Taiko Skin

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.13- 'New Year Episode'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:30:00 PST

Hope everyone has had a great 2012 so far, and that those resolutions are still keeping up. To kick start the new year, we'll be taking a break from our usual format, and instead Isaku and I will be talking about 3 things we learned in 2011, and 3 things we want to work on in 2012. We'd love to hear your new year resolutions too- we know you've got some. Do share them with us- who knows, it might help you keep them for longer!

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

As always, you can listen to the TaikoSkin Podcast here at the TaikoSkin Blog, or you can find them all here at the itunes store:

TaikoSkin on iTunes

Once again, best wishes for the new year, and we do hope to hear from you.

Keep on drummin'.

Posters in Cologne

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:00:48 PST

--Photo by Raiki Machida

Show posters in a tunnel in Cologne, Germany.

How would the SOPA bill affect us?

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:22:41 PST

There's a lot of talk about SOPA and PIPA right now, and frankly, I didn't fully understand it's technicalities and repercussions. This video helps clarify a lot of it. What is the SOPA bill? What's it trying to do, and how does it affect us? A must watch.

Haiti Earthquake Recovery (Compared to Japan)

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:00:02 PST

--Photo by yamrock83

Saw some interesting photos/article about Haiti's recovery from the earthquake that hit two years ago (can't believe it's already been two years), and it turns out, recovery has hardly progressed at all. And most of us seem to be completely uninformed about it.

The sad truth is, people, including myself, tend to forget about these disasters as time passes. It's a sad truth, and when people are disinterested, and when there's no money in broadcasting it, the media just stops talking about it. Those two factors- disinterest and lack of money- obviously play off of each other, resulting in an utter lack of coverage.

These pictures show just how oblivious I've been to the progress in Haiti, or lack thereof. It's especially a surprise being in Japan and seeing the recovery efforts that are being made here from the earthquake that struck last March. Japan's still got a long way to go, and a lot of issues to work out over many years to come, but the difference, even in just the clean up efforts, is painfully obvious.

For everyone who donated/volunteered, I'm sure the lack of progress in Haiti is of particular concern. Where's all that money gone?

Apparently nowhere useful. Or at least a much, much better job could be done about spending that money, and sending where it needs to. I try not to trust everything I read, but this article certainly is coming from somewhere, and its definitely struck a blow to my trust of NGOs and aid agencies.

Runner's Knee Stretches and Exercises

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:34:54 PST

I've been dealing with some knee pain recently, and have been trying to find ways to do something about it. I found this video, and it's helped a lot, especially those last two stretches.

Knee pain is frustrating. I've always had it, but it went away for a while so I thought it was gone for good. Guess I was wrong. Really regret not knowing about this video earlier, I'm sure it would've helped in preventing the pain. Anyway, decided to share it in the hope it might help anyone with knee pain.

Happy New Year from Taiko Skin

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:34:33 PST

--Photo by Raiki Machida

Tied up Omikuji in Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan.

Omikuji are little fortunes you can get in shrines. People usually get them at the start of the new year, and it tells them how lucky or fortunate they'll be for the year. To help boost luck (or reduce bad luck), people tie the fortunes onto trees or strings in the shrines after they're read.

Did I buy one? Nope. I'd much rather spend the 200 yen on all the delicious looking food in the food stalls that line up around shrines during events like these.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.12- 'Professional Taiko 2"

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:00:05 PST

What is life like as a professional taiko drummer? What are the necessary skills, and what do you need to be ready for? We talk about some of our personal experiences of drumming as a full-time job.

Our guest, Joe Small also talks about his experiences in the professional taiko group, Kodo. It's an eye-opening talk about what it's really like in the world of an apprentice.

And here's a link to our first TaikoSkin Podcast episode, where we first started talking about professional taiko. Quality's low, but check it out.

Tip of the Month

Learn a different musical instrument, besides taiko. And the earlier you start, the better.

Video of the Month

Stefon Harris talks about how actions are perceived as mistakes only because we don't react to them appropriately.

Feedback

We recently received an email about some problems with the player, specifically when used with Chrome. We're working on a solution, but for now, you can listen to all the episodes from the iTunes store (for free of course):

TaikoSkin on iTunes

We are always looking for your feedback. Do let us know if you've noticed any technical issues, or have general questions/comments about our podcast. You can send them in to taikoskinpocast@gmail.com

As always, take care and keep on drummin'.

A Beached Whale

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:06:32 PST

--Photo by Raiki Machida

A beached whale in Shizuoka, Japan. No, nobody ate it.

Work and Travel

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:16:50 PST

--Photo by ecstaticist

A lot of us would love a job that lets us travel. The fast pace, the unroutine work, seeing new sights and exploring new places. Getting paid to travel can seem like a great deal. Flight attendants, consultants, journalists- there are countless travelling jobs out there. But anyone with a job like that will tell you, that like with anything, there are pros and cons. Here's a few.

Pros

1. Free travel: You do get to travel, and it is paid for

2. A lot of the perks of travelling: Seeing sights, meeting people, eating different foods and practicing a language

3. Change of pace: It's nice to get out of the usual office routine

4. Gain experience: When you go to a new place, a lot of the usual rules/methods you use don't work. You need to think on the fly and improvise. It helps you learn to think fast, adapt and adjust.

Cons

1. Sleepless and heavy: Poor diet and an erratic sleep schedule. These two alone can mess with your health.

2. Less friend/family time: Traveling can be time consuming, and it eats away at your free time and weekends

3. No time for sightseeing: You could go all the way to Paris, but end up stuck in an office all day, never seeing the sun, much less the Eiffel Tower. You're going for work, so you can't assume you'll have any free time.

4. Ruins your routines: Exercise, hobbies, classes- there's ton of little things we do routinely that we take for granted, even the most erratic of us. All of these are tough to keep up on the road.

5. Stress: There's not much time to relax. Sometimes it feels like you're constantly on your toes, constantly moving or waiting for something. Even the hotels rooms can be cold and unsettling. Sometimes you just want to get home and kick back on your own couch.

With a particularly busy travel job, or one with a short stay, the chance for looking around can be pretty slim. Sometimes you can go to a foreign country, but feel like you never really experienced it at all- that it was no different from a regularly day at the office. The one thing I always try to do on trips like this is to get out and walk around. Even if I only have 30 minutes of free time, I tell myself to get out. Breathing the foreign air, seeing the unfamiliar streets, and interacting with different people- just that can make an enormous difference. It helps me go home feeling like I really did do a little traveling, instead of the usual routine work.

Getting a Ph.D.?

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:39:22 PST

--Illustration by Matt Might

For anyone working on a Ph.D. (or a Masters or a Bachelors for that matter), this simple illustration depicts your world of knowledge, apparently.

Dear grad students, for a little perspective, and also some inspiration (scroll to the very bottom), check out this great post:

The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D.

How to Fix Holes and Tears

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:56:04 PST

--Photo by Gendo Taiko

If your taiko head looks like this, it's over. Stop using it.

This is a picture of a 100% handmade, makeshift shime drum (as you can tell from the flimsiness of the base).

Turned out the skins weren't too strong either, resulting in tears. As you can also see, the skin underwent several surgical procedures to try to bring it back to normal, but with limited success. When a drum head tears, or you get a hole in it, you'll never recover the sound, and you won't be able to tighten it as hard. Hence the need to replace it.

However, there are times when buying/making a brand new head isn't an easy option, and if possible, you want to continue using the torn head. Full recovery is impossible, but you can give it some first-aid care if you want to salvage it.

Here's what you need:

1. Twine (synthetic or natural, stronger the better)

2. Stitching needle (strong one used for leathers)

3. Leather punch

4. Wet towel

With those items, you can stitch your head back together again. Here's how to do it:

1. Using a towel, wet the area that contains the tear. You want to avoid wetting the entire head, focus just on the area around the tear. Wet it until the area becomes soft and flexible. You may need to let the towel sit on the area for a while for it to be sufficiently moist.

2. Using a leather punch with holes that match the width of your needle/twine, punch holes along both sides of the tear. Punch holes so that they are spaced evenly, and no more than 1cm away from each other.

3. Thread the twine into your needle, and begin stitching. Make a nice strong knot on your first stitch to keep the thread in place.

4. While threading, pull the twine tight so that gap of the tear closes. Be careful though- pull too strong and you might cause another tear. If the skin is sufficiently wet, it shouldn't require much strength.

5. After the final hole, tie the twine in such a way that the thread doesn't come loose. I usually tie it tight to one of the previous stitches.

6. Now you're done with the stitching. Let the skin air dry for a few days and you'll be good to go.

And that's it.

Note: You can't use the stitched head for playing any more (it'll mess with the stitches, and it simply won't sound good). Keep the stitched head on the back side (non-playing side). It can't be used for playing anymore, but without it, you can't tighten the shime drum, so it'll still serve a purpose.

Buddhas in Pink and White

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:01:19 PST

--Photo by Raiki Machida

Little Buddha statues in Shodoshima, Japan.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.11- 'Training in Japan'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:00:03 PST

If money, time and language weren't an issue, I think most taiko players out there would seriously consider an opportunity to train in Japan. But is it really worth it? Or is it just a preconceived notion that going to Japan makes you better? We'll be talking about this and more in this Taiko Skin podcast episode.

We also have Joe Small as a guest once again, to talk about life at Kodo, and the senpai-kohai relationship in Japan.

Tip of the Month

Make a website and get your name out there.

Step 1: Build a website (build one here)
Step 2: Search engine optimization (add your site to a directory)
Step 3: Drive traffic to your site (share your articles)

Video of the Month

Incredible talk and demonstration by deaf percussionist, Evelyn Glennie.

Feedback

We recently received an email about some problems with the player, specifically when used with Chrome. We're working on a solution, but for now, you can listen to all the episodes from the iTunes store (for free of course):

TaikoSkin on iTunes

We are always looking for your feedback. Do let us know if you've noticed any technical issues, or have general questions/comments about our podcast. You can send them in to taikoskinpocast@gmail.com

As always, take care and keep on drummin'.

Earthquake in Japan- 9 Months Later

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:54:23 PST

--Photo by filmmaker in japan

It's been almost 9 months since the 9.0M earthquake hit northern Japan.

Six months ago, when I first visited Ishinomaki in Miyagi, the place was a terrible mess, and there was no seeing when things would be functional again.

Visiting now, here were the changes I noticed:

1. They finally got rid of the majority of the debris. Before, flattened houses, mud, sewage, ships, and unidentifiable rubble were strewn across the entire town. Now the same area looks like an open, dirt field. Some of the foundation of the homes are still visible, but if you visited the place for the first time, without a good look you might not guess that there used to be a town there (Here's a photo of the town before and 3 months after the quake)

2. All people have finally been able to move out of shelters into temporary homes. The town hall in Ayukawa was previously used as an evacuation shelter, but all the people who had lost their homes have moved to temporary housing units that are scattered around the peninsula. Because of the lack of flat land in the Ojika Peninsula, however, they weren't able to gather the units in a consolidated area. You see small housing units spotting various patches of flat land (at higher elevation) around the peninsula.

3. The volunteers were still very much active. The volunteer center in Ayukawa had no electricity or water a few months back, but it looks like they've been finally hooked up. Some of the volunteers we met then were still there- some haven't gone home since days after the earthquake hit.

4. People were out in the town. Small, temporary units have been built in the town that contain stores with food, amenities, mini-restaurants and even a barbershop. Apparently they'd just made it a few days ago. Around the shops, there were local people about and kids playing in the area. I'd say this was the biggest change I noticed- there was nobody to be seen outdoors a few months back.

All in all, there are definitely visible improvements, but many buildings remain half-flattened and abandoned. It seems they're at the stage where they've finally been able to clear most of the rubble. Radiation is still as big of a concern than ever, and without a functional town left, the majority of people have nowhere to go, nowhere to work. The recovery has really only started- it's clear that there's still a very long way to go.

Taxis in Prague

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 22:26:00 PST

--Photo by Raiki Machida

Red rides for hire in Prague, Czech Republic.

TaikoSkin Update

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 22:36:00 PST

Recently came back from a trip to Russia and Hokkaido, with a stop at Ayukawa (a small town in Miyagi where Ondekoza went to volunteer back in May).

Keep your heads up for the latest edition of the TaikoSkin podcast (will be out on the 1st). This time we'll be talking about training in Japan, and whether its a good idea or not. We'll also have Joe Small once again, talking about some of his experiences at Kodo.

Airplane Trash

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:13:25 PST

--Photo by mag3737

There's so much waste that happens, even on a single plane ride. From Tokyo to Moscow, I've used:

-2 forks
-5 spoons
-2 knives
-2 pairs of chopsticks
-2 aluminum plates
-over 10 plastic food containers
-2 cans
-1 plastic bottle
-lots of plastic wraps/bags
-8 napkins
-1 newspaper
-7 paper cups
-4 airline wet wipes
-2 paper tray covers

Multiply that by 300 passengers. Plus all the other waste that I don't even know about. That's a lot of trash for just a 10 hour flight. And there are thousands of flights happening all day everyday. You'd think some of this stuff could be replaced with reusable equivalents.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.10- 'Competition'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:14:49 PDT

We all want to be the best. The best player, the best group. And we compare ourselves to others in order to gauge where we stand. And this leads to competition, sometimes heated, sometimes passive. But is this healthy for the group? Does it lead to players getting better?

And for anyone interested in what life is like at Kodo, we have a guest speaker, Joe Small, talk about his apprenticeship there. Check it out, its worth the listen.

Tip of the Month

Don't be a chameleon, don't be superficial, don't be disconnected, biased or overly formal. And don't over-network. The Harvard Business Review provides an excellent article, and a four-step process to better networking. It isn't about the numbers, it's about having a few, close and important connections in the right place. Here's the link the article (you'll have to register to read it all, but it's well worth it):

http://hbr.org/2011/07/managing-yourself-a-smarter-way-to-network/ar/1

Video of the Month

This guy is awesome. Don't know where it was recorded, or who the drummer is. But it's worth the watch, check it out.

Plus the jump: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cXxQ5kQVO0

TaikoSkin in the iTunes Store

You can find the TaikoSkin Podcast on iTunes, so simply go to the following link to listen and download episodes (yes, for free, don't worry).

http://itunes.apple.com/ne/podcast/taiko-skin/id430141469

If you're an iTunes user, simply search for TaikoSkin in the iTunes store and you can subscribe to the podcast and download all the episodes. If you don't use iTunes, simply paste the following feed address into your music software, and then you'll be able to transfer any episodes onto your portable player.

http://taikoskin.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

As always, if you have questions, ideas or just want to pitch in, throw us an email to:

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

Keep on drummin' everyone.

New Look, Yay or Nay?

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:50:36 PDT

So I'm giving the new Blogger Dynamic Views a shot (I personally think the timeslide option suits Taiko Skin best). But still not a 100% sold on the whole dynamic thing yet. What do you think?

Setting Sun at the Japan-Tag

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:38:41 PDT

--Photo by Raiki Machida

Crowd waiting for our stage at the Japan-Tag (Japan Day) Event in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Ondekoza.com is Back

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 05:27:29 PDT

Ondekoza's homepage was down for a bit.. but it's back with updated news, check it out:

http://www.ondekoza.com

Taiko Skin News

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 01:42:19 PDT

Thank you for checking in, and thank you for all the emails despite the utter lack of recent posts.

Ondekoza in Europe

Taiko Skin is off to Europe for a bit, hence the lack of posts may continue for a while longer. Along with the musicians of Music & Rhythms, Ondekoza will be participating in workshops and concerts in Prague and Germany. Check out their website for more details.

Competition Between Members and Groups

Do keep your heads up for the next Taiko Skin podcast episode about competition. Competition between members in the a group, and competition between different groups- good or bad?

And for anyone curious about what life is like at groups like Ondekoza and Kodo, we'll be touching upon that as well. You can look forward to hearing from our guest speaker, Joe Small, who'll talk a little about his apprenticeship at Kodo in the next episode.

To listen to the TaikoSkin Podcast on your iPod, in your car, your home or wherever your choose, simply search 'TaikoSkin' in the iTunes store, or follow this link:

http://itunes.apple.com/ne/podcast/taiko-skin/id430141469

If you don't use iTunes, simply copy and paste the following feed address into your music software, and then you'll be able to transfer any episodes onto your portable player:

http://taikoskin.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Want to promote your music or your taiko group?

Then let me know, and for starters, I'll have it introduced here on Taiko Skin. A quick bio about your piece or your group, and maybe a pic or a video, and I'll have the post up as soon as I can.

If you'd like to get more listeners for your music, we would be happy to play it during the podcasts as well. It's a great way to get people to actually listen to your music, and we'll obviously introduce you and your piece during the episode.

All that and anything else (except spam) can be sent to:

taikoskin@gmail.com

Stay safe and keep on drummin' everyone.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.9- 'Group Hierarchies and Culture'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:00:01 PDT

In this edition, we're taking a look at taiko group culture- the 'atmospheres' and 'funiki' of a group. Some are more 'Japanese' than others, but what does that mean? We talk about the seemingly arcane social hierarchies that exist in Japan, and how these are reflected in a place like a taiko group. Isaku and I talk about our personal experiences in taiko groups, and the senpai/kohai relationships that have existed there.

Tip of the Month

Want to get better? Then take a video of yourself practicing and playing. We've all done it, but we tend to get lazy about it sometimes. In many ways it can be better than a mirror. If you find yourself in a rut, it might just be the key to get you over the hurdle. And an extra tip from Isaku... don't get a camera with a hard-disk- all that drumming can shake your camera to death.

Video of the Month

Here is some incredible drumming from Neal Smith, jazz drummer and professor at the Berklee School of Music. Watch Prof. Smith as he 'solos in the context of the tune' in this video of the 'Cup Bearers':

And the link if you need it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pY_mO4_kjw&feature=youtu.be

TaikoSkin in the iTunes Store

You can find the TaikoSkin Podcast on iTunes, so simply go to the following link to listen and download episodes (yes, for free, don't worry).

http://itunes.apple.com/ne/podcast/taiko-skin/id430141469

http://taikoskin.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

As always, if you have questions, ideas or just want to pitch in, throw us an email to:

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

Keep on drummin' everyone.

Bundles in Bangalore

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:27:33 PDT

--Photo by Raiki Machida

Flower power at the City Market. Bangalore, India.

TaikoSkin Update

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 02:35:18 PDT

TaikoSkin is off to India for a bit, before a busy week to finish off the month. Keep an eye out for our next TaikoSkin Podcast episode about taiko group cultures and the dreaded 'jo-ge kankei' or hierarchical system in Japan.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.8- 'Japan vs USA'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:00:01 PDT

Taiko in Japan? Taiko in the US? What's the difference? Is taiko in Japan as strict as they say? Isaku and I talk about how taiko groups in the two countries approach taiko. They're pretty different, and if you're going from one to the other, it might be a good idea to know what you're in for. We also give a few suggestions on how to avoid being too rude when you first meet another group.

Tip of the Month

Want to promote yourself? Make a 'Promo Box' to make your life easier. Here's the link on how to do that:

http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/2009/07/promo-box-on-your-desktop/

Video of the Month *(I know I said 'Video of the Week' in the episode.. sorry!)

Here's On Ensemble with their piece, 'After Rain'. Great vid, fun listen, check it out:

Here's the link if you need it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiqBIuM-1DI

TaikoSkin in the iTunes Store

You can find the TaikoSkin Podcast on iTunes, so simply go to the following link to listen and download episodes (yes, for free, don't worry).

http://itunes.apple.com/ne/podcast/taiko-skin/id430141469

http://taikoskin.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

As always, if you have questions, ideas or just want to pitch in, throw us an email to:

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

Keep on drummin' everyone.

Running Up Mt Fuji (again)

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 03:42:17 PDT

--photo by Hyougushi

Ondekoza is doing their annual run up Mt Fuji and I'll be taking part again (fearfully). The mountain itself is 3776m (12,389ft) high, and the run starts at 0m altitude, from the beach.

The total running distance is about 50km from the ocean to the Fifth station (about 2300m elevation). From there we hike the rest of the way up. No flat stretches, no downhills...just uphill and nothing else for the entire run. And yes, it hurts.

Run starts tomorrow morning. Masochist? Then sign yourself up.

Why Not to Multitask

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 01:50:08 PDT

--Photo by fragmented

As you're reading this now, you're probably doing so while multitasking. There's a good chance you've got some music playing, a couple other tabs open in your browser, and maybe you've got a bite and a beverage in hand. If worse, you have your iphone next to your mouse flashing you tweets and ringing bells as the texts flow in. You've got the TV running commercials in the back, a friend talking to you from across the room, all while you're petting your pet, having a smoke, doodling, checking sticky notes and looking for another 'important' tab to open despite being aware of its purely procrastinatory purpose.

Or maybe, maybe, you really are just reading this post.

If you are, you have my admiration (and thanks too, of course), because as a recovering multitasking whore, this business of doing one thing at a time is like remembering how to be genuinely entertained by bugs and slimy things (how did we ever do that?). Back in those days when climbing a tree was fun, or sleeping in a tent, or staring at a cat. Yes, sure, those things can still be fun- but only if my phone has full bars and there's a local wi-fi connection.

We imagine ourselves to be better informed, more effective and productive when we're multitasking. But the hype is that multitasking is a myth. That we can't really multitask. Or that we can but it ends up being less efficient. There's all kinds of 'scientific' research about it- just google 'multitasking' and half the hits are about how ineffective it is.

The fact of the matter is, there's a definite benefit to focusing on one task and getting it done. Think about the times when you really are focused at one task. It just feels better. You think deeper, have better ideas, and are probably more creative.

So I've been making an active effort to reduce my 'multitasking', or perhaps more accurately, my habit of continuous partial attention. It's pain-staking and withdrawal-gnawing at first, but what I'm finding is that there really are genuine benefits. For example:

1. I'm enjoying music again. Instead of listening to music as BGM to another task, just listening to music- and really doing nothing else- has been a pleasant reminder to why I liked it in the first place (it's also been a great way to realize how bad some of the crap I've been casually listening to is).

2. Reading is fun. Reading without the distractions of music, laptops and phones, makes the book a heck of a lot more interesting. I remember more of what I read, and I'm also realizing just how much I've been casually skimming through in the past.

3. I'm getting work done quicker. Making sticks is a part of my peculiar job description. I'm still no good at it, but I'm banging out a heck of a lot more when my phone/ipod are out of sight.

4. There are fewer conversations that drag. This one obviously depends on the company (as we aren't all bouncy conversationalists, for better or worse), but the one commonality of any stimulating conversation, is that participants don't have their touch-screens out.

5. I bump into interesting things and people more often. This has probably been the biggest plus. I get to travel a bit on the job, and when I'm offline and disconnected (phone-wise), I just notice things more. I take better photos. Scenery I've taken for granted, scenery that's changed, new shops, old shops, shops that are gone. Likewise with people. Gadgets gone, and the strangers in the room start talking. And all the extra noticing of things that happens, often and surprisingly ends up being great conversation starters with those strangers.

That's my take on it. I don't expect myself to be 100% monotask-able (I will sadly admit I've opened three new tabs since the start of writing this post). But I can say with confidence that at the very least making a conscious effort to cut down has its perks.

Taiko Skin News

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:01:00 PDT

As always, big thanks to everyone who's been checking in, despite the recent lack of posts. Here are some updates:

Taiko Skin in August

How are things looking for August? Busy. Probably busier than July, which was spent mostly in some mountains in Saitama and on an island in Shikoku. But, sorry, who's not busy, right? I'll stop whining now.

That said, I will unfortunately be absent for almost the entire month of August, and in a place without reliable internet (again, mountains in Saitama). Hopefully all the practicing will amount to something.

Taiko Skin Podcast

In more productive news, Isaku and I will continue to dish out episodes, to be published on the first of each month. You can expect some changes over the course of the next few episodes (they'll be good changes), so do check them out.

To listen to the TaikoSkin Podcast on your iPod, in your car, your home or wherever your choose, simply search 'TaikoSkin' in the iTunes store, or follow this link:

http://itunes.apple.com/ne/podcast/taiko-skin/id430141469

If you don't use iTunes, simply copy and paste the following feed address into your music software, and then you'll be able to transfer any episodes onto your portable player:

http://taikoskin.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

As always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send them in and we will answer them in the next episode (unless of course you want to keep it private, in which case we'll just email you back). You can send in all your questions, comments, complaints, hate mail, love mail to the following address:

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

Want to promote your music or your taiko group?

Stay safe and keep on drummin' everyone.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.7- 'Taiko Compositions'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:01:00 PDT

There are plenty of taiko pieces out there, some old, some new. While some have been around for a while and have lasting appeal, other innovative pieces are constantly being composed. In this edition of the TaikoSkin Podcast, we talk about compositions- how to listen to them, and how to create your own. Also some tips on how to deal with copyright issues.

TaikoSkin on iTunes

You can now find the TaikoSkin Podcast on iTunes, so you can simply go to the following link to listen and download episodes.

http://itunes.apple.com/ne/podcast/taiko-skin/id430141469

If you don't use iTunes, simply paste the following feed address into your music software, and then you'll be able to transfer any episodes onto your portable player.

http://taikoskin.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

As always, if you have questions, ideas or just want to pitch in, throw us an email to:

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

And check out Isaku's new album "IK" on his website: isakukageyama.com

Love for the Kingdom

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:46:48 PDT

--Photo by Raiki Machida

Love for the King, Love for the Kingdom... in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

PS Can someone translate?

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep.6- 'Auditions'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:00:11 PDT

Auditions can be fun, but they're usually a pretty nerve-racking process for everyone involved. Are they even necessary? When should your group have auditions? And how should the auditions be carried out? In this episode of the TaikoSkin Podcast, we talk about the pros and cons of auditions, and ways in which they can be carried out- plus some tips on how to pass an audition.

If you have questions, ideas or just want to pitch in, throw us an email to:

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

And check out Isaku's new album here (free track!): isakukageyama.com

Towers in Dubai

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 01:04:04 PDT

-Photo by Raiki Machida

Like a lot of buildings here, apparently under construction.

Kibou no Mai by Yakudo and Friends

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:24:50 PDT

Here's a great video created and performed by the members of Yakudo in Toronto, dedicated to all those affected by the disasters in Japan.

Earthquake in Japan- Moving Out of Evacuation Shelters

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 05:26:20 PDT

The evacuation shelter in the small town of Ayukawa (part of the greater Ishinomaki City) used to be the town hall. A three-story, concrete building of off-white paint, it sits atop a hill, which is what saved it from going underwater. The majority of rest of the town was hit by multiple waves.

Just a flight of stairs below the shelter is the community center, one of the few buildings in the lower valley that still stands. Cleaned and fixed up, this building is now being used as a volunteer center. But despite its closeness to the shelter, I never had a chance to speak at length with any of the evacuees. Maybe it was the poor weather (a hurricane was coming through while I was there), maybe it was bad timing, but as far I could observe, evacuees rarely left the shelter.

Efforts to Help Evacuees Out of Shelters

In recent weeks evacuation shelters in the region have been closing down. There's an effort to move evacuees to temporary housing units, where unlike at the shelters, they can enjoy the comfort of a private space, with their own kitchens, sinks, bathrooms and bedrooms. The units are being offered in a lottery-based system- if you get picked, you get to move in first.

Places in western Japan, as far out as Kyushu, have built large temporary housing complexes containing thousands of units, that offer free housing and utilities for evacuees from the disaster. Some towns, including Fuji, where I live, have offered jobs to evacuees to help their families get back on their feet.

Many coastal villages were wiped out entirely, prompting efforts to bring all the people of these various villages together, and to re-build newer, larger, consolidated towns at higher, safer elevations.

And this all sounds like progress

But it just isn't that easy.

Lottery picks are left unclaimed. Temporary units that should have been filled weeks ago remain empty. Those thousand units in a town in Kyushu? Only four units are occupied. That coastal communal village? No one wants it.

Evacuees aren't anxious to get out. Yes, the stress levels are mounting, there's no privacy, food is mostly processed stuff, and the general lifestyle simply isn't healthy, physically or mentally.

But moving out isn't such a happy deal either. Nice bathtub, but who's paying the heat? Great kitchen, but who's buying the food? Moving to housing also means finding a job, paying the bills. But stay in the shelters, and you're guaranteed water, food and warmth.

Offers for free jobs and housing sound great, but when it's twenty prefectures away, one hesitates. And the worst hit victims are starting from less than scratch. The senior citizens who spent their entire lives in the town. Those who are suddenly alone after losing their entire families to the disaster. People who spent decades getting where they got, refining their trade, refining their art, only to find it literally washed away. And there are memories here. And maybe also the very faint hope of it all coming back. You can't just demand these people to pick up a new skill, get on up and move.

Consolidated villages on higher ground sound good too. But those villages were by the coast for a reason. Because the town was built on fishing and ports. Some of these villages are only twenty or thirty families large. Take away the sea, and there's no trade left for the entire town's population. They want to get back on their ships, get back to their jobs, but they can't do that if they're new house is up a mountain.

And consolidation? Fishermen have spent years defining their territories of ocean, and spoken and unspoken rules uphold the fishing trade. You can gather all the fishermen from all the different villages, but ignore their rules and territories, and it won't be a happy union.

******

These are the stories and words that are flying in and around the news. It's wrong to say there isn't an effort for progress. But three months post-quake and things have only gotten started.

I wished I could have better understood the evacuees in the shelter on top of the hill. But it was always quiet there, with hardly a sign of activity. It's presence asserted only by its glowing row of windows- the only source of light in an otherwise pitch back field of rubble and silence.

Maybe it was in my own self-indulgence that I wanted to speak to them more, to wonder why they wouldn't come out. Maybe not, I don't know. But there's nothing left of theirs in the town- no home obviously, but no parks or shops to go to either. And that's just a shallow outsider observation from a visitor like me- I won't pretend that I understand their more deep-rooted reluctance to step out to a sight of a hometown that once was.

Earthquake in Japan- Back from Volunteering in Miyagi

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:25:25 PDT

Taiko Skin is back from volunteering in Miyagi. The majority of the time was spent in the small town of Ayukawa, Ishinomaki, which is on the very tip of the Oshika Peninsula. Another day was spent in Shichigahama, Miyagi, where Ondekoza played taiko at evacuations shelters there.

It's been over a week since I've been back, but I've been hesitant about typing up a haphazard summary of the situation there. I simply don't think any brief blog post can effectively paint the reality of the situation.

Further, I was there for such a small amount of time. It would take a much longer time of being there to have any fair understanding of how the people of Tohoku are coping with the disaster. So please read this and any future posts with the understanding that these are views based on a limited range of knowledge.

But here are my quick views and observations of the areas hit hardest by the earthquake and tsunamis. Each to be followed up in more detail in future posts:

-The media isn't doing justice to the reality of the situation

-It feels like there is a discord- a lack of effective communication- between the government, the volunteers, the evacuees and everyone else involved

-And maybe because of all this, it seems there's an overarching feeling of stagnancy and an unhealthy complacency there

-Towns hit by the tsunami are a terrible sight to see- barren expanses of mud and rubble; smells of decay; water, electricity and food are still insufficient or lacking altogether

-And this is all still much better than it was two months ago- the people, the volunteers and the Self-Defense Force have been working continuously to clear out the damage

-Yet despite this, recovery will take a very long time, longer than most of us are led to believe

-Thus more help, more volunteers are needed

-But not all volunteers are coming here with an appropriate mindset

-Because of the lack of informative coverage- and though it's sad to see this- the very visible and growing lack of interest in the Tohoku region, there's a sense that people here are being left behind as the rest of Japan and the world are moving on.

Right now, I think the people there at least deserve to be understood, or at the very least be given some sense of comfort in the knowledge they're not being forgotten. And I think that's something they probably need now, not later.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep. 5- 'Networking'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 31 May 2011 15:19:43 PDT

Where ever there's taiko, there's usually a taiko community. Networking and socializing are very much a part of taiko, and making use of them is a useful way to help your group grow.

Getting connections is an obvious benefit of networking, but networking is also a great way to gain inspiration from others, and to help motivate yourself to improve. Who should you get connected to? Where should you find them? In person, or online? Old connections vs new connections? How much is too much networking? And what is bad networking? Isaku Kageyama and myself (Raiki Machida), answer these questions and more in this edition of the Taiko Skin Podcast.

As always, if you have questions and comments regarding any taiko related topic, please contact us at

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

Or, you can leave us a comment at the Taiko Skin blog, or Isaku's website. Thanks for listening.

The Tohoku area in Japan continues to experience aftershocks, death tolls continue to rise and tens of thousands still remain in shelters, and continue to experience a lack of supplies. There are many ways we can all help- some ideas have been suggested in this blog. Please see the links below to donate to the Red Cross, who are one of the several organizations running relief efforts in northern Japan.

Episode 5 related info:

Networking info from TaikoSkin Episode 4 'Taiko Gigs'

Earthquake Donations:

-American Red Cross

http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main

-Japan Red Cross Society

https://gienkin.jrc.or.jp/

Amanojaku Homepage

Ondekoza Homepage

Earthquake in Japan- Off to Volunteer

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Thu, 26 May 2011 06:25:58 PDT

After much wait, Taiko Skin is finally off to Miyagi to go and volunteer. Specifically to Ayukawa, a town located at the very tip of the Ojika Peninsula in Miyagi. I hear much about the place, about the damage, about the situation and the lack of recovery, but rather than listen to hear-say and speculate, I'll write up details after I finally get there and meet the people.

On the 31st, Taiko Skin will be going to Shichigahama, a little off from Sendai, where Ondekoza has been invited to perform at an evacuation shelter.

For those interested in volunteering in northern Japan, facilities there range from good to non-existent depending on where volunteers go. In Ayukawa, where we are going, we were informed that there are no shops, no showers, no food, no electricity- hence we've stashed up to prepare for the worst.

Please do keep your heads up for a post once I'm back- I'll write up a list of good things to bring (and things not to). I'm sure I'll have a better idea once I spend a few days there.

How to Make Taiko Stands

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:52:23 PDT

--Photo by the Lonely Drummer

J.D., founder of Rutsubo Taiko in Boston, and blogger of the Lonely Drummer, has posted an excellent guide on how to make taiko stands- specifically Miyake and Yatai-bayashi stands. His ingenious design is actually a combination of the two styles of stands- you can easily switch between both, depending on the song and style you choose to play.

For those unfamiliar with the two styles, the Miyake style allows the drum to be placed horizontally on the stand, allowing the drummer to hit the taiko from the side. It also allows for the use of both sides simultaneously by two drummers.The Yatai-bayashi style places the drum on the ground- at an angle. Yatai-bayashi is played sitting down, with the legs stretched out along the side of the drum.

Anyway, do check out JD's step-by-step, and keep your heads up for further updates and new designs on the Lonely Drummer.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep. 4- 'Taiko Equipment'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sun, 01 May 2011 00:12:00 PDT

To play taiko, you need taiko, and getting your hands on them isn't always an easy thing. Availability is often limited in most countries outside of Japan, and wherever you go, budget is always a concern. This episode discusses a few ideas on how to choose and obtain taiko related equipment.

It's easy to forget that to play taiko, it's not just the drums you'll need to get. You will also need stands, sticks, and drum cases amongst other things. Purchasing these is always an option, but you might consider making them yourselves too (see links below). Listen to Isaku Kageyama and I as we discuss these options in this episode- hopefully we'll be able to provide you with some helpful tips.

As always, if you have questions and comments regarding any taiko related topic, please contact us at

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

Or, you can leave us a comment at the Taiko Skin blog, or Isaku's website. Thanks for listening.

The Tohoku area in Japan continues to experience aftershocks, death tolls continue to rise and tens of thousands still remain in shelters, and continue to experience a lack of supplies. There's many ways we can all help- some ideas have been suggested in this blog. Please see the links below to donate to the Red Cross, who are currently running relief efforts in northern Japan.

Episode 4 related info:

Do-it-Yourself Taiko info:

-How to Make Simple Practice Drums
-How to Make Happi Coats
-How to Make Practice Shime Drums
-How to Make Bachi (and Part 2)
-How to Hollow a Tree Trunk
-How to Prepare Taiko Skins

...plus much more on the Taiko Skin blog. Try the "Skin Search" search bar, or if you can't find what you're looking for, shoot an email to taikoskin@gmail.com

Earthquake Donations:

-American Red Cross

http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main

-Japan Red Cross Society

https://gienkin.jrc.or.jp/

Amanojaku Homepage

Ondekoza Homepage

Taiko Skin is Off to Dubai

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:13:25 PST

But just for a day unfortunately. What's good in Dubai? Your suggestions much appreciated..!

Taiko Skin at the Jenadriyah Festival

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:13:25 PST

--Photo by Raiki Machida

The Janadriyah Festival is the biggest of the few festivals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The culture and heritage festival brings more than a million visitors each year, and features events, fairs, games and music that reflect Saudi Arabian and Islamic traditions.

The festival also features a host country each year. Last year, this was France- this year, Japan. A section of the large festival grounds has been designated to Japan this year, where Japanese companies, including Sony, Panasonic, Isuzu, Nissan, and various others have opened booths introducing new products and innovations. The Japanese area also features a stage where a team of Japanese musicians and artists, including Ondekoza, perform daily to a very large and enthusiastic crowd. Performances started on April 12th, and will continue until the 29th.

The people here have been warm and welcoming, and I've rarely seen more people excited about hearing live music. Word is there's not a lot of it here in Saudi- festivals like these are probably one of the few where everyone can come out and let loose. "Loose" being a relative term, of course, as the National Guard and Religious Police are still roaming the grounds making sure people don't get too out of line (including the musicians). The guards have been making a human barricade between the audience and the musicians. Usually, these barricades are there to protect the musicians, but here it's the other way around- it's pretty clear they're trying to the prevent the musicians from getting too close to the audience. Won't even allow hand-shakes and hand-slaps anymore. Woo!

How to Be Good at Everything (Part 6.2)

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:17:39 PDT

--Photo by hidden side

(Continued from Part 6.1)

It seems to be that one obstacle, that one roadblock, doesn't it?

There always seems to be that one obstacle. That one thing. We know it's there.

But when we sit down and think about it, it's a little hard to describe. We can't exactly pinpoint it. It's one of those things- it's there, we know it is, but it's complicated, and it's not exactly just 'one' thing.

But what we do know is that it'll eventually go away. That we can eventually get past it. As we progress and grow, it'll be taken care of.

In fact, we're chipping away at it every day, little by little, and like all those obstacles in the past, it'll eventually be done away with, opening us up to that promised place that we promised ourselves. That place where we can truly bring out everything inside us.

But wait. Obstacles in the past? There were obstacles weren't there, now that we remember.

And each one we thought was the one. The one that we needed to get over to get "there".

Think a little more and what do we see? We realize we haven't really gotten over or broken through any obstacles. We try not to think about it, but when we do... In fact, they're all still there. Though maybe a little smaller than they were before.

But even then, there's always that one, big, bad, roadblock.

Has it always been the same roadblock? Maybe. Does it change? Feels like it. But one thing that's for sure is that it's ever-present.

Maybe there's a bunch of roadblocks, and as we learn to get over some, and ignore others, we tend to shift our focus on just one. Or maybe we just bunch all of them together and see them as one because it's easier that way.

At what point do we start to think then, that maybe there isn't a big mysterious obstacle that's waiting to be removed. Maybe there isn't an other side- an other side where everything inside us becomes everything that it's meant to be.

Maybe it's all just one, big, uphill climb, and our potential isn't a giant waiting to awaken. Maybe potential is just about how far up the wall we can climb.

We fall sometimes, lose a little height. Sometimes the ropes catch us and the fall isn't so bad. Other times, we fall to the bottom and have to climb back up again. But, as if possessed, we always climb back up again, however slow or fast. When we don't... well.

So what happens when we realize that one big roadblock actually isn't there- that it's actually just an endless hill. What happens when we realize that we're constantly overcoming obstacle after obstacle, climbing and climbing with no end in sight?

What happens when we realize this is what it's all about. That this is the true face of living fully, and realizing potential. That the finish line we sense in the back of our minds, isn't really a finish line? Isn't really there? What happens when we realize it's just an image we've set for ourselves, just to keep our legs running. It sure feels like it's getting closer, but we never really get there.

What happens if we realize this? That's it about taking care of the tasks in front of you, one by one, step by step, without thinking of a bigger picture. Without thinking that it all adds up to something. Without thinking that there's a bigger, better place at the top. What happens when we begin to be fully thankful for who we are, right now. What happens when we can fully, truly grasp this?

Maybe that's when the sleeping giant finally wakes up.

For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time to still be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. -Alfred D'Souza

How to Be Good at Everything: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6.1

How to Be Good at Everything (Part 6.1)

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:21:47 PDT

--Photo by Jeremy Brooks

Every day, every year, you wait. Waiting for that one missing thing. Waiting for that one roadblock to go away. The one roadblock that's keeping you from being everything you know you can be.

You know you've got it in you. You know you're a ticking time-bomb of potential, a dormant volcano waiting for its moment. There's a sleeping giant inside you that's waiting to wake up.

And every year, day after day you truck through routine, the mundane everyday hassles, knowing it's all just one bumpy stretch on the road to greater places.

You get past this stretch, and you know. You know you'll be closer. Closer to that place you've been waiting for.

All you need is to get past this. Once you can handle this, get better at it, master it, that "place" that "moment" will just be a nose away.

And there's always that little hope, that you'll get your lucky chance. That an x-factor comes out of nowhere and throws a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in front of you. The one, big, perfect opportunity that's exactly and everything you needed. That little push you needed in order to turn you into everything you knew you would be.

But you're a level-headed person. You're rational, you're realistic. You know golden opportunities don't just show up on your doorstep. Sure, it'd be nice, but you're smart enough to not to expect it.

So, instead, you work hard, get connected, stay connected, and try to have some fun along the way. They say those are the keys to a good life, right? Do those things and you're time is bound to come.

So why hasn't it happened yet?

(Continued on Part 6.2)

How to Be Good at Everything: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

Taiko Skin is in Saudi Arabia

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 22:05:42 PDT

--Image via Wikipedia

To clarify a little confusion, Taiko Skin is currently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and will be back in Japan on May 2nd.

Quite busy here but hopefully I'll have time to throw in a post soon...!

Earthquake in Japan- Quakes Continue One Month Later

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 01:55:59 PDT

Just twenty minutes ago (17:16 Japan time) was another shock in Fukushima, scaling in at magnitude 7.1.

Tsunami warnings have been made out to Ibaraki, Miyagi, Fukushima and parts of Chiba, ranging up to 1 meter. One meter may not sound like a lot compared to the big ones a month ago, but even 10cm can be enough to knock you off your feet.

It's been exactly one month since the 9.0 earthquake that has devastated northern Japan. And one month later the quakes won't stop. There was a magnitude 7.4 just four days ago on April 7th. When will these end?

After speaking directly to those living near the reactor, it seems what we see/hear on the news is a little different from what the people there are experiencing. Radiation warnings have been made about the water in areas around the reactor, dissuading people from drinking or bathing. But because of the lack of water, many people closest to the reactor are being forced to drink whatever they can get, radiation or not. When your home is wrecked, your family is missing and basic living amenities are unavailable, radiation concern (especially where its worst) seems to take a back seat, and understandably so.

There's a pang of guilt as I say all this from the safety of an air-conditioned hotel room in Qatar (out here for work since last week). I think there's really only one way to get a true picture of what it's truly like in northern Japan, and that's to actually go there for yourself. Roads are finally opening up so volunteers are beginning to flow in. I'm not back in Japan for another three weeks, but I really need to get up there to help.

A Last Day in Qatar

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:36:53 PDT

--Photo by Raiki Machida

Hot sure, but Qatar's been good. Next stop, Saudi Arabia. Birthplace of Islam and from what I hear, a country much stricter with social rules than the kick-it-back atmosphere of Doha. I'll write up my impressions once I'm actually there later today.

In other news, you can finally find all of our TaikoSkin Podcast episodes on iTunes. Just search "Taiko Skin" on iTunes, or even easier, take the jump from here. As always, feel free to shoot us any questions or comments (we'll take hard-hitting criticism too..though I might cry a little on the inside). You can send them in to taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

Keep on drummin' everyone. Hope we're all finding a way to have some fun.

PS. Is it just me or does the whole world seem like disasters, wars, riots and shocks these days?

Related articles

Taiko Skin is Back in Qatar

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 01:26:56 PDT

--Photo by Larry Johnson

Taiko Skin is back in Doha for a few days. And it's hot here. Real hot. And it's only still April. I don't know how they're ever going to play soccer here for the World Cup in this scorching heat. State-of-the-art stadiums, I'm sure, but they're going to need some, very, very big air conditioners.

On another note, update about the TaikoSkin Podcasts with Isaku Kageyama- we'll be posting them on the first day of every month. We have new episodes in the works, so do keep your heads up for them. You can find older episodes through this link, and you can now also find us by searching Taiko Skin in the iTunes music store. Thanks for listening!

I'm going to go buy some sunscreen. Peace.

TaikoSkin Podcast Ep. 3- 'Taiko Gigs'

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:21:04 PDT

If you play taiko, you're likely going to be performing on stage too. But getting shows can be difficult. In this podcast, Isaku Kageyama and I give some tips on how to get your gigs, as well as how to prepare for them.

How do you promote yourself? What is the best time and place to network? Once you have a show booked, how do you make sure that you are ready? What do you do in the hours leading up to showtime? We answer these questions and more in this episode. Enjoy!

As always, if you have questions and comments regarding any taiko related topic, please contact us at

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

Or, you can leave us a comment at the Taiko Skin blog, or Isaku's website. Thanks for listening!

This episode was recorded in Japan, where many people were recently made victim to the earthquake and consequent tsunamis. Our hearts and support go out to all those affected by earthquake and the consequent disasters. We pray for the safety of all, including those who have left home to go and help. There's many ways we can all help too- some ideas have been suggested in this blog. Please see the links below to donate to the Red Cross, who are currently running relief efforts in northern Japan.

Episode 3 related info:

-American Red Cross

http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main

-Japan Red Cross Society

https://gienkin.jrc.or.jp/

-Amanojaku Homepage

-Ondekoza Homepage

Taiko Skin News

taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com (Isaku Kageyama and Raiki Machida) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 15:48:14 PDT

Big thanks to everyone who has been stopping by this blog and sending in emails. Here's a few updates on what Taiko Skin will be doing in the next month or so.

Taiko Skin in April

Recently, I've been focusing on the earthquake, and intend to continue updating periodically on the status of the quake and relief efforts, as seen from Japan. Unfortunately for this blog, I will be in the Middle East through the entire month of April, which probably means fewer posts (though if I'm able, I do hope to update on the status of the Middle East while I'm there). Please feel free to send in any questions or comments though- I'll do my very best to get back as soon as I can.

Taiko Skin Podcast

Some of you may know, but Taiko Skin recently began a podcast with Isaku Kageyama of the drum group, Amanojyaku. The podcasts cover all topics relating to taiko drums. You can find the first episodes here. We're scheduled to have a new episode out on the first of every month, so do have a listen and subscribe! You can find our next episode on this blog, or on iTunes, starting April 1st. Please feel free to send in any questions or comments about the podcasts to taikoskinpodcast@gmail.com

Taiko Building

I've switched my focus to the quake recently, so there's been a clear lack of DIY and taiko related information recently. However, do expect a post about how to build barrel-based taiko drums in the near future, as well as some tips on how to make taiko stands. Again, if you have any specific information you're looking for, please feel free to write in a comment, or email me (you can find the email address on the 'about me' box on the right).

Stay safe and keep on drummin' everyone.