Columbus and Cleveland Chosen as Sites for Visit by Japan’s National Treasure and Taiko Drummer Eitetsu Hayashi
by Jami Goldstein

Japanese Taiko drummer Eitetsu Hayashi is coming to Ohio for a series of community based residencies in the Columbus area and Cleveland. The first of the series of visits by the master Taiko artist will be hosted by Dublin Arts Council between May 24-May 30, 2004. Hayashi and his group, “Fuun-no-kai,” will be visiting Columbus and Cleveland periodically until Spring 2006. The project is produced by the Ohio Arts Council’s International Program in partnership with Arts Midwest and the U.S/Japan Cultural Trade Network. The project is supported by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Ohio Arts Foundation, Inc.

The Dublin Arts Council is working collaboratively with Hayashi and the Dublin City School District, the Conservatory of Music at Capital University, and The Ohio State University to develop the various components of Hayashi’s residency in Central Ohio. Part of the residency will include performances and workshops for both children and adults. Hayashi hopes to impart a measure of the intensity of Taiko to the participants and also empower them to find ways to express themselves that are unique to their communities and their culture.

There will be a Japanese Taiko Demonstration and Presentation featuring Eitetsu Hayashi at 7 p.m. on May 26, 2004 at the Dublin Coffman High School Performing Arts Center. The evening will include a performance and discussion of the current Taiko scene in Japan.

''This is such a wonderful opportunity for Ohio to embrace a part of Japanese culture here in our community,” said Wayne Lawson, Executive Director of the Ohio Arts Council. Eitetsu Hayashi has made an astounding impact on the musical community throughout the world and we are very fortunate and excited to be hosting a musician of his caliber.”

Hayashi began his Taiko career as a founding member of the world-renowned percussion groups Sado-Ondekoza and Kodo, and by 1982 was a celebrated solo performer. During the past 30 years he has made innumerable contributions to the growth of Taiko music, and brought a traditional Japanese art form to the world stage. Since beginning his solo career he has performed on six continents with some of the most venerated orchestras in the world, collaborated with artists in every musical genre imaginable, and received countless honors and accolades for his breathtaking performance style.

Hayashi also has done extensive work in Japanese communities and shared his gifts and talents with children and adults worldwide. Hayashi is a National Treasure of Japan and is the world's only orchestral solo Taiko artist.

The Ohio Arts Council's International Program is recognized as a leader in cultural arts exchanges among U.S. state arts agencies. Designed to foster long-term involvement in international cultural exchanges, the International Program encourages Ohio artists and arts organizations to form partnerships with arts professionals abroad. The International Program provides grants to help nonprofit educational, cultural and arts organizations, individual artists, performers, educators, arts managers and administrators develop exemplary international arts projects and innovative partnerships that increase Ohio’s access to international arts activities. For more information visit www.oac.state.oh.us.

The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.

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