Biography - NoriNori

Noriko Kobayashi (she/her) was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec attending Trebas Institute of RecordingArts and studying bass guitar with Gemini award-winning composer Neil Smolar. Kobayashi moved to London, England for a full five-year immersion into various punk rock bands. Kobayashi then travelled to San Francisco and co-founded riot grrrl punk rock band Tribe 8 (as bassist and composer), spearheading the genre of queercore. Kobayashi co-managed Tribe 8 and coordinated tours of the Northwest, America, and England. Kobayashi left Tribe 8 to move to Vancouver, Canada to earn her B.A. in music and psychology, and M.A. in ethnomusicology at UBC. In Vancouver, she was introduced to taiko drumming and joined Sawagi Taiko. She culminated her academic studies with her thesis, Development of Canadian Kumi-Daiko - ensemble taiko drumming and article, “Asian Women Kick Ass Through Japanese Drumming”.Kobayashi then spent many years in Japan studying with masters of taiko, shigin (Japanese poetry chanting), and shamisen (percussive lute). Kobayashi returned to Vancouver and co-founded Onibana Taiko, performing and composing. She performs shamisen with her stage name of NoriNori and enthusiastically blends traditional Japanese music with rock music to promote new sounds of rock shamisen. Recent highlights include collaboration with Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野 (they/them) in Yume Digital Dreams, co-composer and performer in the music commission of Paueru Mashup and a CCA “Explore and Create” project between Onibana Taiko and Montreal’s Rwandan drummers, Komezinganzo Troupe. Kobayashi also ventured into video documentaries, researching and producing “Canadian Taiko Temperature Check During Covid-19”.

Noriko K. Kobayashi (NoriNori) acknowledges that the land on which she gathers and thrives upon is the unceded and traditional territories of the Coast Salish Peoples including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), Kwantlen, Katzie, SEMYOME (Semiahmoo) peoples or Nations

小林紀子（NoriNori）は、私たちが集い繁栄しているこの土地はマスクィウム族、スノホミッシュ族、セルワテュス族、クワントレン族、カッジー族、セマイアムー族などのコースト・セイリッシュの人々が祖先から受け継いだ領土であり、譲渡された土地ではないことを認めます。

小林紀子はケベック州のモントリオールで生まれ育ち、Trebas Institute of Recording Artsで学び、ジェミニ賞を受賞した作曲家ニール・スモラルにベース・ギターを師事した。その後、彼女はロンドンに渡り、5年間様々なパンクロック・バンドに参加。さらに、サンフランシスコに渡り、ライオット・ガール・パンクロック・バンド Tribe 8を共同設立し（ベーシスト、作曲家として）、クイアコア・ジャンルの先駆者となる。小林はTribe 8を運営にも携わり、カナダ北西部、アメリカ、イギリスでのツアーをコーディネートした。その後、カナダのバンクーバーに移り住み、ブリティッシュコロンビア大学（UBC）で音楽と心理学の学士号、民族音楽学の修士号を取得した。また、バンクーバーで和太鼓に出会い、さわぎ太鼓に参加し、学術論文として「Development of Canadian Kumi-Daiko （カナダにおける組太鼓の発展）」および「Asian Women Kick Ass through Japanese Drumming（和太鼓におけるアジア系女性の活躍）」を発表した。その後、日本に渡って和太鼓、詩吟、三味線の師匠に師事し、長年にわたり研鑽を積んだ。さらに、バンクーバーに戻り、鬼花太鼓を共同設立し、演奏と作曲を行う。三味線は「紀々（ノリノリ）」の芸名で演奏し、日本の伝統音楽とロックを融合したロック三味線の新しいサウンドを創り出すことに意欲的である。最近の主な活動としては、Paueru Mashupのための曲の委託作成やモントリオール在住のルワンダ人ドラマーであるKomezinganzo Troupeと鬼花太鼓によるプロジェクト「CCA Explore and Create」における共同作曲・演奏がある。また、ビデオドキュメンタリーとして「Canadian Taiko Temperature Check During Covid-19（コロナ禍におけるカナダ中の太鼓グループの体温チェック」を制作した。

NEXT EVENT

Japanese Traditional Drumming

Classes at Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre

Autumn term starts on Sunday Sept. 15, 2024

Hachijo

https://anc.ca.apm.activecommunities.com/vancouver/activity/search/detail/521348?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true

Miyake

https://anc.ca.apm.activecommunities.com/vancouver/activity/search/detail/519939?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true&locale=en-US

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POWELL STREET FESTIVAL 2024: CANADA MIYAKE KAI

See us at our debut @powellstfest this Sunday, August 4th at 4:30 at the Diamond stage. We've been training hard! Don't forget to WASHOI! Hands-on tailo opportunity!

Miyake Workshops on April 27-28 with Miyake Jima Geino Doshi Kai from Japan at UBC Asian Centre

Thanks to UBC Dept. of Ethnomusicology for support

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/vancouver-miyake-taiko-workshop-registration-838372975137

Miyake Jima Geino Doushi Kai is an organization that is based on promoting and preserving Miyake Taiko. Miyake Island has a 200-year traditional taiko drumming, known as Miyake Taiko which supports the mikoshi celebrations of Kami Tsuki Jinja - an island Shinto shrine where they drum for nine hours during the festival. The organization was founded by Akio Tsumura who comes from Miyake Island and taught the taiko group KODO, the Miyake taiko style. His sons continue the tradition and the eldest, Kazuhiro Tsumura leads the organization and is a former member of KODO. They continue to collaborate and perform with Kodo on a regular basis in Japan.

Miyake Workshop with the Tsumura brothers of Miyake Jima Geino Doshi Kai. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/vancouver-miyake-taiko-workshop-registration-838372975137

Miyake-jima Geino Doushi Kai from Japan

Miyake Class at Moberly Spring Term - April 14 - June 30,2024

Registration is now open

https://anc.ca.apm.activecommunities.com/vancouver/activity/search/detail/484609?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true

Canada Miyake (Taiko) Kai an official branch with Miyake Jima Geinou Doushi Kai from Japan. Miyake Jima Geino Doushi Kai is an organization that is based on promoting and preserving Miyake Taiko. Miyake Island has a 200-year traditional taiko drumming, known as Miyake Taiko which supports the mikoshi celebrations of Kami Tsuki Jinja - an island Shinto shrine where they drum for nine hours during the festival. Miyake Taiko is a low-stance form of drumming that has been popularized around the world, largely through KODO’s Miyake performance. Miyake taiko is a powerful and spiritual drumming that is a great workout for the body, mind, and soul. The emphasis is on training to perfect the Miyake taiko and choreograph various presentations. Everyone of all ages is welcome including beginners.

email: canadamiyaketaiko@gmail.com

Canada Miyake Taiko Kai on Facebook

Canada Miyake Kai on Instagram

NoriNori & Komori at Garry Point Park on April 7th 3pm

Oyama Zanki

Oyama-Ryu Tsugaru Shamisen Nattori (License) with stage name Oyama Zanki 小山山紀

I received my Oyama Nattori. I am Oyama Zanki, trailblazing as I am the first Canadian to receive an Oyama nattori for tsugaru shamisen and I will do my best to represent this amazing lineage of shamisen music. Thanks to Canada Council for the Arts for funding support!

New Year Event Sponsored by the Japanese Consulate & Steveston Buddhist Temple

Taiko Classes at Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre

Spring Term 2023: Sundays April 9 - June 11

https://moberlyartscentre.ca/

Children's Taiko Drumming 10:00 - 10:45

People might be surprised to learn that I enjoy and specialize in teaching taiko to young children. I completed several early childhood music workshops/seminars and taught music/taiko in numerous private preschools and elementary schools in Tokyo. The valuable benefits of music in early childhood development are well documented. In this class, we will cover the basics of taiko drumming geared for children. Rhythm training, team building, and confidence building are some critical aspects acquired within a world music context. We will learn some taiko songs and the Powell Street Festival community mashup - Paueru Mashup on Japanese taiko drums made for children. Earplugs and water are a good idea. Please bring indoor shoes.

https://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/vancouver/Activity_Search/children-s-taiko-drumming/452991R

Preschoolers

Elementary

Video of Children's taiko ensemble in Japan:

https://youtu.be/6uAKFczzaAo

Taiko Drumming - Miyake Style 11:00 - Noon

Learn traditional Japanese drumming (Taiko) on real Japanese drums! Get a full body workout in the low stance of Miyake traditional drumming. This Miyake is of the Miyake Jima Geinou Doushi Kai lineage in Japan where I studied for several years Beginners are welcome. Drumsticks and drums are provided. Miyake bachi (drumsticks) are also for sale. Please bring indoor shoes or you can drum barefoot. Bring water, and a towel is also recommended.

Miyake KaiMiyake

Moberly Miyake Kai

To register for Miyake taiko please visit this site:

https://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/vancouver/Activity_Search/taiko-japanese-drumming-miyake-tradition/452988

Location: Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre, 7646 Prince Albert St., Vancouver, B.C.

https://moberlyartscentre.ca/

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