The Drumbeat of a Mother's Heart
We visit a group of "wadaiko" Japanese drum players based in Osaka. The group is made up of mothers who have children with hard-to-cure illnesses. The group is in preparation for their first performance in three-and-a-half years after a long break due to the COVID pandemic. We bring you the story behind.
One of the members of the group, Morimoto Junko's first son, 14-year-old Riku, has a severe disability. He needs help with everything, from walking to getting dressed.
One of other members is Nomura Yuka. In spring, six months after Yuka joined the drum group, her daughter Waka passed away.