Summer Festival 2016: Taiko, Games and Family Fun
We held our Summer Festival on Saturday, August 27!
Many children and families joined us for a wonderfully enjoyable event.
Our theme was fun for parents and children together, with activities for adults as well as the children.
Some decorations and games used things made with the children, including morning-glory wall art, bottles of colored water, fish and paper-bag watermelons.
We opened with a major surprise:
Kawasaki Taiko Nakama Hibiki presented a live Japanese drumming performance!
The children listened intently to the powerful sounds and vibrations, describing them themselves as “Don, don!”
As well as drumming and a Nankin tamasudare bamboo-mat performance, there was an introduction to the instruments and a hands-on taiko lesson for the children.
With wonderful support from Hibiki, they tried playing freely, moving from gentle to louder sounds and exploring different rhythms.
Parents enjoyed the performance just as much and gave us very positive feedback.
We were pleased to fulfill our aims of offering something enjoyable for both generations and giving families a direct experience of a real performance.
(More about Kawasaki Taiko Nakama Hibiki appears below.)
During game time, families chose their favorite activity corners.
Hibiki’s members stayed to play with the children too.
At the ring toss, children skillfully used both hands and smiled when they succeeded.
At the target game, they aimed balls at ghost-shaped targets.
Adults had a harder version using rubber-band shooters, which proved quite challenging.
In the bug-catching game, children energetically swung nets toward moving beetle toys.
Successful catches at the fishing game encouraged them to try again and again.
Our old-fashioned sweet shop offered nostalgic treats. Some were familiar and others new, and parents looked just as happy choosing them as the children.
Everyone seemed relaxed and enjoyed the Bon dance.
The children made an adorable movement, pointing at their cheeks as they said “Ee!”
We finished with a scavenger hunt, searching for clues around the whole school.
Parents and children worked together, reading hints and asking one another where to look.
We wish we had photographs of it!
The festival was possible thanks to families’ everyday support. Thank you so much.
We look forward to more events that everyone can enjoy together.
Some families shared lovely feedback, which we would like to introduce here.
Parent A:
Thank you for the other day.
The teachers told us to look forward to it, but it exceeded our expectations.
The taiko performance was powerful and moving on its own. I did not expect a workshop for the children afterward too!
Even though the lesson was a surprise, seeing the children listen carefully and play showed how much they had grown.
At home, my son repeatedly called out a deep “Don!” as he told us he had played the drum.
We were also impressed by the careful preparation of every game and decoration. Other mothers and I said how fortunate the children were to have all this done for them.
The children’s expressions showed that their relationship with the teachers was growing closer and that a strong foundation of trust had formed.
Thank you for creating such a wonderful festival despite your busy schedules.
It became a lovely memory for both parent and child.
We are looking forward to the next event even more. Thank you for your continued care.
Parent B:
The Summer Festival was truly wonderful and moving! I had not imagined anything like it and was amazed throughout. The preparation must have been a lot of work. We are very grateful. Thank you!
The children’s Bon dance completely melted my heart.
Parent C:
The Summer Festival was so much fun. The decorations were wonderful, and preparing them must have taken a great deal of work. Our whole family was very happy. Thank you! The teachers looked lovely in their yukata.
Kawasaki Taiko Nakama Hibiki
Hibiki gave us a powerful taiko performance.
At the time of this article, the Japanese drumming and folk-dance group was based in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, and had also held its own performances overseas, including New York, Switzerland and South Korea.
Kawasaki Taiko Nakama Hibiki Facebook page
Events announced at the time (historical information):
Saturday, December 10, 2016
“PLAY for JAPAN: Connecting Through Taiko
—A Concert Supporting Disaster Recovery”
Venue: Asao Civic Hall, Main Hall
Ticket inquiries listed at the time: 042-729-6441 (office) / 080-2043-8175 (Tamada)
July 2017 (planned at the time)
“Kawasaki Taiko Nakama Hibiki Solo Live”
Venue: Shinyuri Art Center
Finally, here are the wonderful hosts in their colorful yukata!
(Hannah and Reiko, with a bonus appearance from the men too.)
