Shamisen & Shinobue Live - An Evening with Takohachi Q Ensemble on the Eve of 2021 Japan Fall Festival

Takohachi is a multifaceted nonprofit organization established in 2007 striving to educate and entertain through Japanese music. In 2018 Takohachi added a new group calleded Takohachi Q-Ensemble that consists of 3 to 5 dedicated and talented performers. The ensemble has had significant successes in the smaller venues such as school and library systems with its edutainment programs, introducing Japanese culture through music. 

Q-Ensemble’s repertoires are unique and diverse, ranging from traditional to modern, using taiko drums, the shinobue bamboo flute, the tsugaru shamisen, and more.

Yumi Torimaru founded Takohachi, in 2006 in Portland, Oregon. Takohachi became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2007 to preserve traditional Japanese music and dance and create innovative taiko drum performances using the strongly moving music and rhythm element of Japan. She has created more than 300 Takohachi shows to educate and entertain throughout Oregon at schools, libraries, festivals, and cultural events.

 

In recent years she established a smaller ensemble, Takohachi Q-Ensemble, and duo unit TakoX. She also has undertaken a solo project. With all the newer projects, she freely expresses her originality in music using taiko drums, shinobue, and the tsugaru shamisen. The smaller ensembles and solo projects allow her to collaborate more with other musicians and artists. 

 

In 2016, she became an apprentice of Ryuhiro Oyama, the distinguished tsugaru shamisen master of one of the biggest tsugaru shamisen associations (Oyama-Kai) in Japan. He is well known for his deep knowledge of tsugaru style minyo (folk songs).  In 2020, Yumi started to take online professional shinobue training from a world-renowned musician, Yasukazu Kano. 

 

Awards and Credits

    • June 2016: Yumi’s music unit was chosen by the Consulate Office of Japan in Portland to represent Japan for their event “Voices of Three Nations.”

    • October 2018: Yumi received a special award in the Internet Shinobue Contest 2018 and was invited to perform at a live concert in Tokyo in December 2018. 

    • January 2019: Yumi obtained a Natori (accredited master) certificate from Oyama-Kai in 2018. 

    • October 2019: Yumi and Takohachi won First Place in the Internet Shinobue Contest 2019 and were invited to perform at a live concert in Tokyo in November 2019.

    • November 2019: Yumi was recognized by the Oregon Department of Corrections and the Asian Pacific Family Club at Oregon State Penitentiary for her volunteer work toward their Memorial Healing Garden Project at the grand opening ceremony. 

    • July 2020: One of her videos was selected for a virtual art class showcase by the Clackamas County Arts Alliance.

    • January 2021: Yumi was recognized by the Regional Arts & Culture Council and chosen to participate in the Cultural Leadership Program.

 

Kohei Kimura

With a music performance and education major from UAA (University of Alaska Anchorage), Kohei started his taiko and fue (bamboo flute) career in Anchorage and has performed for more than 15 years. 

Kohei is one of the founding board members of Takohachi. He currently teaches Takohachi with Yumi and performs Japanese traditional and modern music with her. Presently, he is studying tsugaru shamisen under the Oyama school master Ryuhiro Oyama and shakuhachi under master Reiko Yokota.

 

Shoko Oba

Shoko was born and raised in Japan. In her college years, she moved to the US and graduated from Western Oregon University. Since joining Takohachi in 2011, Shoko actively performs as part of Q-Ensemble. She plays a vital role as a performer and a sub-leader of Takohachi. 

She studies tsugaru shamisen under Yumi Torimaru and shinobue with a world-renowned  player, Yasukazu Kano.  Shoko enjoys playing and sharing Japanese music with people in our communities and the world!

 

Yuki Umezawa LaBeaux

Yuki grew up playing taiko drums in her hometown summer festival, 60 miles away from Tokyo.  Although she knew only one drum song and was too small to play the large flute that is unique the small mountain town, the sound of drums and flutes always excited her.   Joining Takohachi in 2012, she started to formally learn Taiko and trying out new instruments such as Shinobue.  She hopes to express her love for music and dance through Takohachi and its Q-Ensemble performances.