In the village of Asuka, a place with more than a thousand years of history and culture, Yamato seeks new expression with Wadaiko as its backbone.  They think of the sound of the drums – made of animal skin and ancient trees, some of which are more than 400 years old – as a pulse or heartbeat (Shin-on), the center of life and the source of power which pulsates within the human body.
In Yamato: Drummers of Japan, Bakuon – Legend of the Heartbeat, dozens of players start their performance by hitting a Japanese taiko drum made from a large 400 year old tree. They move their whole bodies to strike the drum with everything in their souls, creating a powerful surge of energy. From beautiful Nara Prefecture in Japan, this dynamic group exhibits great originality and innovation through this traditional Japanese musical instrument, the wadaiko (Japanese Drum). This is the epitome of the Japanese spirit, a roaring sound that will make you experience new and exciting adventures.
For the players of Yamato, every encounter with their listeners is a unique and precious experience with the ultimate goal to send audiences home after each performance with a new vitality and passion for life.
“Go anywhere if invited and make the world a little more happy” is the group’s motto.  With 150-200 performances a year worldwide, Yamato takes their motto very seriously and have attracted 6 million viewers.
Watch the high-intensity performance of Yamato: The Drummers of Japan as the players move their whole bodies to strike the drums:

Experience the power and energy of Yamato: The Drummers of Japan, Bakuon – Legend of the Heartbeat on Wednesday, March 2 at The Centre.