Inadani. 3. Friends.

It's clear that a group of people going through a shared experience will often bond, but I think it fair to say that our little group bonded particularly well.

There were 13 of us in the Inadani course, not counting Art and Yukari. All of us gaijin - Australians, Canadians, and Americans - and all of us taiko enthusiasts. We spent a lot of time together, starting the day by sharing breakfast each morning, and going well into the night after practice, when Toyama-san showered us with presents, lubricated us with beer and sake and regaled us with what I can only presume to have been stories of taiko and his mis-spent youth.

In the morning...

...and in the evening
Nay, our evenings after taiko practice were never dull. After a relaxing wash and soak in the ryokan's ofuro, as often as not we'd head out for some local entertainment: a kyogen performance on one night, kareoke on another, and watching local taiko groups practice on yet another.

In costume, going to see a kyogen performance

and a local community group at practice

And of course we would spend a lot of time just talking. Over at the bar. Or with the boys, soaking in the ofuro. Or with my roommates Jay and Joe late into the evening. About taiko. And about life.

Clockwise from extreme right: Joe, Robin, Alexa, Ted, Jay, Gail, Jacinta, Cathy, Jennifer, Marcin, Art, Dean, Yukari, Mark, and Andrea

Our host at the ryokan, Mr. Toyama-san, turned out to be quite a taiko enthusiast himself. In his salad days he was only the 18th student of Daihachi Oguchi; and now, despite many more life responsibilities, he is still the leader of one of the taiko ensembles in Achi-mura. Having him as our host was wonderful. Not only did he drive us around in his bus as needed, but he shared our excitement for taiko in a way that few people can. He made us feel truly welcome.

Toyama-san: on the odaiko...

... and impersonating Oguchi-sensei
But, of course, behind every successful man, there is a great woman, and I have little doubt that the success of the Misaka Ryokan in general and of our stay there last week in particular had much to do with Mrs. Toyama-san. While Mr. Toyama-san indulged in his enthusiasm for taiko, she kept us fed and running on schedule. Truly a wonderful lady.

Mrs. Toyama-san: never at rest

Art, Yukari, Joe, Robin, Alexa, Ted, Jay, Gail, Jacinta, Cathy, Jennifer, Dean, Mark, Andrea, Mr. & Mrs. Toyama, the other locals in Achi-mura... It is the people that make for a fantastic experience, and last week was no exception.

Inadani. 3. Friends.

It's clear that a group of people going through a shared experience will often bond, but I think it fair to say that our little group bonded particularly well.

There were 13 of us in the Inadani course, not counting Art and Yukari. All of us gaijin - Australians, Canadians, and Americans - and all of us taiko enthusiasts. We spent a lot of time together, starting the day by sharing breakfast each morning, and going well into the night after practice, when Toyama-san showered us with presents, lubricated us with beer and sake and regaled us with what I can only presume to have been stories of taiko and his mis-spent youth.

In the morning...

...and in the evening
Nay, our evenings after taiko practice were never dull. After a relaxing wash and soak in the ryokan's ofuro, as often as not we'd head out for some local entertainment: a kyogen performance on one night, kareoke on another, and watching local taiko groups practice on yet another.

In costume, going to see a kyogen performance

and a local community group at practice

And of course we would spend a lot of time just talking. Over at the bar. Or with the boys, soaking in the ofuro. Or with my roommates Jay and Joe late into the evening. About taiko. And about life.

Clockwise from extreme right: Joe, Robin, Alexa, Ted, Jay, Gail, Jacinta, Cathy, Jennifer, Marcin, Art, Dean, Yukari, Mark, and Andrea

Our host at the ryokan, Mr. Toyama-san, turned out to be quite a taiko enthusiast himself. In his salad days he was only the 18th student of Daihachi Oguchi; and now, despite many more life responsibilities, he is still the leader of one of the taiko ensembles in Achi-mura. Having him as our host was wonderful. Not only did he drive us around in his bus as needed, but he shared our excitement for taiko in a way that few people can. He made us feel truly welcome.

Toyama-san: on the odaiko...

... and impersonating Oguchi-sensei
But, of course, behind every successful man, there is a great woman, and I have little doubt that the success of the Misaka Ryokan in general and of our stay there last week in particular had much to do with Mrs. Toyama-san. While Mr. Toyama-san indulged in his enthusiasm for taiko, she kept us fed and running on schedule. Truly a wonderful lady.

Mrs. Toyama-san: never at rest

Art, Yukari, Joe, Robin, Alexa, Ted, Jay, Gail, Jacinta, Cathy, Jennifer, Dean, Mark, Andrea, Mr. & Mrs. Toyama, the other locals in Achi-mura... It is the people that make for a fantastic experience, and last week was no exception.