North Korean Drummer Lee Sun-ha Holds Drum Performance Exchange in Japan

Lee Sun-ha, a daebuk performer selected for the 2023 Cultural Arts Exchange Support Project by the Jeonbuk Culture and Tourism Foundation (CEO Lee Kyung-yoon), will engage in traditional arts exchange in Okaya City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, from the 23rd to the 27th.

Lee Sun-ha performing a North Korean piece.
[Photo by Jeonbuk Culture and Tourism Foundation]

Daebuk performer Lee Sun-ha is actively performing based in Jeonbuk Province. Since 2019, she has maintained steady exchanges with Osuwa Taiko, a performance group in Okaya City, known as the birthplace of modern Japanese taiko (太鼓). Taiko is a traditional Japanese percussion instrument, a cylindrical or barrel-shaped drum played by striking with sticks.

This support project plans to carry out various schedules including exchange meetings and workshops with Japanese performers, a tour of Osuwa Taiko, and interviews with local newspapers in the Okaya area.

Lee Sun-ha stated, “Okaya City is the hometown of Oguchi Daihachi, the founder of modern Japanese taiko, who played a crucial role in introducing taiko to the world.” She added, “Through this project, I hope to study Japanese drum performance, understand our differences, and find a way to move forward together.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.