Yamato drummers at Moscow Operetta Theatre

Highly skilled musicians from the Yamato group have performed in the Russian capital, dazzling the audience with the vibrant energy of traditional Japanese drums. The world- famous drummers presented their ‘Heartbeat’ show.

The Yamato drummers compare the sounds of drums with the vibrant voice of a beating heart.

The group was founded in 1993 in Nara, the land of Yamato, the legendary birthplace of Japanese culture.

‘We play traditional Japanese drums called wadaiko. They are as ancient as the province, dating back 1500 years.  But the music we play is modern, we create it ourselves,’ Masa Ogawa, the founder of the group says.

More than a million people have already seen the live performances of the Yamato drummers across the world. And it is the fourth time that Russian audiences can feel their hearts resonating to the drum beat.

The ancient Japanese believed drums are where the spirits dwell. And it takes serious physical effort to make these spirits talk.

The largest drum weighs over 500 kilogrammes and costs as much as a house in Japan.

‘We need physical energy to play the drums, so we train a lot. There's a lot of sport in our performances,’ Masa Ogawa explains.

With their pulsating energy, the Yamato drummers stir emotions and bring international audiences closer to the mystery of Japanese culture.