Each Japanese holiday has its own legend. So the night of admiring the moon known as Tsukimi Matsuri is no exception.
It all began when Kyoto currently bloomed with the ancient beauty, and the forests at the foot of the mountain Fuji were still full of spirits and gods.
That was one of the most beautiful stories about courage, immortality and love between the warrior Getsu Oomori and the white fox Kino Kitsune, which was born under the full moon on the fifteenth night of Tsukimidzuki month in the blue forest Aokigahara.
And the foxes are the only ones who know what really happened.
“Taiko rhythms will transfer you into the thicket of an impassable forest, where adorable Kitsune foxes will meet you in the deep blue darkness. Enchanting flute melodies and powerful drum beats will reveal the legend of Tsukimi Matsuri night. And full moon will shed light on all secrets of The Sea of Blue Forest.”
Takuya Taniguchi is a master of taiko drumming and one of the most famous solo performers.
Born in Fukui, Japan, Taniguchi began training at a young age under renowned Taiko drummer Itetsu Hayashia. At 16, he established the Tenryu-Daiko group and was a prize recipient at the 2002 Viennese World Youth Music Festival. The following year, as a testament to his skill, he began touring with Hayashia's Fuun-No-Ki group, and he continues to share stages with Hayashia in Japan.
Taniguchi began collaborating with Western musicians several years into his career. Notably, he released the Friendship LP with jazz pianist Walter Lang in 2010. Not long after, he joined German group Drumaturgia, whose sound is described as "East meets West; pop meets traditional music." He is also a key member of the World Percussion Ensemble alongside Lang, Marco Lobo (Brazil), Njamy Sitson (Cameroon), and Peter Cudek (Slovakia). He has appeared in the productions Ophelias Schattentheater, by the German composer Wilfried Hiller, and Macbeth together with No and Kyogen actors and organist Jean-Baptiste Monnot at Tokyo's National Art Festival.
Today, Taniguchi continues to conduct the Taiko tradition outside Japan by offering instruction to aspiring musicians — and even Buddhist monks.