An excited crowd of attendees welcomed the Kato Family during a stop on a nationwide tour by their performance group, Peaceful Forest, whose display of Taiko drumming was No. 777 of a goal of 1,000 appearances spread among each of the 50 states. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

MERRIMACK – The goal of sharing 1,000 performances across all 50 states came closer to reality for members of a unique musical group, Peaceful Forest, whose spectacle of the art of Taiko drumming currently is being shared nationwide by the Kato Family — World Champion Japanese Taiko Drummer Takumi Kato, his wife, Izuna, and their three talented sons.

The father and sons presented Performance No. 777 at the Merrimack Public Library on Aug. 18. The Kato sons are Sogen, age 14, Ryoma, age 13, and Yamato, age 9, who snap out the staccato beats alongside their dad.

Local photographer Scott Kepnes, a Merrimack resident with a plump photography portfolio of regional rock stars, met the family in July at Performance No. 759 at a children’s center in Massachusetts. A friendship blossomed. It was Kepnes who suggested the library as a roomy venue and reserved the space.

“Performance 777 was filled with so much warmth and kindness,” said Takumi. “Thank you so much, Scott, and everyone who came to see us, as it was a very special moment where music brought people’s hearts together.”

The Kato family travels in a big white van that offers ample room for four jumbo Taiko drums and other musical instruments and costumes. Cozy overnights are easy there, although host families frequently offer the hospitality of residential lodging.

Brothers Ryoma and Yamato Kato control the head and body during a "Shishimai," a Lion Dance, with older brother Sogen and their father Takumi Kato, drumming as the lion bestowed good luck to audience members with a kiss on the forehead. Courtesy photo by SCOTT KEPNES

Peaceful Forest, based in Pittsburgh, Pa., is supported solely through donations to peacefulforest.org. The couple coordinates the journey’s meandering itinerary and charts side trips for family activities.

Izuna takes plenty of photos. Takumi posts them — Takumi Kato on Facebook — and to Instagram as Instagram@peaceful_forest.

Takumi is honored nationally in Japan as the Grand Prize winner in 2008 of the Big Japanese Drum Category of the 7th Tokyo International Wadaiko Competition, a feat instilling in admirers a reverence for his art and some celebrity acknowledged only modestly.

Appearances at holy shrine rituals, imperial court assemblies and cultural festivals throughout Japan were constant before the family relocated to the U.S. in 2022.

In addition, Takumi was honored to carry the torch for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Japan and has been requested on occasion to compose intricate orchestrations for elite Taiko drumming events. Izuna mentions gratitude for the pure spirit of Takumi’s mission to share Taiko music with the world.

The powerful art of Taiko drum work performed here by these musicians, from left, Takumi Kato, Yamato Kato, age 9, Sogen Kato, age 14, and Ryoma Kato, age 13, travelers of the Peaceful Forest ensemble, are sharing with audiences across all 50 states the ancient art of Taiko drumming, one whose online statistics note a heritage of at least 2,000 years. Courtesy photo by IZUNA KATO

“I am very grateful that our children have the opportunity to meet so many people, learn, and grow through music. I am also grateful for the connections we make that often lead us to our next performance location,” Izuna added.

“The support and encouragement we receive from so many people gives us the strength to keep moving forward. We are truly thankful to everyone who supports our journey,” she noted.

Peaceful Forest is booked on Sept. 25-26 in New Mexico. The family also is scheduled for a performance in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 12. A television feature in a segment of NHK World Newsline In Depth broadcast May 17, 2023, is duplicated on YouTube, where more videos are available with a quick search of the name, “Takumi Kato.”

More information on Peaceful Forest and the Kato family’s sojourn across America with a goal of performing for people in 1,000 communities across all 50 states is accessible online at peacefulforest.org.

Peaceful Forest performed at the Merrimack Public Library on Aug. 18, presenting a lively and masterful presentation of Japanese Taiko drumming during performance No. 777, one that adds to their goal of sharing the culture 1,000 times across all 50 of the United States. Courtesy photo by SCOTT KEPNES