Foyle Obon 2023 was a beautiful festival filled with music and lanterns and laughter. We were joined by the amazing Shogo Yoshii from Japan, who had written a specially commissioned piece for our Matsuri group of musicians. Led by Shogo Yoshii, with Fiona Umetsu on taiko drum, and composer Sarah Murphy on shinobue flute, this project brings together Ibuki Taiko drummers Ruth McCartney, Diana McLaughlin, Ciaran McCay, Micheal McCay, Forton Umetsu and Ami Umetsu to collaborate with Ronan McKee on marimba, Lucia McGinnis on harp and Emma Louise Bond and Sophie Doran on vocals.
Fiona asked our lovely taiko family member, Junko Okura, if she would name the piece that Shogo Yoshii had written for the group. She chose – Inochi Kagayake, Warera ga Matsuri – which translates as ‘Shining, glittering, sparkling life …we are all Matsuri’ which, we have to admit, did initially make us scratch our heads just a little…what could Junko have meant? But as we played the piece, as we came together as a taiko family after the loss of Junko, after the separation of lockdowns and pandemics, we realised that Junko had captured the very essence of this big, beautiful taiko family in that name. Life and light do indeed come shining out of all of us when we play taiko, when we gather in community…we are the festival. We are the festival. Warera ga matsuri. Life is indeed glittering and sparkling out of us all when we play. It is the ‘taiko beam’ that Eiichi Saito from Kodo taught us about. It is the Ki that we share when we play and join in community. It is love and light and energy. TaikoLove.
The festival was just beautiful, please enjoy the wee video and the gallery of photos from all our drummers, dancers and wonderful audience!
