Community

For all of the negative effects COVID-19 has had – from the practicalities of lost revenue and cancelled travel to the deeper, human concerns of grief and fear – it has also proved to be a unique opportunity to bring us closer to taiko players across the country and around the world. In turn, that connection has helped us remember that even when we feel small and powerless, we are part of something much larger than ourselves. Instead of celebrating the Kasuga Ondeko Matsuri on Sado Island as planned, Karen and Nicole honored that tradition thousands of miles away in the Tucson desert, complete with masks and physical distancing. Our practices have been joined by taiko players from New Mexico, Washington, Michigan, and Como, Italy, and we look forward to seeing new faces each week. We’ve participated in virtual game shows and happy hours, taught classes and shared tips, and over the last several weeks, we hope that we’ve reached out far more than we’ve had to withdraw.