Photo Flash: YAMATO Drummers of Japan to Perform in Houston Oct. 25

YAMATO - The Drummers of Japan will return to Houston for one night only as part of its 20th Anniversary Tour titled ROJYOH - The Beat on the Road, Friday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Hall, presented by Society for the Performing Arts.

The wildly entertaining group of men and women drummers combines the enthusiasm of rock starts, a bit of humor and samurai-serious percussion playing for a performance that captivates audiences of all ages. Named for the ancient word for Japan and its home city of Nara, YAMATO makes its third appearance at Jones Hall.

The cast of YAMATO creates a magnificent cadence and emotion while playing more than 40 taiko drums during the performance, including a six-foot-wide drum made out of a 400-year-old tree. In its new show, ROJYOH, YAMATOcelebrates two decades of working, running, sitting, eating, dreaming and drumming on the road. A group that started out just wanting to perform one song at a local shrine's small festival has blossomed into an international sensation that's performed more than 2,600 times around the globe.

YAMATO's drummers take on the rhythm of the drumbeat much like their samurai warrior ancestors did in battle. Taiko and wadaiko drumming are important to Japan's rich cultural history. Masa Ogawa created YAMATO in 1993, out of respect to his home country. Ogawa says about his treasured art form and heritage, "The energy of life exists within it - life that takes the path to the future. The sound of the taiko is the soul of sound." Ogawa has various roles with the company including choreographer, performer and teacher.

Part of SPA's Citi Energy Group Family Fun Series, this performance is generously sponsored by Reliant, H-E-B, United Airlines and BMC Software.

Tickets range from $25-$85 and can be purchased online atwww.spahouston.org, by phone at 713-227-4772 or at the courtyard level ticket office at Jones Hall located at 615 Louisiana St. Hours of operation: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday. For groups of 15 or more, call713-632-8113.

photos are by Hiroshi Seo

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