Taken and translated from Hayashi Eitetsu's website.
This work was commissioned by the city of Kobe for the 6th anniversary event to celebrate the safe recovery of the port city of Kobe after the devastating earthquake. It debuted with more than 1,000 taiko drummers from the surrounding Kansai region, where it was a great success, expressing the strength of human beings, their relentless spirit, and their never-ending hope. As an easy-to-learn introductory song, Senno Kaikyo is taught by Eitetsu Hayashi at workshops in Japan and abroad, becoming widely loved. The intro expresses waves crashing, the footsteps of volunteers rushing in, and the appearance of people standing up, followed by a light festive beat. This traditional Japanese shuffle beat is said to have originated from the ``sound of waves crashing on a ship''.
A video cut from our Taiko class