Fieldwork F

Shigenari Yasui
Headmaster of Ryuho Koyo Kai, Yasui School
Born in 1948, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan

1956 Awarded first prize in the first Nagoya Artistic Accomplishment Concours.
1979 Formed the percussion group, "Owari Drums Ryu-no-Kai"
1984 Participated in a performance in Vienna, Austria as a member of the Nagoya Entertainers Party
1997 Enrolled as a member of the Aichi Art and Culture Association

Presently, as leader of the "Owari Drums" performers, he participates in a variety of events held at theaters, festivals, wedding ceremonies, and fine hotels.

The Origin of "Owari Drums"
In the Owari district, particularly in the Ama-gun area of Aichi Prefecture villagers continue to perform a Shinto festival that originated almost two hundred years ago, during the latter part of the Edo era. During this festival, villagers carry a golden portable shrine, shaped like a house, while others beat drums brilliantly, praying for bumper crops and the safety of the villagers. The beat of the "Owari Drums" is arranged along modern lines, but is based on that of the festival drums.

November 11th

For all of the group members, it was the first time in our lives we had ever heard the traditional flat drum. We were all shocked by the fierceness of its sound. The impact it had on us influenced the direction of our presentation.

At night we talked about the mode of presentation. While talking, we came to realize that the sound of the drum was deeply related to the heartbeat.

November 12th

We decided to ask Mr. Yasui several questions; what the sound of drums was, what he felt, and the relationship between human beings and the sound of drums. The sound of drums reminded us of the heartbeat of our mother we heard in her womb. That was because we were inspired by its sound.

November 13th

We prepared and made our presentation.

In the two-day fieldwork our group was able to listen to traditional Japanese musical instruments, including drums, flutes, and the shamisen. Mr. Yasui began by drumming for us. We were both shocked and impressed by the fierceness of its sound. The feelings aroused within us remained with us until we reviewed our experience with the musician.

Mr. Yasui is the head master of a Japanese drumming school, and plays a great variety of musical instruments, ranging from traditional Japanese instruments to those from the West. On the first day, we listened to the Owari drum. We then tried beating out simple rythms on it ourselves. We had some members from abroad and their participation helped intensify our awareness of the difference of the rhythms and perceptions familiar to various individuals.

Afterwards, Mr. Yasui talked about his regular activities and the characteristics of the Owari drum. We were astounded by his skillful playing, and then tried ourselves to play various lengths of Japanese recorder. We found out how difficult it was simply to produce a sound with the traditional Japanese instruments!

We returned to the college to prepare to review our exercise. While talking about what we felt and how to present it, we realized that there were several questions we would like to ask Mr. Yasui.

On the second day we decided to talk with Mr. Yasui, rather than listen to and play the instruments. The discourse was of a great help in our review. In some depth we went into his ideas and perceptions concerning the drums, the relationship between human beings and the sound of drums, and also the views of traditional Japanese instruments and Western ones.

Aiming to present the reproduction of each listener's heartbeat in the sound of the drum, we made our presentation a live performance of traditional Japanese drums with the theme, "Tai (magnitude) Ko (drum) Do (beats)" on a Mac.


Jason Ong Kian Koo Competion Winner Singapore	Akane Wachi Musashino Art University	Hideki Yano Competion Winner Japan

Masayuki Katsuyama Nagoya City University, School of Design and Architecture, graduate school	Takayoshi Matsui Nagoya Zokei University of Art & Design	Keiichiro Maeno Product Designer