
Philosophy

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Drums in Japan are an important aspect of the culture,
necessary to
art and ceremony, imbued with symbology and history. In Japan, a drum
is
part of every festival, encountered in every temple and an integral
part
of most musical and theatrical performances. It might be said that
taiko
sounds the heartbeat of Japanese culture. Taiko reaches deep into the
psyche
of Japan from ceremonies honoring the ancestors to celebrations of
planting
and harvest. Relationships between people as well as individual
pathways
are created through the vibrations of taiko and carried to places of
spirit
that are beyond definition, beyond words, to truth and knowledge.
Drums from all traditions have a spirit that is alive and
vibrant. This
spirit comes alive through the joining of wood, skins, metal and other
materials that come from the trees, plants, animals and the earth. The
spirits of earth, air, fire and water become the grandmothers of the
finished
drum, unseen but always remembered. When all of these elements come
into
harmony and relationship, with good thoughts and actions, a new life is
brought into the world.
Miyoshi Daiko honors these traditions by hand processing raw
materials
in a way that gives voice to their spirits, allowing them to be part of
the creation of a new drum that will benefit the people, the Earth and
all of life. It is our hope that the prayers that go into Miyoshi Daiko
drums, the prayers of the players and the prayers of all who hear these
drums are sent out to the universe for healing and guidance.
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