Aun and Hide, a group of traditional Japanese drum players, will perform the Sunday concert at Otakon 2017.
In 2011, three prominent Wadaiko (Japanese traditional drum) players from two influential troupes began performing together: twin brothers and Ondenkoza alums Ryohei and Kohei Inoue, better known as Aun, and former Kodo member Hide. Their experiences in Japan's most recognized Wadaiko groups have allowed both acts to be ubiquitous in the world of Taiko and, more recently, abroad.
Aun and Hide were appointed as cultural exchange ambassadors by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2012, and spent 39 days performing at local schools, workshops, public events, and cultural conventions in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The trio performed alongside local musicians for over 10,000 attendees in 29 events, and were lauded by local media for their efforts at cultural exchange through music. After releasing their debut album ONE ASIA in June 2012, Aun and Hide continued with their international projects. They toured across Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka the following November and December, and performed in Brunei and Penang, Malaysia, in February 2014 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Japan's dialogue relations with the ASEAN alliance of national governments.
The trio's energetic performances bring the best of Wagakki (Japanese traditional instruments such as the Taiko, Shamisen, Fue, and Narimono) onto the stage. Mastering both the dynamic and lively beats of a Matsuri and refreshing sounds inspired by nature, Aun and Hide's music is bound to reach your heart and purify your soul.