Taiko drumming has been a part of the Japanese culture for centuries, originally used for the separation of towns and the setting of boundaries amongst villages, but today at noon Taiko drumming will be played in the University Union Ballroom solely to entertain and educate the Sacramento State community.

Three members of the group happen to be Sac State graduates, alumnae happy to return to campus and perform to the students of today.

“I was walking in San Francisco when I first heard Taiko drumming,” group member Kris Marubayashi said. “You hear the pounding and your body just automatically tunes into it. I knew I had to be a drummer.”

Marubayashi, who received her master’s in education from Sac State, started playing musical instruments at an early age and has been a part of Taiko drumming for more than 18 years.

“What’s different about drumming is that it is so physical. You’re not just sitting down when you play,” Marubayashi said. “Taiko incorporates both dance and movement.”

A very important part of Taiko drumming is form, she said, or what the drummers call kata.

“How you stand and how you move your arms is very important,” Marubayashi said. “Performing really helps us work on our form and makes us stronger drummers.”

The Sacramento Taiko Dan group has performed internationally, she said, stopping in Europe and Japan. Locally the group visits different festivals, including the state fair, Marubayashi said.

“We also perform to a lot of schools, which ties into the educational component of our work, Marubayashi said.

For drummer Loretta Lew, who received her bachelor’s degree in education from Sac State in 1962, Taiko drumming helps her stay physically fit.

“Drumming is creative and a good form of exercise, definitely keeps you in shape,” Lew said. “This art is considered weight bearing, which is good for your bones.”

Being one of the older members of the group, Lew said her involvement has kept her young.

“I started drumming pretty late in life. I joined the club when I was 65,” Lew said. “We teach to people of all ages, from children to people of my age.”

The group offers several different classes at their “dojo,” or practice hall.

“We meet a lot of different people, some take a one-time class or others take the eight-week session,” Lew said. “People who haven’t seen this before think it’s simply amazing.”

Besides the physical aspect of drumming, another alumna Kuniko Takeuchi said Taiko helps her relieve stress.

“When you are upset, you can beat the drums,” Takeuchi said. “This makes you feel better and peaceful, good for the mind and body.”

Being a part of the club for 18 years, Takeuchi, who graduated with a degree in physical education in 1982, says she loves performing.

“The drums make a really big pounding noise. I love the sound it makes,” Takeuchi said. “It really feeds your heart and I enjoy seeing the reaction people get when they see us perform.”

Lew said returning to the campus allows her to see just how the campus has changed since she graduated in 1962, with new buildings and a better student union.

“We didn’t have any of that when I went, nothing like it is now,” Lew said.

Marubayashi said she is proud to perform to the campus, a place she calls home.

“Many of us are graduates of Sac State, these are our roots,” Marubayashi said. “We love performing and sharing our passion among the students.”

Erin Rogers can be reached at [email protected]