---

Ninin Angya (Wayfaring Partners) in Canada

Report by Yoko Fujimoto

Kodo O-daiko player Yoshikazu Fujimoto and singer Yoko Fujimoto visited Vancouver and Winnepeg this fall and gave a series of drum, dance and song concerts and workshops. For the 2nd year in a row we visited Canada, this time at the invitation of Hinode Taiko of Winnepeg to participate in a gala event marking their 15th anniversary. Kitano Taiko (Edmonton), Otowa Taiko (Ottawa) and Arashi Daiko (Montreal) were invited too. Katari Taiko (Vancouver) also joined in the workshop. On the day of the concert we were clobbered by snow - but that would hardly discourage Canadian taiko enthusiasts - who came in their droves, packing the hall with 1300 members. We were much impressed by both the hard working staff and the degree of local interest in taiko. Yoshikazu and I gave 4 workshops and 5 concerts at schools and institutions. Although we stayed only 8 days, we hope we were able to help Hinode Taiko express their gratitude towards their community. (Our travel expences were paid for by a grant they received for this event.) Hinode Taiko have twice held taiko festivals inviting groups from throughout North America. Their success, we feel, is due to their strong community based support, their will to survive, their unflagging enthusiasm for taiko and their continued bringing together of the taiko family. We were treated with such warm encouragement and hospitality that we feel we have extended our family too.

---