Hola Amigo! The 2010 Yamato World Tour has begun. The first country we will visit this year is Mexico, a country full of passion! Viva Mexico! Expect great things!
February 10, Taiko on TV Newspaper and Radio
“Ask whatever you like.”
It’s our first media day in Mexico. We didn’t know anything about it until we arrived at the theater and were greeted by more than 30 press people. They were all Mexicans … well, I guess that goes without saying. TV, newspaper and radio reporters all surrounded us. It made us a little nervous.
February 11, “Second Media Day
Why is there a bus labeled Ogizawa – Kurobe Dam here?
It’s our second day here and it’s another media day. We went to the TV station to make an appearance on a very popular TV program broadcast in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and other Central/South American countries. When that was finished, without even changing out of our costumes, we moved on to the next destination to be interviewed and photographed by two newspaper publishers. We were able to perform taiko in a rather mysterious park for them.
February 12, ”Yamato in front of a Water fountain
It’s our fourth day in Mexico City and it is another bright and sunny day! We are really feeling energetic. Anyhow, today’s PR event is in front of a water fountain. As soon as we began to play “Rakuda”, we caught the attention of the passersby and before we knew it, there was quite a large crowd right in front of us. Many people asked us questions about when and where the concert will be. It makes us happy.
February 13, “Breakdown!”
Today we traveled to a town called “Leon” for an interview. We packed up our drums and drove about 5 hours by car. We enjoyed the colorful scenery and towns as we drove for about an hour. Suddenly, the surroundings changed to dry desert all around us.
At that moment the car broke down right in the middle of highway!! Everyone, be sure you keep your cars in good running condition.
February 14 (Sunday) moving day
Today we moved on to “Puebla” after finishing up all the PR interviews. It took about two hours by car.
We arrived and were happy to discover that we are staying at a super resort style hotel.
We did today’s training by the pool side.
February 15, Unloading
Today we are heading into Puebla to unload equipment. I wonder what type of theater, what type of crew awaits us…Anyway, how about some pickled cactus?
February 16 (Tuesday) Unloading
Today we continue our unloading from yesterday. We have an interview as well. In front of the theater entrance, surrounded by all kinds of media people,, we presented our performance of “Rakuda”.
The Pueblo theater has 3500 seats, so we ask all the citizens, please come and see our concert!
February 17 (Wednesday) Performance in Puebla
We’ve finally done it! After five days of PR, we have arrived at Yamato’s first performance of the 2010 Yamato Mexico tour. We spent two days setting up, ate Miso ramen and drank Red Bull to become full of energy. Although we spent a long time setting up for today’s performance, it was over before we knew it. The concert ended successfully. Now everyone smile for a picture: theater staff, Yamato’s Canadian and Mexican crews and the members of Yamato… say “Cheese!” Well done!
February 18 (Thursday) Puebla Concert
It’s the second day in Puebla. When we are on tour we usually have no time to go to the hair salon. Even when we do, it often turns out to be more trouble than it is worth because every country has different ways of cutting and styling hair.
Midori Tamai did not have the time to go to a salon so he had to ask Akiko Ogawa to trim his proud Samurai-style topknot.
February 19 (Friday) Moving
After completing two days of concerts, we are moving on from Puebla, the first stop on Yamato’s 2010 Mexico tour. Today we arrived in the capital, Mexico City!
This theater is only half the capacity of the theater in Puebla. Still, it is an 1800 seat venue. And the number of performances scheduled here is rather impressive! We will perform 10 times over 7 days. Wow! Good luck! Work hard, Yamato! Work hard… me!
February 20 (Saturday) Unloading
Yamato Mexico Tour 2010
It’s our second time unloading for this tour. This time it is in the capital, Mexico City. We had scheduled to unload at 11 AM, but as a result of complications… yes, there were quite a few, actually, we ended up unloading five hours late.
Hmm, we cannot compete against this Mexican power! Well, tomorrow is our performance, we have two of them.
Viva! Viva Mexico! Amigo!
Extra! Extra!
Look at all these fake goods!
It’s kind of sudden, but here is a question:
We’ve been all over the world, but there is one thing that we have only found in Mexico. What do you think it is?
Imitation Yamato goods!
February 21 (Sunday) Mexico City – Two Performances@
In front of the poster
It’s the 2010 Yamato Mexico Tour! After finishing a successful stay in Puebla we’ve moved on to Mexico City, the capital. We are at the Teatro Metropolitan right in the middle of the city.
We will have 10 performances at this theater! There is a large Yamato poster near the entrance.
It is impressive no matter how many times we pass by it.
February 22 (Monday) Mexico City – Concert Day
We did it again today! After our performance, we went to the one spot in the world where you can buy unofficial Yamato Merchandise, a little booth in Mexico City.
We bought some.
We bought a lot! We asked for a discount, since we are actually members of Yamato, but it was no use.
February 23 (Tuesday) Mexico City – Concert Day
Practice is the only thing!
We are heading into our third concert day in Mexico City. When we have several days of performances in the same place, we do not need to spend time loading and unloading. Starting in the morning we have plenty of time. All of our taiko are here and we can practice taiko on the stage. It’s really a blessing to us.
Midori Tamai, our soloist for our first number, Uchoten, receives strict instruction from our leader, Ogawa san.
February 24 (Wednesday) Day Off
A day off in Mexico City! How wonderful! Mexico is a cheerful country - the climate as well as the people. The souvenir shops have cute little items for sale and everything is very colorful. Colorful plates of every size and if you’re speaking of Mexico, you can’t forget about hats. There are animals carved out of wood, and … monsters? Or are they pro wrestlers? Or maybe superheroes?
Just looking at all this stuff is exciting.
February 25 (Thursday) Mexico City – Concert Day
Yesterday we thoroughly enjoyed our first day off of the 2010 Yamato Mexico Tour. Starting today, we have four more days and six concerts here. The altitude in Mexico City is actually quite high. Halfway up Mt. Fuji is about 2300 meters. Mexico City sits at 2400 meters.
The picture is a member of the stage crew. The air is thin here and in both his sleeves he has little oxygen tanks. While we are having a difficult time to manipulate Spanish, the Mexican staff is struggling in its own way as well. He even needs extra oxygen…
February 26 (Friday) Mexico City – Concert Day
Yamato Mexico Tour 2010! Our performances in the capital, Mexico City, are at the Teatro Metropolitan, a proper historical opera house.
It is found in what is called the historic area of town.
It fills us with pride to be at this theater and to see the large poster with “Yamato” written in big letters.
February 27 (Saturday) Mexico City – Two Concerts
It’s here. Two concerts in one day! Kind of scary! It is tough to play drums for two hours at 2400 meter elevation.
It is a struggle against oneself.
We keep taking oxygen and work as hard as possible. I wonder how our intense work is viewed by the Mexican people…
February 28 (Sunday) Mexico City – Two Concerts
Just like yesterday we have two performances again today. We made a new vow: Go back to basics! We decided to really focus on enjoying ourselves as if we were at a festival.
We will get rid of the boundary between the performers and the audience and the whole venue will become one. It was a big success and we could feel the beauty of the taiko drums…
That’s Marika Nito at the oxygen tank.
