Resounding Beats, Galloping Strings - Taiko Drummer Eitetsu Hayashi, Celebrating His 55th Anniversary, Carves a New Resonance in Kanagawa
Legendary Japanese Taiko drummer Eitetsu Hayashi celebrates his 55th anniversary with a special concert in Yokosuka in October 2026. Featuring renowned Tsugaru shamisen player Hiromitsu Agatsuma, the event promises a fusion of tradition and innovation.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 03:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 18:31
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Legendary Taiko drummer Eitetsu Hayashi's overwhelming world of sound! A special time presented alongside Hiromitsu Agatsuma, who opens new frontiers in Tsugaru shamisen, and the Taiko unit 'Eitetsu Fuun no Kai', gathering the brilliant talents of the next generation.
Kanagawa Kenmin Hall (designated manager: Kanagawa Arts Foundation) is holding various events at cultural facilities and public spaces across all 33 municipalities in Kanagawa Prefecture while the hall is closed. This fiscal year as well, we will deliver 'moments that make your heart leap' in everyday life with carefully selected programs across various genres such as classical music including opera, traditional Japanese music, jazz, and photo exhibitions.
In October 2026, at the Yokosuka Arts Theatre, we will present a 55th-anniversary concert of the performing career of Eitetsu Hayashi, a world-renowned player who revolutionized the playing method of Japanese Taiko. The concert will feature the Taiko unit 'Eitetsu Fuun no Kai', formed by elites Hayashi founded, and special guest Hiromitsu Agatsuma, a Tsugaru shamisen player highly acclaimed domestically and internationally for his genre-less performances from classical to rock.
It has been 55 years of pursuing the infinite possibilities of the primal instrument, the Taiko. He established a playing method as a solo instrument for the traditional Japanese Taiko, which had been played in festivals and ceremonies since ancient times. Eitetsu Hayashi carved out the unprecedented position of 'Japanese Taiko soloist' himself, co-starring with famous conductors, orchestras, rock, jazz, contemporary music, and folk music players at home and abroad, continually demonstrating the artistic possibilities of Japanese Taiko across genres to the world. His journey is also the track record of establishing the universal power of traditional Japanese music as a contemporary performing art.
This performance was planned as a special event to commemorate this milestone.
Special guest Hiromitsu Agatsuma, while highly evaluated for inheriting the techniques and expressions of traditional shamisen music, also attracts attention for genre-free sessions such as jazz and rock, acting globally with his unique musical perspective. His shamisen co-starring in a commercial with his beloved late disciple Ken Shimura, and the unit 'Yano to Agatsuma' with singer-songwriter Akiko Yano also became hot topics, and this year marks his 25th anniversary as a solo artist.
The co-starring with Eitetsu Hayashi will be a rare opportunity where two of Japan's representative instruments, the Taiko and Shamisen, are played by players standing at their respective summits.
Furthermore, the 'Eitetsu Fuun no Kai', consisting of elite players who have carved Hayashi's teachings into their bodies, will support the stage with their powerful striking performances. The soul of the Taiko passed from master to disciple, and then to the next generation. This figure of inheritance is also one of the deep meanings this performance holds.
For Eitetsu Hayashi, the time of 55 years of performing activity is by no means for looking back at the past, but a manifestation of further readiness for art from now on, and this concert will be a special opportunity by players pursuing 'tradition and innovation'.
Please receive that resonance with your whole body.
■ Performance Overview
[Performance Name] 55th Anniversary of Performing Career Eitetsu Hayashi Concert 2026 in Yokosuka with Hiromitsu Agatsuma
[Date and Time] Friday, October 9, 2026, 18:30 start (18:00 open)
[Venue] Yokosuka Arts Theatre (3-27 Honcho, Yokosuka City)
1 min walk from Keikyu Shioiri Station / 8 min walk from JR Yokosuka Station
[Performers] Eitetsu Hayashi (Taiko), Eitetsu Fuun no Kai (Taiko): Shuichiro Ueda, Mikita Hase, Makoto Tashiro, Yu Tsuji
Special Guest: Hiromitsu Agatsuma (Shamisen)
[Price] All seats reserved (tax included) S Seat: 4,500 yen, A Seat: 3,500 yen
[KAme (Kanagawa Members) Web Pre-sale] Wednesday, April 29, 2026 - Saturday, June 6, 2026
[General Release] Sunday, June 7, 2026
Kanagawa Kenmin Hall (designated manager: Kanagawa Arts Foundation) is holding various events at cultural facilities and public spaces across all 33 municipalities in Kanagawa Prefecture while the hall is closed. This fiscal year as well, we will deliver 'moments that make your heart leap' in everyday life with carefully selected programs across various genres such as classical music including opera, traditional Japanese music, jazz, and photo exhibitions.
In October 2026, at the Yokosuka Arts Theatre, we will present a 55th-anniversary concert of the performing career of Eitetsu Hayashi, a world-renowned player who revolutionized the playing method of Japanese Taiko. The concert will feature the Taiko unit 'Eitetsu Fuun no Kai', formed by elites Hayashi founded, and special guest Hiromitsu Agatsuma, a Tsugaru shamisen player highly acclaimed domestically and internationally for his genre-less performances from classical to rock.
It has been 55 years of pursuing the infinite possibilities of the primal instrument, the Taiko. He established a playing method as a solo instrument for the traditional Japanese Taiko, which had been played in festivals and ceremonies since ancient times. Eitetsu Hayashi carved out the unprecedented position of 'Japanese Taiko soloist' himself, co-starring with famous conductors, orchestras, rock, jazz, contemporary music, and folk music players at home and abroad, continually demonstrating the artistic possibilities of Japanese Taiko across genres to the world. His journey is also the track record of establishing the universal power of traditional Japanese music as a contemporary performing art.
This performance was planned as a special event to commemorate this milestone.
Special guest Hiromitsu Agatsuma, while highly evaluated for inheriting the techniques and expressions of traditional shamisen music, also attracts attention for genre-free sessions such as jazz and rock, acting globally with his unique musical perspective. His shamisen co-starring in a commercial with his beloved late disciple Ken Shimura, and the unit 'Yano to Agatsuma' with singer-songwriter Akiko Yano also became hot topics, and this year marks his 25th anniversary as a solo artist.
The co-starring with Eitetsu Hayashi will be a rare opportunity where two of Japan's representative instruments, the Taiko and Shamisen, are played by players standing at their respective summits.
Furthermore, the 'Eitetsu Fuun no Kai', consisting of elite players who have carved Hayashi's teachings into their bodies, will support the stage with their powerful striking performances. The soul of the Taiko passed from master to disciple, and then to the next generation. This figure of inheritance is also one of the deep meanings this performance holds.
For Eitetsu Hayashi, the time of 55 years of performing activity is by no means for looking back at the past, but a manifestation of further readiness for art from now on, and this concert will be a special opportunity by players pursuing 'tradition and innovation'.
Please receive that resonance with your whole body.
■ Performance Overview
[Performance Name] 55th Anniversary of Performing Career Eitetsu Hayashi Concert 2026 in Yokosuka with Hiromitsu Agatsuma
[Date and Time] Friday, October 9, 2026, 18:30 start (18:00 open)
[Venue] Yokosuka Arts Theatre (3-27 Honcho, Yokosuka City)
1 min walk from Keikyu Shioiri Station / 8 min walk from JR Yokosuka Station
[Performers] Eitetsu Hayashi (Taiko), Eitetsu Fuun no Kai (Taiko): Shuichiro Ueda, Mikita Hase, Makoto Tashiro, Yu Tsuji
Special Guest: Hiromitsu Agatsuma (Shamisen)
[Price] All seats reserved (tax included) S Seat: 4,500 yen, A Seat: 3,500 yen
[KAme (Kanagawa Members) Web Pre-sale] Wednesday, April 29, 2026 - Saturday, June 6, 2026
[General Release] Sunday, June 7, 2026