A talk with taiko drum performer Taro Harasaki

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Drum Tao, the showmen of taiko ensembles, amplifies traditions of Japanese culture with a thunderous performance that will take your breath away and leave your limbs reverberating. 

Renowned for its dynamic choreography and striking visuals, the disciplined drum ensemble delivers a performance that is more than just a concert — it’s a full-body experience. A DRUM TAO performance is non-verbal, “so, they don’t really need to understand Japanese. They just enjoy our music and rhythm and beat,” performer Taro Harasaki said. And bring tissues. 

“So, and I don’t know why, but it happens sometimes that after our performance, some people start crying. They don’t really know why, but probably because of that beat and the vibration of that Japanese taiko drum,” he said. “It happens, of course, in Japan, but, I’m all the time wondering why it happens to the overseas, non-Japanese people.” 

Harasaki has performed with DRUM TAO for more than 20 years, since he was 25 years old. He recently spoke with the Center for the Performing Arts from a tour stop in India, where the ensemble is an offshore brand ambassador for Toyota, to offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the strict ensemble and tips for the audience. 

DRUM TAO is soaking up some ‘space.’ 

Harasaki: There used to be a rocket scientist named Dr. Hideo Itokawa. He was a renowned figure, often called the father of Japan space development. Dr. Itokawa had his own theory that, substance cold tau particles existed in the universe. And he watched DRUM TAO performance before … he has passed away. But when he saw the DRUM TAO performance … he felt that, you know, DRUM TAO music had the power to energize and encourage people. 

There is a sacrifice to becoming a DRUM TAO performer. 

Harasaki: It’s very difficult, actually. Many of them, you know, they entered DRUM TAO after they graduated from high school, like, 18 years old. Then … they are forbidden to have a cell phone, they are forbidden to have a laptop. And they don’t have paycheck, because they are trainee. All they have to do is focus on developing their skill of type of drumming. And so it’s very far away from their regular, normal life. 

A trainee period is one year. So, after a year, they have to have a test to, you know, promote. If they cannot pass it, they have to quit. … It’s very severe and tough to survive in this lifestyle. The only way that they can communicate with the others, you know, other than, you know, DRUM TAO people, is just, you know, writing the letter. … So it’s very unique and unusual for them. 

Live is ‘the best’ way to experience taiko drum. 

Harasaki: A taiko drum performance … makes a very huge sound. … And, of course, and [the audience] can feel the vibration, but they cannot feel it on YouTube. … Of course, we sell DVDs, [and] we put some in a video on YouTube, but it doesn’t deliver everything of DRUM TAO. Only live performance can make them feel real DRUM TAO. … Feeling the vibration and beat is the essential. 

Well some people say that, you know, the sound and beat and the vibration of taiko drum is like the sound of the mother’s heartbeat that you heard when you were in [your] mother’s womb. So that’s why the vibration and the beat of Japanese taiko drum touches many people’s hearts, probably. 

The ‘mystery’ of cirque inspired Drum Tao. 

Harasaki: DRUM TAO was formed 32 years ago, and back then, you know, there were many professional and amateur taiko troupes in Japan, as they still do today. But almost all of them performed in a traditional style. But DRUM TAO founder Ikuo Fujitaka was looking for something different, a more and a modern way to entertain people. 

Then he had an opportunity to see the Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas, Mystère. That show inspired him greatly, and he made up his mind to create an entertainment show like that using the type of drum. 

Since then, Fujitaka has brought top performers to Las Vegas time and time again to see various circulatory show productions, and to study how world-class entertainment is created, and how to entertain audience, and how top-tier shows are built. So I would say that Cirque du Soleil has had a tremendous influence on all DRUM TAO members, including me. 

The feeling is the story. 

Harasake: Basically, we live in the middle of the nature, and someone told us, you know, we live at the edge of the civilization. So, in that place, we composed numbers inspired by that stuff. There is no specific storyline, but I hope the audience can feel our background scenery and Japanese culture … [such as] self-defense and umbrellas, and the other instruments, like a Japanese guitar, called shamisen, or Japanese harp, called koto, not only taiko drum. So, it’s kind of full of Japanese culture. Unfortunately, there is no anime on our stage, no manga, but, you know, it’s full of Japanese culture. 

Bring your ear plugs and noise-cancelling headphones.

Harasaki: Especially, for the children, you know, it’s going to be very loud. I see some venues, you know, providing earplugs to the, kids, and, well, for the, you know, grown-ups as well. So, yeah, it’s so loud, actually.  

Drum Tao will bring its performance “The Best” to Penn State at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, in Eisenhower Auditorium. Call the Arts Ticket Center at 814-863-0255, or visit Drum Tao online for more information and to purchase tickets. 

“Forget everything about, you know, any difficulty on your life. Just come out to see a performance and enjoy our performance, that’s it,” Harasake said.