Yume Daiko taiko drummers at Cleveland Asian Festival
Yume Daiko Japanese taiko drummers 2023 Cleveland Asian Festival May 21, 2023
Matt Richards studied, taught and performed taiko with the group Mukade Daiko during the fifteen years he lived and worked in Yasu, Japan. Matt had the opportunity to attend camps and workshops with the world famous Japanese taiko group Kodo. He began with Mukade Daiko as a beginner and left as the leader.
After moving to Cleveland he and his children began performing in various scholastic and private function venues. Other members joined and the group took the name, Yume Daiko; the two words meaning "Dream" and "Drums".
They performed at the 2023 Cleveland Asian Festival. Isabel Lawrence, a reporter and anchor for WKYC TV, introduced Yume Daiko and this first powerful taiko drum performance from Japan.
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In this performance they reclined on the stage and beat the drums while leaning back.
While the group was setting up new drums, Isabel Lawrence spoke with group founder Matt Richards who told how the group got started and introduced the members who are mostly family.
Matt Richards and Isabel Lawrence
This performance began with the blowing of a conch shell, then the drumming and then ending with a flute.
In this performance they played a variety of sizes of drums.
In their grand finale they came down off the stage for a close-up performance.
