2023 Obon Special Guest Performers
World Champion Taiko drummer Takumi Kato
World Champion kendama performer Pu Ho Lam
The St. Paul - Nagasaki Sister Cities is proud to announce our special guest performers for 2023. On stage this year, we will have "Peaceful Forest," the Kato family taiko, led by Tokyo International Wadaiko Competition winner, Takumi Kato, and supported by his three young sons, who have been playing taiko all their lives. Later on stage, Sweets Kendamas will perform their latest kendama tricks, with special guest Pun Ho Lam, International Jugglers’ Association Championship winner, whose won with his spectacular kendama performance. Read more about each of our guest performers below, following the stage schedule.
Obon 2023 Stage Schedule:
3:00 PM Taikollaborative: taiko drums, on the steps of the conservatory
3:30 PM Sansei Yonsei Kai: traditional dances
4:00 PM Sakura Kai: koto music
4:30 PM Thunderwave and Momoko Tanno: festival dances and folk songs
5:00 PM Harisen Daiko: taiko drums
5:30 PM MinnesoDance: yosokoi style dances
6:00 PM Peaceful Forest: Kato Family Taiko, special guests from Gifu, Japan
6:30 PM Sweets Kendamas Foundation: kendama tricks and workshop
7:00 PM Enso Daiko: taiko drums
7:30 PM Community Bon-Odori Dance, led by MinneSo Dance
8:00 PM Sunset and lantern launch on the Frog Pond
Peaceful Forest
Kato Family Taiko
From their GoFundMe Page:
Hi, my name is Takumi Kato, and I am a professional Japanese Taiko drumming performer from Japan. My family and I moved to the US with a dream of performing 1,000 times with my three children across 50 states in 5 years. It started in Oct 2022, with 176 performances done as of Feb 25th 2023.
We are not performing for monetary gain or popularity. We want to share the beauty and culture of Taiko with many Americans for cultural exchange. This initiative is the only thing we can do as Taiko players and new migrants. This fundraising, along with donations and honorarium at performances, will support our living and tour costs for five years. I sincerely appreciate your kind support.
From the Peaceful Forest website:
In 2008, I [Takumi Kato] received the top prize in the big Japanese drum category at the 7th Tokyo International Wadaiko Competition, which is among the world’s most prestigious. Since then, I’ve had the honor to perform for their Majesties the former Emperor Empress of Japan the opening of the 67th Japanese National Games. I’ve had the honor of of performing three times for His Royal Highness, the former Crown Prince current Emperor of Japan at the 67th National Games, the National Tree Raising Festival, the Agriculture Leaders Summit. I’ve been honored to perform for the leaders of 16 nations at the Pacific Islands Summit at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence.
Resources & Videos
GoFundMe - Kato family 50 performances in 50 states https://www.gofundme.com/f/sharing-art-of-japanese-taiko-by-1000-performs
Peaceful Forest website: https://www.nukumorinomori.com/en/profile/
NHK profile video, in English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGgShoq7-r0
Kato family's recent performance at the Portland Japanese Immersion School: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOjendbQoXE
Photo from the Peaceful Forest website
