Hide Yoshihashi stood to the side of the drum in a deep lunge to the left. He beat slow and then fast while moving toward and away from the drum.

Three other drummers mirrored his moves onstage.

The choreographed movements combined with the beats of the drum told the story of a traditional Japanese song.

The fluid movements and strength of each drumbeat from each drummer depicted a fisherman throwing his net out to fish and pulling it back.

“All songs have a meaning – always,” Yoshihashi said.

Yoshihashi is the founder and head instructor for the Japanese drumming troop JASC Tsukasa Taiko, of Chicago.

The group performed on campus Sunday as part of the Asian Heritage Month Banquet. About 150 people were in attendance for the banquet with a mix of faculty, students, community members and children.

JASC Tsukasa Taiko is one of the leading taiko programs in the Midwest.

A taiko is a fat drum of Japanese origin.

A shamisen, a Japanese lute, accompanied the drummers during several songs.

The group played a total of six songs, with different drum formation and choreography for each song.

The group moved and danced, never staying in the same position. The beauty of their movements blended with the striking of their drums.

The audience sat captivated by the physical force and strength the group exuded with each song.

JASC Tsukasa Taiko ended the banquet and received a standing ovation from audience members.

Jocelyn Tipton, librarian and reception chairperson for the banquet, said each year the banquet features cultural entertainers, and the last two years, the entertainment was dancers.

She said they wanted to try and find something different this year.

Tipton said as far as she knew, a group like JASC Tsukasa Taiko has not performed on campus before.

She said bringing the drummers brought the exposure of a new art form to campus.

“It broadens their horizons,” Tipton said.

The banquet kicked off a month-long of events in celebration of Asian Heritage Month.

Tipton said Asian Heritage Month is usually celebrated in May, but Eastern chooses to celebrate the month in April when students are around.

A sample of Asian food was provided for guests to sample, and the banquet started with a fashion show of traditional Asian clothing.

“Every thread has a soul,” said Krishna Thomas, organizer of the fashion show.

Thomas, assistant director for faculty development, said this Arab proverb is particularly true for Asian culture.

“From every part of Asia, from tribesmen to farmers to multicultural city dwellers, textiles have always been more than simple necessities of life,” Thomas said.

They are a means of creative expression, she said.

The show, now in its third year, featured traditional dress from India, Pakistan, Bahrain, Philippines, Japan, China and Korea.

Students and children of faculty volunteered to model the national dress from these countries.

Amber King, a junior psychology major, volunteered because she is a member of the Asian-American Association.

King modeled a yukata, a traditional Japanese summer garment.

She said the fashion show allows people to see what the different cultures wear.

King said Asian culture is not just Japan, China and Korea, but much more.

The fashion show helped to show this by exhibiting the traditional dress and culture from a variety of Asian countries.

“All the clothing is equally beautiful,” King said.

The outfits came from faculty, staff and others who owned national dress. Many of the costumes are normal, everyday wear in these Asian countries, Thomas said.

“When here at Eastern Illinois University, you don’t really see many of these outfits from day-to-day,” she said.

Thomas said much can be learned from Asian culture and its clothing.

“There is a meaning and a story behind each garment,” Thomas said.

Upcoming events on the Asian Heritage Month calendar:

3:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 8

“Explore Chinese Language and Culture,” 1895 Room, MLK Jr. Union

3:00 p.m. Thursday, April 10

Martial Arts Demonstration: To-De, Arcola-Tuscola Room, MLK Jr. Union

12:00pm Friday, April 11

Road Trip: South Korean Comedy Film Festival and Workshop – Asian Heritage Celebration, Champaign

Shuttle leaving at noon and 5 p.m. from Coleman Hall’s south parking lot.

Emily Zulz can be reached at 581-7942 or at [email protected].