Frankston Taiko Drumming Group @ VFL Frankston Dolphins Home Game

The Frankston Taiko Drumming Group was formed just over 3 years ago when Toshi Sakamoto, Melbourne’s best-known taiko group Wadaiko Rindo’s leader, came to Frankston High School to teach our first lesson. We started with the basics of taiko drumming – how to hold the bachi (drum sticks), stance and body position, arm movements and simple drumming patterns and rhythms.

Our first taiko lesson with Toshi Sakamoto - Sunday 28th June 2023

In the years since, the group has performed at the Australian Fair in our sister city of Susono, practiced using gomi daiko (rubbish bin drums) made by the group thanks to the generous support from Frankston Bunnings, run numerous Bunnings Sausage Sizzles which have raised funds to purchase our own set of taiko drums and other equipment, conducted Come ‘N’ Try workshops at Ballam Park, Frankston Bunnings and for the St Johns Ambulance group at the Ebdale Community Centre, started a Taiko Club at Overport Primary School, and performed at numerous other community and school events including our own Japanese Festival held in early August 2025.

Come 'N' Try at Ballam Park using gomi daiko

By far our largest public performance occurred on Friday 31^st July when the group attended Kinetic Park to play at the Frankston Dolphins’ home game against Port Melbourne. Eight members of our taiko group performed 2 pieces on the oval before drumming as the Frankston team ran onto the ground and then joined the crowd on the Plowman Place wing.

Frankston Taiko members performing on the ground

The original aim was to play the drums after each Frankston goal, but that soon changed to celebrating any time a Frankston player marked, tackled or kicked the ball inside their forward line. The atmosphere and vibe was amazing and the group thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

Frankston team led out by Noah Gown in his 100th VFL game!

During the night we were joined by one of the students visiting Derinya Primary School from Susono City with 9 other Year 6 to 8 students, plus his host family and friends, and also students from Overport Primary School. There were also children in the crowd who joined to play along with the group. The feedback from people in the crowd was also very positive and complimentary – we had apparently created a great atmosphere for the players and crowd!

Japanese visitors Keito and Rio joined the group to play

And thankfully, the Frankston team had a great win! The team also showed their appreciation as they left the ground and the feedback from club officials, including Commercial Lead Adrian Lloyd, was greatly appreciated. We’ve been invited back, and the club is keen to secure our participation at future home fixtures!

Group members wore a Frankston Dolphins jumper under our Susono happi coats

Susono August Report - Yoshio Noda (FSFA Committee Member)

Our Susono-based FSFA committee member Yoshio Noda provided the following report and slideshow for our August meeting held on Monday 3rd August. By clicking on the first slide you can view a larger image of all 8 slides.

Susono July Report - Yoshio Noda (FSFA Committee Member)

Our Susono-based FSFA committee member Yoshio Noda presented the following report and slideshow at our July meeting held on Monday 6th July. By clicking on the first slide you can view a larger image of all 14 slides.

Yoshio takes an image of Fujisan almost every day, but the recent typhoons have inundated Susono with so much rain that it was not possible to see or photograph - hence Yoshio's most recent photo was taken on 17th June!

Today (7th July - or 7/7) is the much-celebrated Tanabata Festival! This is one of many Japanese folk tales FSFA uses as the set piece for our Japanese Speech Contest which is held on the first Friday evening in September each year. This year's contest is scheduled for Friday 4th September 2026!

Yoshio's Frankston friends arrival in Susono coincided with the arrival of the double typhoon and much rainfall. FSFA Life Member and Treasurer Bev Hannan, committee member Therese Sakamoto, and Mick Collard visited Susono after competing in a Ground Golf tournament in Yurihama, Tottori Prefecture. Mick finished second in his age group, the first Australian to medal in a Japanese tournament, and also scored a hole-in-one during the competition which included 380 competitors from 7 different countries.

Yoshio travels to the Sendai region of Japan twice a year to deliver lectures and classes to under graduate and post graduate students at Tohoku Gakuin University.

Hydrangeas (called Ajisai in Japan - hence the mascot pictured above is called Ajisai chan) typically bloom during the rainy season in June and July, making them a symbol and the most popular flower of the season.

The Lily Garden Festival in Fukuroi City, Japan, takes place at Kasui Yuri no Sono (Kasui Lily Garden). The festival runs every year from late May to early July, featuring over 2 million lilies of 150 different types.

As many of us will know from Yoshio's previous reports, food and seasonal dishes are very important in Japanese culture!

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi uses the Toyota Century SUV as her official state vehicle. The luxury chauffeur-driven car acts as a "moving office" for her busy political schedule. This upgraded vehicle replaced her previous Toyota Century sedan, carrying on a long tradition of utilizing premium Japanese cars for the nation's leaders.