Kathmandu It proved once again that music has no language yet it can still touch souls when Japanese cultural group Akafuji Daiko — a group of drummers — played their special drums at Hotel Yak and Yeti, Durbar Marg on September 3. And the hearts of everyone present at the venue danced with joy and ecstasy with their energetic and exciting beats. The event was organised by Nepal-Japan Friendship Society (NJFS) to mark and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan. Attired in black costume with red border and red ribbon tied on the foreheads, five women and one man took the stage and started playing their special drums — wadaiko (big drum) and sime (smaller drums). They each picked up a pair of wooden sticks and hit powerfully on the cylindrical drum bound by leather on both ends producing upbeat as well slow beats. The drum music was auspicious. “Since pre-historic time the drum which is called wadaiko — traditional Japanese percussion instrument — has been played to make gods happy. For any auspicious occasion, we play it. It is believed that the child inside the womb can feel the heartbeats of his/her mother when the mother listens to this drum being played,” Chairman of Akafuji Daiko Japan, Hiromi Ishioka shared about their music and drums. He added, “Drums are taken as an important instrument in Japan where it is also used to recover memory of patients.” Apart from traditional Japanese music, Nepali folk music comprising dhime, khin, basuri, sarangi, tunguna and nyakhin was also presented at the event. Nepali instrumental band Kutumba came onstage and set it on fire. In traditional Newari dress of black daura with red border played altogether six tunes — Festival, Paribartan, Voices of Youth and Resham Phiriri among others. Everyone enjoyed Kutumba’s performance including the Japanese audience. Resham Phiriri was enjoyed thoroughly — it was played twice on encore while Japanese drums players were also singing and dancing to Resham Phiriri. Pavit Maharjan, frontman of Kutumba interacted with audience during their performance and also informed, “Last year we planned to tour Japan but we couldn’t go due to earthquake but I’m happy to perform here.” More Japanese drum music resounded at the event. After Kutumba, Akafuji Daiko returned on stage with their members as young as three-year old drummer to university students to 60-year-old woman. They played Evadono referring to Japanese mountain, Machuri (Festival) and Saaruhasi (Monkey Bridge).  While playing Machuri, Nepali drum players who had learned the Japanese drum through culture exchange programme joined them to produce the most energetic sound. The event which began with a welcome dance in Musukka Hasyo Bari Lai by the students of Bagmati School had Japanese Ambassador Masashi Ogawa, Minister of Labour and Employment Surya Man Gurung and other dignitaries among the crowd.