ANNUAL TAIKO COURSE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS (2002・03・04・05・07・08・2011)
Many Foreign people travel far across the ocean from The United States and Europe to the Kurumaya Taiko Dojo in Miyama Town, to learn about Taiko Do. They stay at a hotel in Fukui and come every morning to the Dojo. Once they have changed, they come together to practise Zen Meditation and unify with one another’s minds, following the ways of the Dojo Taiko Do Practise.

The Kurumaya Dojo building is constructed of Cedar wood from Miyama. The floor of the Dojo is made from Japanese Hinoki wood. The Students practise Zen Meditation by candle light, whilst sitting in Zazen position on Zabuton cushions and Tatami Mats, in a typical Japanese atmosphere, enjoying the surrounding smells and sounds from the outside.

The practise of Zazen is one of the most important parts of the Taiko Do for the International Students, as they wish to do this practise willingly every morning. Despite their bodies being bigger than that of the Japanese, the way they embrace this practise is a strong indication of their desire to learn.

As the days go by, from morning until evening, the content of the training intensifies, (again like the Zazen) unifying and expanding the harmony of the Group.

Susan Horn, a Taiko Student from California who has played Taiko for over 16 years, who speaks Japanese very well, has been of help to me as an interpreter. Thanks to her, I was able to speak about the essence of Taiko.

On the final day of the Course, we bring together the Students of the Kurumaya Taiko Dojo to meet with the International Students. We play Taiko together; we talk with one another, we eat food together and share many pleasant hours. Even though everyone comes from different Countries and speaks different languages, we experience a clear and wonderful sensation in our hearts, because there is one language we can all speak - the language of Taiko Do.

Many International Students promise every year to return to the Kurumaya Taiko Dojo, some of these Students saying this whilst feeling profoundly moved, often shedding tears.

The fourth International Taiko Course in October 2005 concluded with this same success. Every year, this International Taiko Course will be open for new and experienced Students of Taiko.