Come join the Department of East Asian Studies and the SPS International Club for a 'Garyu Group Taiko Performance' on May 6th! Doors open at 6:00 PM.
Check out Garyu's website and YouTube channel!
For more information, please contact Kayo Nonaka.
About Garyu
“Alternative Taiko Unit Garyu” is a percussion and performance group from Fuchu city, Hiroshima, Japan, founded in June of 2005.
Garyu fuses wadaiko – traditional Japanese drums – with contemporary Western drums, to create a new style of music that moves beyond conventional genres. Their motto is “the pursuit of original expression.” The characters for Garyu read as “self” and “dragon.” Like a dragon trying to fly to the heavens, the members of Garyu work constantly to realize their own style of music. With these goals in mind, they make every hit on the drum count.
Garyu’s beat begins when they cut the hide of the drums themselves. The group makes inventive, modern instruments using traditional methods. Their music, materials, costumes and the majority of their instruments are entirely original.
Although Garyu’s music is influenced by a long-standing culture, it takes shape through modern expression. Their inspiration comes from various wadaiko practices from around Japan, different world instruments, and above all, the nature around us today. When they play, they interce the rich scenery and heritage of their country with the beats ofwadaiko and Western drum.
At first glance, Japanese and Western drums seem incompatible. But delve deeper, and you find that each contains unique elements that compliment and enhance one another. The members of Garyu challenge themselves to bring together the best of both styles of drums and give you modern music with a strong beat and a sharp edge.