Eiichi Saito and Taiyo Onoda, both members of the world-renowned taiko ensemble Kodō, visited Derry in 2025 as special guests at the Foyle Obon Festival. Kodō occupies a unique and hugely significant place within Japanese taiko and cultural arts; its members are internationally recognised not only as exceptional performers, but as custodians of a living tradition that combines rigorous discipline, physicality, musical innovation, and deep cultural lineage. To welcome two Kodō members to Derry was artistically profound for us and our community, and, quite simply, a dream come true.
During their time with us, Eiichi and Taiyo worked closely with our Carers and Youth groups, delivering workshops that emphasised listening, teamwork, mutual respect, and shared rhythm. Their approach was generous and grounded, creating an atmosphere where participants felt supported, challenged, and genuinely seen. For many of our young people and carers, this was a rare and invaluable opportunity to learn directly from artists at the very heart of the global taiko world, affirming their own place within that wider cultural landscape.
A central highlight of the visit was a specially created version of Haruka (A Kodo One Earth Music Composition), performed by Eiichi Saito and Taiyo Onoda in collaboration with Ibuki Taiko drummers and local traditional Irish musicians. This unique arrangement wove taiko together with Irish traditional instruments, creating a shared musical language that honoured both cultures while allowing something entirely new to emerge. The performance embodied the spirit of Foyle Obon: respectful exchange, deep listening, and the meeting of traditions through music.
The project was supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, whose backing made this extraordinary exchange possible. For our organisation, our participants, and our festival audiences, the experience was genuinely transformative. Seeing taiko of this artistic calibre rooted so clearly in care, humility, and connection reaffirmed why we do this work. Eiichi and Taiyo’s visit remains an invaluable moment for us all—artistically, culturally, and personally—and one that will continue to shape our practice for years to come.
