When the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology（the Ex-Ministry of Education） began promoting a "Lifelong learning society" in 1990, the Kinshuukai founder, the late Mr. Yoshikazu Iwama, and four other founders of other taishokoto schools called ryu and kai led the establishment of the Taishokoto Association Incorporated (Shadan-houjin Taishokoto Kyoukai in Japanese) and was recognized in 1993 as the Taishokoto Association Incorporated by the Ex-Ministry of Education.
Now, taishokoto lessons are one of the representatives of "Lifelong Education "(Social education) in Japan. That same year, 1993, Kinshuukai made improvements of their teaching system and developed taishokoto’s key mechanism to the piano-style in 2000 that enabled better and easier performance. Namely, each key has the equal distance like that of piano. （#6.）Taishokoto with piano-style key mechanism allowed easier and faster tempo playing. Further more, taishokoto with pickup microphone (electric taishokoto) has got the expansion of musical expression like expression of strong, weak and long tones. Further more effective sounds of the electric guitar were also possible. Adopting the music sequencer named "Music Player" produced by Roland Corporation has improved the teaching system and raised the level of student learning remarkably. The Music Player enhanced practice at home. （#13.）Instructors expressive ensemble performances gave the audience wonderful impressions.
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| #13.Instructors ensemble performances |
More than 30 years have passed since our taishokoto organization name "Kinshuukai" was established. Comparing the people’s understanding and impression at that time with those of the current, have changed so much. Many lovers of taishokoto, who had learned taishokoto until about 20 year ago, looked upon that taishokoto as the inferior musical instrument to others like guitar, mandolin and violin, accordingly they did not want to tell their facts of learning to their friends. Contrarily, current lovers of taishokoto are proud of their learning and invite their friends to learn with them.
Japan has already fallen into a super aging society. Local community is required to help the aged living alone. The age of taishokoto lovers are over 65 years old on the average, but they are very healthy and called "active seniors". They are eager to participate in volunteer activities. For example, consoling the aging with performance at a care home for the aged or performing at events in local communities. They say that learning taishokoto and playing with groups prevents them from growing senile. That is because they must use their eyes, ears, both fingers and they must concentrate to play taishokoto and they enjoy the companionship and company of their friends during and after lessons. They often go for sightseeing and enjoy dinning with each other. They live very productive lives today. They have found their place in life.
We "Kinshuukai" have three Mottos and contributing to society as a part of lifelong learning.
1.Providing a rich life with music for people.
2.Giving a great importance to music itself.
3.Enriching the culture of many places.
Key words that guides us through the motto:
●Playing technique of musical instrument and knowledge of music.
●Community
●Interchange of Generation
●Contribution to society
" Lifelong Learning "
We will repeat again, most of taishokoto lovers agree that all of the activities with regard to taishokoto help in the prevention or senility. It is also believed that （#14.）participating and performing in concerts as performers or having a talk with friends stimulates the brain and prevents problems associated with senility. Putting it concretely, soon after reading and understanding the musical meaning of printed figures on music sheet you must push the same key number of taishokoto with your left designated finger on music sheet and pick strings with your right hand rhythmically. They say "this series of actions must reactivate the brain in elders." There is no medical proof that taishokoto is great for preventing senility. In spite of no medical proof, almost all taishokoto learners believe, from their own experience, that taishokoto activities prevent them from getting mental problems. Hopefully some day, someone will verify with medical proof that there is a relation between taishokoto playing and mental well being. |
| #14.Taishokoto lovers (Kinshuukai members) concert |
In April 2005, our 1,034 taishokoto participants performed at the Oasis 21 Nagoya City Japan and set a record in (#15.)The Guinness World Records LTD. as the largest taishokoto ensemble playing group for the first time. Such an achievement gives taishokoto players an incentive to enrich their own skills and their lives, we have held Guinness World Record until April 11, 2008.
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| #15. Challenging The Guinness World Records & its certificate |