
Members of a local taiko group kicked off the event by performing a powerful piece inspired by the ocean and the fishing practices of Hokkaido.
The students then had a chance to play the drums themselves.
They learned the basic stance -- placing their left leg diagonally forward with knees slightly bent.
They also learned a striking technique that involves lifting the drumsticks straight up and bringing them down to hit the center of the drum.
The participants followed the rhythm or played freely, enjoying the sounds of various sizes of drums and Japanese flutes.
A male student from Nepal said it was difficult but fun.
A female participant from Myanmar said she felt nervous but found it very interesting and would like to try playing again.
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