Artists at the Center - Kaeru - Dekoboko Taiko

Kaeru - Original by Stan Shikuma (Seattle Kokon Taiko, Kaze Daiko) The Japanese word for "frog," this piece was a part of a performance titled Kaeru no Tsunahiki (or Frog's Tug-of-War), which was loosely based on an Okinawan folktale. In this tale, a drought and a plague of insects threaten to destroy the rice paddies that both farmers and frogs need to survive. The frog king units with the farmers, and together they hold a tug-of-war to please the rain spirits. The rains come, ending the drought, washing away the insects, and saving the rice crops. The frogs and farmers hold a festival of taiko and dance to celebrate their victory and new-found friendships. Chu: Alex Zhang, Jamie Shinsato, Mayna Tyrrell, Sam Mak, Shayan Ghosh Shime: David Cannon Percussion: Stephanie Yamamoto Performed on August 10, 2025 at Artists at the Center. Seattle, WA -- Follow us! facebook.com/dekobokotaiko instagram.com/dekobokotaiko