Art Lee - Taiko
Encyclopedia
Taiko
teacher and performer Art Lee is recognized as being the first and currently the only person in the world who has ever been awarded an unsponsored artist visa by the Japanese government to be a professional Taiko Artist in Japan
. He is also the only non-Japanese person ever to win First Place in the Odaiko competition of world's most prestigious taiko contest - the Tokyo International Taiko Contest.
, he is also the first non-Japanese to be given the title of 'Taiko Master' by Grandmaster Daihachi Oguchi
. Not only is he well known for his teaching style and performances around the world, but he is also recognized for his efforts to bring taiko enthusiasts from all over the world to Japan to foster international relations through taiko.
An International exchange event in rural Achi Village. Has become an annual event currently run by the Achi Village Town Office.
Art Lee also create concerts and events which feature foreign groups such as his taiko alma mater, Sacramento Taiko Dan, whom he brought to Japan in 2000 and 2002.
A one week to two week beginners to beginning intermediate taiko drumming course taught mainly by Art Lee, but also includes one to three half-day workshops by other highly sought after professional taiko drummers. Taught in English
, this course is mainly for taiko learners in countries outside of Japan to come to learn taiko in Japan. ANNUAL EVENT.
. ANNUAL EVENT.
A one-week course for high level intermediate to advanced taiko players from both abroad and Japan. This course offers one week of intensive taiko instruction as well as field trip to Tokyo
to experience two to three full days of Taiko Contests and performances. Date-wise, this course is close to Kodo
's Earth Celebration, which makes fitting TOKARA Taiko Camp and Earth Celebration in a two-week period easy. ANNUAL EVENT.
Taiko
means "drum" in Japanese . Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums and to the relatively recent art-form of ensemble taiko drumming...
teacher and performer Art Lee is recognized as being the first and currently the only person in the world who has ever been awarded an unsponsored artist visa by the Japanese government to be a professional Taiko Artist in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He is also the only non-Japanese person ever to win First Place in the Odaiko competition of world's most prestigious taiko contest - the Tokyo International Taiko Contest.
Recognition
An alumnus of the Japanese troupe, OndekozaOndekoza
, sometimes referred to as "Za Ondekoza", is a Japanese troupe specializing in taiko drumming.Founded in 1969 by Den Tagayasu, in Sado island, Japan. Ondekoza was influential in the rise of the kumi-daiko style of taiko...
, he is also the first non-Japanese to be given the title of 'Taiko Master' by Grandmaster Daihachi Oguchi
Daihachi Oguchi
was a Japanese drummer best known for popularizing taiko.Master Japanese drummer Daihachi Oguchi is credited with inventing kumi-daiko, the taiko ensemble, in 1951...
. Not only is he well known for his teaching style and performances around the world, but he is also recognized for his efforts to bring taiko enthusiasts from all over the world to Japan to foster international relations through taiko.
Events
Since his move to Japan in 1998, Art Lee has created numerous events in Japan to foster international relations which included either performance, instruction, or a mixture of both.1998
He created the website WadaikoWorld as a means of fostering direct links between taiko groups and students in both Japan and western countries. Translation for events, production of international exchanges events, and taiko news were only some of the services taken on by WadaikoWorld. In 2004, Art left WadaikoWorld to ALT's studying taiko in Japan, from which time it became only an information service for taiko players.2000
The International Powerful Stage.An International exchange event in rural Achi Village. Has become an annual event currently run by the Achi Village Town Office.
Art Lee also create concerts and events which feature foreign groups such as his taiko alma mater, Sacramento Taiko Dan, whom he brought to Japan in 2000 and 2002.
2005
The INADANI Taiko Drumming Course.A one week to two week beginners to beginning intermediate taiko drumming course taught mainly by Art Lee, but also includes one to three half-day workshops by other highly sought after professional taiko drummers. Taught in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, this course is mainly for taiko learners in countries outside of Japan to come to learn taiko in Japan. ANNUAL EVENT.
2006
The Saiwai Shimoina Wadaiko Festival. A festival which invites professional performance groups from around the world, and who have met and performed with Art Lee on his annual world tours. The organizers of this festival are striving to make this one of the largest taiko drumming festivals in all of Nagano PrefectureNagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
. ANNUAL EVENT.
2008
TOKARA Wadaiko Camp (also known as TOKARA Boot Camp).A one-week course for high level intermediate to advanced taiko players from both abroad and Japan. This course offers one week of intensive taiko instruction as well as field trip to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
to experience two to three full days of Taiko Contests and performances. Date-wise, this course is close to Kodo
Kodo
-In Japan:* The kōdō, Japanese incense ceremony.* Kodo , a taiko drumming group based in Japan.* The Kodo Group, a yakuza criminal organization...
's Earth Celebration, which makes fitting TOKARA Taiko Camp and Earth Celebration in a two-week period easy. ANNUAL EVENT.