Asian Arts & Culture Program's presentation of Fubuki Daiko recently thrilled hundreds of local schoolchildren and communitiy members alike. Drawing from a store of seemingly limitless energy and enthusiasm, the four-member Japanese drumming troupe swept up multiple audiences during its March 9-10 visit to UMass. Demand for the Thursday morning children’s Circle Show was so great that a second show was added, with Bowker Auditorium full and rocking each time for a total of close to a thousand children in attendance.

Canadians Hiroshi Koshiyama and his wife Naomi Guilbert entertained and educated the children, who ranged from pre-schoolers to high school students, with just the right amount of factual background, and drew children, teachers and parents from the audience to play along on the big drums.

In the evening, a sell-out crowd roared their approval of the traditional Shi Shi Mai, or Lion Dance, and the varied rhythms and moods of pieces ranging from Images and Atmosphere, and Furinkazan. The group was at complete ease with the audience and used humor, atheticism and sheer muscle strength to convey this traditional and fantastically resounding art form. The crowd whooped, hollerd and jumped to their feet in appreciation.

Quoting Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka, founder of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo where all four members of the group trained, “The essence of Taiko is not only the skillful playing of percussion instruments, but also the discipline of mind and body in the spirit of complete respect and unity among the drummers.” The group members shared this spirit with Springfield school students during demonstrations at SciTech High School and Van Sickle Middle School on Wednesday, March 9. " A Great cultural and musical experience." and "My students loved it; they even looked up its website and to listen its music online.", were some of the feedback from teachers at Van Sickle Middle School where Fubuki Daiko visited during their stay.

The kids were equally appreciative of the experience. Some students from Springfield's High School of Science and Technology told us how they felt about the performance, “The performers did an awesome job with the songs, I loved feeling the drums pulse through my chest. I hope I have the opportunity to see them again.” wrote student Cory Sorel, Krystal Harrison said, “The performance was amazing! It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. It was a breath-taking experience. I could have watched and listened to them forever.” Student Tyrone Holt summed up his experience, “ Every piece was played not only on the drums but also from deep within. I personally enjoyed the performance and would honestly enjoy seeing it again!”

The overwhelming consensus among all who attended the shows or prepared for them behind the scenes was that this visit was exceptionally successful and the group members very easy to work with.