AME ~ undaunted by rain, Taiko On
Lotterywest De Parel Spiegeltent Perth Cultural Centre, 14 February 2023

It’s a sweltering late afternoon in the Perth Cultural precinct, but you wouldn’t know it from inside the drapes of the De Parel Spiegeltent, where soft blue lighting, bird song and misty interiors evoke the gentleness of water.

It’s an apt juxtaposition for Taiko On’s third year at Fringe World. Having seen this Perth-based Japanese drumming ensemble in action before, I know the stillness inside this intimate venue is not going to last.

Taiko On’s new show, AME ~ undaunted by rain, takes its name from a Japanese poem Ame ni mo makezu (Undaunted by the Rain), by famed poet Miyazawa Kenji. The verse is recited from beneath a Japanese parasol by founding member and percussionist Aya Kelly during an atmospheric instrumental opening.

It’s a humbling meditation on constancy and the inner peace which can stem from selfless service of others, and the strength contained within the words is reflected in the group’s impressive rhythmic power and control.

AME ~ undaunted by rain sees rising composer and percussionist Jet Kye Chong join Taiko On’s ranks, bringing his reliable vibraphone talents to the compact group of veteran performers. For a group of four, the ensemble is a well-rounded and diverse mix of talents. And as is usually the case with percussion, each performer is a master of more than one craft, roaming adeptly between instruments so that the music and rhythm of drumming never stops.

The show builds slowly – opening with the wandering melodic contours of shinobue flute and didgeridoo (Sanshi) to rippling vibraphone ostinatos (Chong) which swell into explosive taiko drumming sequences led by Simon Vanyai and Kelly.

And despite the freezing venue (two front row-seaters switched seats mid-show to avoid being blasted by the air conditioning), the performers are slick with sweat by the end of it. Japanese taiko drumming is a discipline which requires both physical and mental exertion.

The stage dimensions feel like a limitation. They’ve built the show around the addition of vibraphone this year, with the front portion dedicated to solos by both Sanshi and Chong, but navigation between drums arranged along the back has us praying for no missteps.

Everything else about the show feels like a masterclass in clockwork ensemble, synchronised and elegant, and performed with flawless showmanship.

After the veritable drumming feast we’ve just enjoyed, the applause seems paltry by comparison. Not because it’s lacking — but because human hands just can’t match the volume of a beating Japanese drum.

AME ~ undaunted by rain continues at the Lotterywest De Parel Spiegeltent until 19 February 2023.