Here at Mark H Taiko, we LOVE to bring amazing taiko artists here to DC to offer East Coast taiko players the opportunity to meet and learn from some of today’s top artists and innovators of kumidaiko. And we are thrilled to announce a weekend of workshops with the one and only …
Chieko Kojima
Chieko Kojima travels the world to perform, collaborate, and teach, sharing her extensive experience in both taiko drumming and dances that are deeply rooted in Japanese culture. She first encountered Japanese folk dancing in 1976 and went on to become a founding member of Kodo in 1981. In addition to her work with Kodo, Chieko-san has produced and directed concerts and other special events, traveled to Europe as a Japan Cultural Envoy from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, co-created a photo storybook based on the tale of “Anchin and Kiyohime,” and continues to ambitiously broaden her expressive outlets, seeking out new encounters and collaborations with artists and taiko groups within Japan and throughout the world.
She actively teaches her signature piece, “Hana Hachijo,” which combines taiko and dance into a graceful and powerful performance, to taiko enthusiasts around the world.
Join us February 9 – 11!
We are thrilled to be hosting Chieko-san for her first visit in the US since 2019! Even if you’ve only taken a single series of our Recreational Taiko Class, you can take advantage of this amazing opportunity to study with one of the pioneers of modern taiko.
About “Hana Hachijo”
Hachijo Island, located to the south of Tokyo, is home to a distinct style of drumming which is the basis for Chieko Kojima’s “Hana Hachijo.” In her piece, two performers play a single drum, casting sound in waves across the instrument. Like the different flowers that bloom from season to season, never the same twice, this composition evolves in tandem with the relationship of the performers and their respective spirits.
“‘Hana’ means flower in Japanese, and my piece incorporates rhythms from Hachijo with dance-like movements that add beauty, grace, and color. I have traveled the world with Hana Hachijo, sharing its seeds with many people to date. With each encounter, I hoped those seeds would one day bloom as a unique flower when each individual played their own rendition of Hana Hachijo.”
– Chieko Kojima
About our translator & facilitator
Yuta Kato spent seven years studying with San Francisco Taiko Dojo and was a leader of UCLA Kyodo Taiko before moving to Japan to study at Nihon Taiko Dojo and on Hachijo island. He performed professionally with TAIKOPROJECT, On Ensemble, Portland Taiko, Unit Souzou and coordinated the 2011 North American Taiko Conference before turning his attention to taiko teaching. Kato currently resides in California and up until recently, served as the Principal and instructor for LATI (Los Angeles Taiko Institute) housed at Asano Taiko US. He performs as a member of UnitOne (Torrance, CA).
About the workshops
In these workshops, Chieko Kojima teaches techniques that are at the heart of Japanese traditional dance and taiko. You’ll learn how to push your own strength and endurance without sacrificing grace. This powerful and elegant drumming style has been made famous by Chieko’s performances of “Hana Hachijo”—but the skills you will learn will help you develop better body mechanics and control for all styles of taiko playing.
Here’s the full rundown of workshops for the weekend…
For ALL our students …
All-levels Hana Hachijo Workshop
- FRI, 9 Feb @ 7:00 – 9:00pm
About: In this ALL LEVELS workshop, learn how to build your endurance while also developing the grace and beauty of your taiko playing.
Prerequisite: 1 MHT class series or 3 months of taiko experience.
No previous “Hana Hachijo” experience required!
Max number of participants: 20
Location: The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
(PG County Community Room – Room 2523)
8270 Alumni Dr, College Park, MD 20742
Directions & Info
Google Map
For those with more taiko experience …
Intermediate Hana Hachijo Workshop
- SAT, 10 Feb @ 10:00am – 1:00pm
- -OR-
- SAT, 10 Feb @ 2:00 – 5:00pm
About: This INTERMEDIATE LEVEL workshop will cover the main themes for “Hana Hachijo” as well as the techniques and form used in this elegant style of drumming.
Want to register for Sunday’s Intensives but don’t have previous experience in this style? This workshop is definitely for you!
Prerequisite: at least 2 years of taiko experience.
(This workshop is NOT for those who have recently begun their taiko journey – if this is you, please register for Friday’s All-Levels Workshop!)
Max number of participants: 20
Location: The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
(PG County Community Room – Room 2523)
8270 Alumni Dr, College Park, MD 20742
Directions & Info
Google Map
For those with “Hana Hachijo” experience …
Advanced Hana Hachijo Intensive
- SUN, 11 Feb @ 10:00am – 5:00pm
- (includes a 1-hr break with OPTIONAL bento lunch order)
About: This 6-hour ADVANCED INTENSIVE will go beyond the initial teachings of Chieko’s famed style, to help each participant begin to find their own style of Hachijo taiko drumming.
Prerequisite: At least 5 years of taiko experience AND previous “Hana Hachijo” experience, (including those who take Saturday’s Intermediate Workshop!)
Not sure if this Intensive is right for you? Just ask Mark H and he’ll be happy to help!
Max number of participants: 20
Location: The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
(PG County Community Room – Room 2523)
8270 Alumni Dr, College Park, MD 20742
Directions & Info
Google Map
OPTIONAL Bento Lunch Order ($25)
Enjoy a bento and drink from TakoGrill, delivered in time for the lunch break on Sunday. (Place your order on the registration page.)
Bento choices:
1. Salmon Bento Box
2. Chicken Teriyaki Bento Box
3. Tonkatsu (Pork) Bento Box
4. Vegetarian Bento Box
Options 1, 2, & 3 include Spinach/Tofu Salad, Marinated Bean Sprouts, Pickled Radish, Omelet, Fried Shrimp Shumai, and White Rice.
Option 4 includes Kabocha Croquet, Spinach/Tofu Salad, Bean Sprout Salad, Pickled Radish, Fried Vegetable Gyoza, and White Rice.
Optional Social Outing!
Want to join Chieko and some of your fellow taiko players on an outing to see DRUM TAO? Join us Saturday, Feb 10 at 8pm at the Hylton Performing Arts Center at George Mason University.
If you’d like to see the performance with us, just contact Mark H and he’ll hook you up with all the info!
