Of Tengu & Taiko: An Interview with a Wondermensional Woman

Snow Country Stories Japan

In Episode 03 of Snow Country Stories Japan*, I speak with Komatsu Haruna, a multi-talented musician and performer based in Iizuna, Nagano. Haruna is a member of Iizuna Gongen Daiko, a local ‘taiko’ (drum) group that has been performing for over 30 years. Haruna joined Iizuna Gongen Daiko in 2017 and now both performs and composes music for the group, including compositions to tell the story and promote the ‘Iizuna Saburo Tengu’ – a ‘yokai’ (supernatural being) said to live deep in the forests of Mount Iizuna and focus of devotion for followers of ‘Iizuna Shugen’.

The interview begins with Haruna talking about growing-up bored in Iizuna, unaware of the importance of the local mountain, before we delve a little into Iizuna Shugen and the mischievous Iizuna Saburo Tengu, taiko and more. Haruna discusses her time living and performing in London – where she found her way into taiko performance – before returning to Japan and discovering her old home of Iizuna wasn’t as boring as she once thought. You can find more information via the following websites (please note, all websites are in Japanese):

Iizuna Gongen Daiko:

https://www.youtube.com/@iizunagongendaiko

https://www.instagram.com/iizunagongendaiko/

https://iizunagongendaiko.amebaownd.com/
Iizuna Saburo Tengu:

https://iizunasaburotengu.my.canva.site
*please note, at the time of upload of this episode, the name of the podcast was 'Snow Country For Old Men'. It has since changed to 'Snow Country Stories Japan'. For more information about that change, listen to the special announcement uploaded on April 24th 2023.
Snow Country Stories Japan is a bi-weekly podcast about life and travel in Japan's legendary 'yukiguni'. For more information about the show and your host, visit our website - www.snowcountrystories.com - and make sure to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.