YAMATO is a Japanese Taiko drumming group based in Asuka-mura Nara Prefecture which is well known by Japanese people as the hometown of Japan. They call themselves “YAMATO, the Taiko drumming group that travels all over the world”. They have given more than 4,500 shows across 55 countries around the world since their formation in 1993.
YAMATO’s Taiko work cannot be fully described by the word “performance”.
They have performed in theaters, schools, all types of events, and even held workshops and Taiko lessons. They are spending a half year on a Japan tour and a half year for the world tour. Their motto is “We go everywhere when somebody needs YAMATO! And bringing energy to the people living in the world!”. They bring joy to the world.
On stage, they are standing with more than 40 Taiko drums and all of them are having different characters. For example, their largest drum called “Odaiko”, produced from a huge tree over 400 years old, is approximately two meters in diameter and weighs 500 kg. All other Taiko drums are different sizes and have different sounds.
The members of the group have trained their bodies to the limit to beat these massive Taiko drums.
The acoustic pressure far surpasses what one could imagine.
They do not simply make their Taiko drums explode with sound; they produce delicate music that provides the listener with a palette of meticulously crafted sound. This is why YAMATO’s original performances are known as “Physical music”, and continue to receive high acclaim all over the world. YAMATO is sometimes intense, sometimes sad, sometimes comforting, and in the next moment comical on stage.
The audience is more than a group of bystanders at their performances.
The audience is engulfed in the sound of the Taiko, and sweat, cry, and laugh; they become one with the performers. All types of people gather around the sound of the Taiko, interweaving their lives, and feeling the power of each other’s inner passion and heart.
They come together to create an instant in which they truly feel alive.
“Taiko drumming, to the unexplored field.”
YAMATO is still traveling around the world.
1993:YAMATO was founded
SPIRIT TOUR 944 shows
1993 |
Shows in Japan |
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1994 |
China Tour (4 shows), Shows in Japan |
1995 |
Shows in Japan |
1996 |
Shows in South Korea, Indonesia and Japan |
1997 |
Brazil Tour (12 shows), Shows in Japan |
1998 |
Brazil Tour (12 shows), UK Tour (23 shows), Shows in Sweden, Israel and Japan |
1999 |
Europe and Israel Tour (5 countries, 75 shows), Brazil Tour (15 shows). Shows in Japan |
2000 |
UK Tour (27 shows), Indonesia Tour (2 shows), Shows in Japan |
2001 |
Singapore Tour (4 shows), Europe Tour (4 countries, 75 shows), USA Tour (19 shows), Shows in Japan |
2002 |
South Asia Tour (3 countries, 10 shows), Europe Tour (3 countries, 18 shows), Shows in Japan |
WORLD TOUR「魂」”Tamashy” 364 shows
2003 |
Europe Tour (9 countries, 172 shows), USA & Canada Tour (37 shows), Shows in Japan |
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2004 |
Europe Tour (13 countries, 100 shows), Mexico Tour (11 shows), Hong Kong & Macau Tour (5 shows), Shows in Japan |
WORLD TOUR 「神鳴」”Kami-Nari” –Thunder 369 shows
2005 |
Europe Tour (10 countries, 139 shows), Show in South Korea, USA & Canada Tour (35 shows), Shows in Japan |
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2006 |
Philippines Tour (4 shows), Europe Tour (12 countries, 152 shows), Mexico Tour (14 shows), Shows in Japan |
WORLD TOUR「心音」”SHIN-ON” –The Heartbeat 384 shows
2007 |
Europe Tour (19 countries, 151 shows), Show in South Korea, Mexico-USA & Canada Tour (58 shows), Shows in Japan |
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2008 |
Europe Tour (12 countries, 121 shows), Shows in Japan |
WORLD TOUR「祭」”Matsuri” –Fiesta! 288 shows
2009 |
Europe Tour (8 countries, 94 shows), USA & Canada Tour (41 shows), Shows in Japan |
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2010 |
Mexico Tour (33 shows), Australia Tour (3 shows), Europe Tour (14 countries, 62 shows), Southeast Asia Tour (2 countries, 5 shows) |
WORLD TOUR「我武者羅」”Gamushara” –The Beat of Courage 303 shows
2011 |
Europe Tour (7 countries, 103 shows), USA & Canada Tour (37 shows), Shows in Japan |
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2012 |
Europe Tour (11 countries, 61 shows), Israel Tour (3 countries), Japan Tour (10 shows), Shows in Japan |
WORLD TOUR「路上」”Rojyoh” –The beat on the Road 429 shows
2013 |
Taiwan Tour (8 shows), 20th Anniversary shows in Nara (5 shows), Malaysia Tour (4 shows), Europe Tour (10 countries, 94 shows), 20th Anniversary Japan Tour (21 Prefectures, 26 shows), Mexico and USA Tour (31 shows), Shows in Japan |
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2014 |
Europe Tour (9 countries, 74 sohws), Corporate show in Kazakhstan, Brazil Tour (4 shows), 20th Anniversary Japan tour (47 Prefectures, 53 shows), Shows in Japan |
WORLD TOUR「爆音綺譚」”Bakuon” –The Legend of the Heartbeat 332 shows
2015 |
Show in Kazakhstan, Europe tour (6 countries, 87 shows), Special performance in Russia,China tour (5 shows), Shows in Japan |
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2016
|
USA & Canada Tour (40 shows), Japan Tour (11 shows) and shows, China Tour (2 shows) |
WORLD TOUR「回帰点」”Kaiki-ten” –Turning point 11 shows
2016 |
Germany tour (11 shows) |
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WORLD TOUR「挑戦者」”Chousensha” –The Challengers 394 shows
2017
|
Europe Tour (6 countries, 94 shows), Pafos; European Capital of Culture in 2017, Australia Tour (16 shows), Shows in Japan |
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2018
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USA Tour (47 shows), Europe Tour (5 countries, 61 shows), Japan - Sweden 150th Year! (2 Shows), |
2019
|
Swiss Tour (19 shows) |
WORLD TOUR「情熱」”Jhonetsu” –Passion 290 shows
2019
|
Europe Tour (4 countries, 76 shows), Japan tour (17 shows) and shows, Australia tour (31 shows) |
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2020
|
USA and Canada tour (37 shows), online live performances and shows in Japan |
WORLD TOUR「天命」”Tenmei” –Destiny 345 shows
2021 |
Japan tour (9 shows), online live performances and shows in Japan *Due to concerns over the outbreak of COVID-19 and in consideration, cancelled/postponed the below shows. (Japan tour 4 shows, Europe tour 72 shows) |
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2022 |
EXPO 2020 DUBAI, Europe Tour (4 countries, 53 shows), Japan Tour (10 shows) and shows |
2023 |
Europe Tour (3 countries, 61 shows) |
WORLD TOUR 「火の鳥」 ”Hinotori” –The Wings of the Phoenix
2023: |
USA and Canada Tour (39 shows), Philippine Tour (4 shows), South Korea Tour (3 shows), Japan tour (5 shows) and shows |
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2024: |
Scheduled: Europe Tour (10 countries, about 100 shows), Japan Tour (7 shows) and shows in Japan
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