Matsuri

The wadaiko (Japanese drum) and shakuhachi (bamboo flute) represent the sweat, rising cheer, and stirring excitement of souls about to burst with tremendous energy. Many of the songs included here were composed for EXPO 2005 to represent the many faces of a matsuri (Japanese festival). On this disc, excitement, beauty, and respect for nature are translated into strong beats from the wadaiko. Soft, feminine elements are expressed though the keynotes of the shamisen. The two sounds are combined to convey the unification of conflicting forces, and the joy of sharing a common future. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Kiyoshi Yoshida's work involves various genres of music, including pop, commercial scores, TV soundtracks, and computer game themes. He has also written and arranged songs for various artists.