On 25 August (at 19:00), 26 August (at 15:00 and 19:00), and 27 August (at 18:00) 2023, the finale of our Chekhov Festival’s Moscow Streets Programme will be the performance by the world-famous Japanese taiko drum group, Nobushi. The venue is the Moscow Urbanistic Forum in Luzhniki. The traditional Japanese drumming is here enriched with their own unique style and character, which does full justice to their very name. Taiko translates from Japanese as “the great drum”, and nobushi as “wild samurai”, and this is precisely how they do it – with complete determination, fantastic power, and amazing plasticity.
The spirit of the Samurai age, recreated by the unique sound of drums, which for many centuries have been used in Shintoist rituals and prayers, as well as to raise the fighting spirit before battle, makes the audience feel the energy, freedom and a powerful emotional upsurge. This remarkable style is not being taught in music schools, the relevant skills are handed over from generation to generation by the inhabitants of Kyushu, the most south-westerly of the four principal islands of Japan.
In 2023 the Nobushi taiko drum group celebrates its 25th anniversary. The group was founded in 1998, and is based in Fukuoka. It gives around 80 concerts every year, not only in Japan, but also all over the world, both at theatres and stadiums.
The show lasts for 45 minutes. Admission is free of charge. The stage is near the Festival Square (precise location: 55.714085, 37.550810).