霧島には、「天孫降臨」の神話を九つの天狗の面をつけて演じる郷土芸能の霧島九面太鼓があります。

　この霧島九面太鼓保存会に所属し、この保存会で和太鼓と出会い、太鼓のとりこになった女性たちが、もっともっと太鼓を叩きたいと、結成されたグループが“霧島九面太鼓・和奏(わかな)”です。

　現在、霧島九面太鼓保存会と共に活動しながら、郷土芸能では表現しきれない今の自分達の気持ちと、女性ならではのしなやかさと、やさしさの中に、力強さを何とか伝えたいとそれぞれが太鼓に向かっています。

　

　This Taiko team comes from Kirishima situated in the southern most prefecture of Kyushu Island. Kirishima was designated as one of Japan's first national parks in 1934. In addition to the natural beauty, Kirishima is well known for the Shinto myth as the place where the main figure of Japanese Shinto deities, the grandson of Sun Goddess, descended from heaven to Japan in the company of eight other deities. Kirishima Kumen Taiko indigenous to this area incorporates this myth into its performances. Wakana, newly created in 1998 by the women players, branched out of Kirishima Kumen Taiko to explore more potentials to express their feelings for their love of Taiko. Wakana strives to bring feminine tenderness and elegance to the performance while retaining the inherent power of Taiko.