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BEGINNINGS OF THE DOJO
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1999 ~ 2002
1999 – Barn suitable for conversion found in South Lanarkshire
When Neil Mackie and Miyuki Williams first returned to the UK in 1994, after spending two years training in Japan, their dream was not just to start a taiko group – Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers – but also to open a centre for taiko drumming, where people could learn to play taiko and learn more about the art form itself. This was especially important to us, as when we first returned from Japan, enthused with the great energy we had found in taiko, we had problems finding rehearsal and teaching space, and found it difficult to meet like-minded people who also wanted to play taiko. And so the quest of creating the dojo became not just our personal dream, but also a means to bring other taiko players together, with us and with each other.
In mid ’99, this long held dream finally became a reality.
Neil & Miyuki had been searching for a suitable property to convert since Mugenkyo relocated from London to Scotland in early 1998, and found a wonderfully isolated farmhouse with a large barn, just near the M74 motorway 40 minutes south of Glasgow.
As the project was completely self-financed through our performances, it took many years to renovate the barn and convert it into the very first purpose-built taiko dojo in the UK. Life wasn’t easy in those early days of our new-found home, and even before the building work began, we used the barn to rehearse, with the cold wind and snow blowing through the ventilation shafts!
Completed Taiko Dojo
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The building work began on the dojo in 2000 – a slow and arduous process, progressing as and when the group earned funds from touring, with builders hired in to work during gaps between tours. During this time the group rehearsed in the open air and in the small rooms at the farmhouse, whilst working on the barn to help with the restoration. |
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