Kickers host Japan earthquake and Tsunami benefit

Richmond, VA – (Monday, April 11, 2011) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to welcome the University of Richmond Taiko Ensemble, River City Taiko, a traditional Japanese drum ensemble, to City Stadium this Friday, April 15. River City Taiko will perform during the Kickers home game versus Rochester, slated to kick off at 7:00 p.m., and the Red Cross will be on hand to collect donations for the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief Fund.

The disaster relief efforts in Japan are close to the heart for the Kickers, having recently signed the first Japanese player in franchise history this season. Former national team and J. League player, Nozomi Hiroyama and his family arrived in Richmond last week, making his Kickers debut in the 2-1 win over Pittsburgh Saturday.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer some support to the Red Cross,” commented Shelley Sowers, Richmond Kickers General Manager. “We are looking forward to sharing a traditional Japanese taiko performance with our fans at City Stadium and to bringing the community together for a great cause. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan.”
For centuries, taiko drums have been used in Shinto and Buddhist ceremonies and celebrations across Japan and are also found in Japanese court and theater traditions. In 1951, Daihachi Oguchi created a new musical genre called kumi daiko, or ensemble drumming. In kumi daiko, or “taiko”, several drummers are on stage together, and the drums are the main focus. Kumi daiko was first brought to the United States by Seiichi Tanaka, who founded the San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968. Since then, over 200 taiko groups have formed in North America.
The University of Richmond Taiko Ensemble continues a trend in the U.S. of college-based taiko groups that began in the 1990s. Starting in Spring 2010 with little more than empty wine barrels and rawhide, the UR students built four taiko drums. Taiko is also offered to the larger Richmond community during regular Sunday practice. These practices are free and open to the public. Contact Dr. Paul Yoon at pyoon@richmond.edu  for further details.
Donations made to the American Red Cross will support disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.