Who We Are
JGB SHIBUKI Japanese Drum Group is a kumi daiko ensemble formed in 2016 in Buffalo, NY.
Did you know that shibuki means “splash” in Japanese? This name was inspired by nearby Niagara Falls, and it represents how each member makes their own splash on the drum that when played together, combine to create a unified and powerful sound.
Did you know that shibuki means “splash” in Japanese? This name was inspired by nearby Niagara Falls, and it represents how each member makes their own splash on the drum that when played together, combine to create a unified and powerful sound.
History
Shibuki began as an idea between friends. One of our founding members, Yoshiko, expressed to a friend that she wished there was a taiko group in Buffalo. This friend, Kenji Furutate (a world-famous taiko player that Yoshiko met through her daughter) asked "Why not start one?" Thus, the seed was planted and Yoshiko began to take action. She was excited to find that there was shared interest in learning taiko amongst other members of the Japanese Group of Buffalo, a cultural advocacy group. JGB already had a Japanese odori (dance) club and chorus group—joining the list was a taiko hobby club formed under the name Shibuki Niagara.
Under the guidance of Kenji Furutate, and mentorship from Joe Small (a renowned taiko player who is originally from Buffalo), the group was able to learn some initial basics of taiko playing. Kenji generously offered to lend the budding group a set of hiradaiko drums to use for practice, which was a valuable asset to the group when they were getting started. With just a few months practice and determination, they were ready for their debut performance. The group's first official performance was at the Kaminari-Con at Niagara County Community College in March of 2017, then at the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival in May of 2017, and both were a great success.
As the group continued practicing and performing, it became apparent they would need more drums. They went to work creating their very first practice drums, which were made out of car tires with clear packing tape wrapped around them. As time went on, Shibuki was able to locate drum skins to stretch over the tire drums, which created something closer to the sound of real taiko. Eventually, through fundraising and increased membership, SHIBUKI was able to purchase their first real nagado taiko drum in later 2017. Since then, the dedication of SHIBUKI members and the generosity of their community and audiences here in Buffalo has allowed them to purchase additional authentic taiko drums.
As more drums were added, the more powerful their sound became—and more performances and membership has followed. Since its inception in 2016, SHIBUKI has grown significantly as a taiko group. Currently there are 14 members, all coming from different areas, ages, and skill levels. What they all share is a passion for drumming together, and sharing the beauty of Japanese arts and culture with their community to experience too.
Performances
JGB Shibuki enjoys performing annually at JGB community events like Japan Culture Day (Bunka No Hi), and Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival. The group also interacts with the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in the Buffalo and the greater Western New York Area to promote cultural appreciation—they’ve performed at the Asian American Heritage Festival, Asian Food & Culture Festival, and at The Great New York State Fair’s inaugural celebration of its new Asian Village. Shibuki has also helped promote cultural awareness in local educational programs, such as International Night at The International School 45, as well as other local schools.
The group enjoys collaborating with other musical ensembles too—in 2021, they worked with the Buffalo Silver Brass Band on their program “East Meets West”, a showcase which highlighted both similarities and differences between the two styles of music to a wider audience. The group has also performed at local drumming festivals to bridge the sounds of Japanese music with Western music. Additionally, Shibuki also supports other organizations and causes, such as the Japan Culture Center of Western NY, and Music Is Art organization.
Previous performances include Music Is Art Festival, Elmwood Festival of the Arts, Griffis Sculpture Park Festival, World Refugee Day, and more.
The group enjoys collaborating with other musical ensembles too—in 2021, they worked with the Buffalo Silver Brass Band on their program “East Meets West”, a showcase which highlighted both similarities and differences between the two styles of music to a wider audience. The group has also performed at local drumming festivals to bridge the sounds of Japanese music with Western music. Additionally, Shibuki also supports other organizations and causes, such as the Japan Culture Center of Western NY, and Music Is Art organization.
Previous performances include Music Is Art Festival, Elmwood Festival of the Arts, Griffis Sculpture Park Festival, World Refugee Day, and more.