Return to Transcripts main page
NEWS STREAM
NASA Launches Orion; Japan's Synthetic Marijuana Problem; The Civilians Who Still Live In Kobani; Morning Raves Becoming Part Of Working Life For Some; A Preview Of CNN Heroes 2014; On Japan; Taiko Drums
Aired December 05, 2014 - 8:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANNA COREN, HOST: Hello, I'm Anna Coren in Hong Kong. Welcome to News Stream where news and technology meet.
The faces of Kobani. We go inside the besieged Syrian city.
The Philippines braces for the impact of another powerful typhoon.
And liftoff for Orion, NASA tests its next generation spacecraft.
We begin this hour in Syria where the battle with ISIS for the city of Kobani rages on. Many civilians have left, but for those unable to flee,
life goes on among the ruins.
Well, Nick Paton Walsh ventures inside the besieged city to speak with some of them.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kobani feels haunted by those who are still alive in it. Inhumane enough that the noise
of coalition warplanes above is of strange comfort, the destruction so near complete. The fight is more now for victory alone, not for its spoils.
Here, they've even given up on hospitals.
This, the last one, flattened by a car bomb. The wounded now taken straight to the border.
From the ground level inside the city you can see what months of fighting has done, absolute devastation. It's almost impossible to imagine
this city sustaining life any time in the near future, but still the fighting persists, the shelling almost constant, so much of it caused by
crude homemade devices like this.
There are civilians here, those who refuse or cannot flee, and children besieged who cannot be protected from indiscriminate constant
shelling.
Yusuf (ph) can list their friends who have left, but they show us their only option, what they do when the blasts start. Their uncle taught
them to hide like this. This couldn't be further from playtime, though.
There are the remnants of lives enjoyed, but also of lives taken early.
Ali walks us to the spot where a week earlier his young daughter was killed by a random mortar, the (inaudible) that has still fallen.
"Three to four mortars fell near us," he says. "The first we escaped from. The second we escaped from. Then the third fell on us. My daughter
was 7-years-old. 7-years-old and she died. God bless and help us."
He brought his six daughters and the 150 sheep they live off here after ISIS attacked their nearby village. He could not leave the flock or
the family car and flee to safety in Turkey.
"She was 7-years-old," he says. "She was so beautiful, small, and people who saw her felt the need to lift her up and down and play."
He went to her grave the day before and sat there for 30 minutes.
It is the graveyard that tells you about the near future and the more distant one. A trench dug for the dead they expect next to those they have
already buried, headstones from rubble -- again, a morbid playground.
Too young to fathom the fight around them, they will decide what kind of life survival here could leave them with.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Kobani.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COREN: We turn now to the Philippines where residents and emergency teams are bracing for Typhoon Hagupit. It is expected to make landfall
this weekend, but the exact location is still unknown.
Well, the city of Tacloban is taking extra precautions. It was hammered last year by Typhoon Haiyan, so people there are stocking up on
essential supplies in case it happens again.
We'll get the latest details on the storm's path from meteorologist Derek Van Dam.
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We've got some of the latest information on Typhoon Hagupit. Just below super typhoon status,
nonetheless a very formidable and very dangerous storm that will impact the central and northern Philippines over the next 24 to 72 hours. Sustained
winds, 230 kilometers per hour this makes it, and the equivalent of a strong category 4.
Here is Tacloban. This is the Island of Samar. Depending on which meteorological agency you are looking at, we have multiple paths that we
are still paying very close attention to, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center shows more of a northerly component to its path, bringing a direct landfall
into Legazpi that would be early Sunday morning.
Some of the other agencies indicating a direct landfall into central and northeastern section of Samar Island.
Nonetheless, all agencies agree it will be north of Tacloban, but it will still feel the effects of the outer bands on this storm with strong
winds and very heavy rainfall.
Some intensification still possible, especially with this intense of a storm. We have 12 million people facing typhoon strength winds across the
central Philippines. And we've highlighted some of the major impacts, that would be two to four meter storm surges, especially on the northern side of
the eyewall of the storm, once it does make landfall.
200 to 400 millimeters of rainfall means we could experience some flash flooding.
And we can't forget about the large swath of typhoon force winds we're expecting as the diameter of this storm is roughly 700 kilometers wide.
That's all the time we have from the CNN World Weather Center. Back to you.
COREN: Let's take a closer look now at the cities in Hagupit's path that Derek just mentioned.
Now while the storm is set to pass north of Tacloban on Saturday, it could still pose a serious threat to the city's rebuilding. 6,000 people
died after Supertyphoon Haiyan hit there last year.
Well, by Sunday morning, winds of 175 kilometers per hour are expecting to be bearing down on the city of Legazpi on the country's
central east coast. The city is home to 200,000 and is a major agricultural area.
And the country's capital Manila will feel the tail end of Hagupit's power by Monday morning. The city is mostly urban and home to more than
1.7 million people.
Well, David Molko has more on the Philippines' typhoon preparations.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MOLKO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The fury of Haiyan as it roared on shore, the power of the sea destroying lives one by one and the utter
devastation left in its path.
13 months later and the people of Tacloban once again prepare for a typhoon's wrath. By Friday, shops were shuttered, stacks of sandbags their
only line of defense. This time it's Hagupit, known locally as Ruby.
This time, the potential power of the storm won't be a surprise. But tens of thousands here are still vulnerable to storm surge, some still
living in tents. But this time Tacloban's mayor says they aren't taking any chances.
ALFRED ROMUALDEZ, TACLOBAN CITY MAYOR: Well, we are more prepared now definitely than we were before, because we've started five -- about four or
five days ago. We have already evacuated 95 percent of the people.
MOLKO: A couple of hours up the coast, buildings meant for business transformed into shelters. Residents in Borongan City (ph) heeding the
warning to find safer ground and protecting their most vulnerable.
SHERYL PUCON, EVACUEE (through translator): I've just given birth. My primary concern now is my newborn, that's all.
MOLKO: Nearby, volunteers stockpile sacks of rice. And while there's a sense from aid workers the country may be better prepared, getting
supplies to the people who may need them remains challenging.
CONRADO NICART JR. EASTERN SAMAR GOVERNOR (through translator): We only have rice for now. Canned goods are sent to Tacloban from Manila.
Trucks are not able to transport these provisions to us yet.
MOLKO: In Manila, the president, widely criticized for his slow response to Haiyan, on Thursday took a decidedly different approach.
BENIGNO AQUINO III, PHILLIPINE PRESIDENT: I'm pressing everybody, checklist of what has to be done, preferably should have been yesterday.
MOLKO: And with tens of millions potentially in Hagupit's path, the time to do so is quickly running out.
David Molko, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COREN: Well, let's get the very latest now from the Philippines. Noel Rosal is the mayor of Lagazpi City and he joins us now on the phone.
Mayor Rosal good to have you with us. According to meteorologists, this typhoon is heading towards your city. Are you prepared?
NOEL ROSAL, MAYOR OF LEGAZPI CITY: Yes, ma'am. As early as yesterday (inaudible) meeting our people, especially the local development, local
(inaudible) business and all the villages, especially in the coastal areas of the city.
COREN: So, when are officials telling you that Typhoon Hagupit will hit Legazpi?
ROSAL: Yes, ma'am.
COREN: Mayor, I'll just repeat the question, when are you expecting the typhoon to hit? We seem to be having some technical problems, but if
you can hear me, when do you expect the typhoon to hit?
RASAL: Hit, (inaudible)
COREN: OK, we apologize to our viewers, we seem to be having a problem establishing communications with the mayor of Legazpi. But
population of 200,000 people according to meteorologists, that is where Typhoon Hagupit is heading, where it will make landfall. But as we heard
from the mayor very briefly, they are making preparations and they are evacuating up to 75,000 people.
We'll bring you more as we get it.
Well, you are watching News Stream. Still to come, Orion lifts off, NASA's new space capsule is in orbit. We'll bring you more on the historic
mission.
Also, getting high while skirting the law. A look at the rise of legal drug use in Japan and its dangerous consequences.
And a push for reform. Police departments across the United States are testing the use of body cameras, but is the technology worth it? We'll
have more after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COREN: Welcome back.
Well, just over an hour ago, NASA successfully launched the next generation of deep space technology, the Orion.
The unmanned spacecraft took off from Florida's Cape Canaveral, its first ever test flight. It's expected to last roughly four-and-a-half
hours. Well, during that time, Orion will orbit the Earth twice.
NASA tried to launch Orion Thursday, but eventually called that off after fuel valves failed to open.
Well, ultimately NASA says that they want to get a spacecraft all the way to Mars with astronauts on board.
Well, let's bring in CNN aviation analyst Miles O'Brien. He's in our Washington bureau.
Miles, incredible pictures watching the Orion take off. Tell us so far so good. How important is this test flight?
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So far, so good. The question is, Anna, is it -- it was a dawn launch, is it the dawn of a new era? These
are some key things they need to test here to make sure the Orion's system, the capsule, the crew escape system, the heat shield, all of those things
need to be verified before you put astronauts on board.
But the long-range question is whether NASA's Mars strategy is going to ever get it to the Red Planet. There's a lot of debate as to whether
this is the way to go. And that's something that we'll just have to see unfold.
COREN: Yeah, why Mars? Why is it so special, because as you say astronauts if it all goes to plan may not be there until the 2030s, that's
what we're hearing from NASA.
O'BRIEN: 2030s if it goes to plan. And right now there's not enough money in the NASA budget to accomplish that goal. So a lot of things have
to change between now and then, a lot of technological barriers need to be hurdled. And a lot of people would suggest the thing to do is to go set up
a base on the moon to try out some of the techniques of going and staying on another body.
going to Mars is the logical destination if you're going to continue exploring space. It's really the only planet we can get to. It's the
logical thing to do if space exploration is something you consider important, if it's important to think about humans being a multi-planet
species.
But getting there is tricky and really it's more about political science than rocket science in many respects.
COREN: I read a quote from Charlie Bolden, the NASA administration, and he said, and I quote, "Neil Armstrong and the Apollo astronauts paved
the way for this day." He went on to say that "Mars is the ultimate goal for this generation."
Would you agree with that statement?
O'BRIEN: It is the goal. And you know the thing that's important to remember is what Neil Armstrong accomplished that sprint to the moon in the
middle of the moon race, grabbing some rocks, leaving a flag and some footprints that's not what NASA or anybody else would suggest is the thing
to do to go to Mars.
The thing to do in Mars is to pioneer it, set up a camp and stay. And that's a lot bigger thing to do, a lot harder to do. Going there and
coming back on a quick sprint that's something that's a little more solvable than going, setting up shop and living. And so, you know, let's
face it, the sprint to the South Pole, it took 50 years for a scientific encampment to be set up in Antarctica, 50 years after Aumundsen and
Shackleton made their sprints to the pole.
So we're still in that time frame, but it's getting something that I hope to see in my lifetime at this point.
COREN: Absolutely.
Miles, let's talk about this test flight. And I just want to read some facts for our viewers, so it's going to be up for about four-and-a-
half hours. It's traveling twice around the Earth at an altitude of 3,600 miles, which is 6,000 kilometers. And of course it will be going some 15
times further than the International Space Station. Tell us the relevance and what's going to be happening over the coming hours.
O'BRIEN: Well, the last time NASA sent a craft designed to hold humans this far was 1972 with Apollo 17, the last Apollo mission. So we've
been in low Earth orbit over since with the space shuttle, you know, 300, 400 kilometers above us.
So this is a big step. And the idea is to number one test the craft in that environment, because there's a lot more radiation exposure at that
place. We are protected even in low Earth orbit we're protected quite a bit from radiation. And secondly, they want to get enough speed on reentry
to test the heat shield. Much higher temperatures when you're returning from the moon or certainly from Mars. And so this heat shield on Orion has
to work or the crew can't survive reentry.
And so they're going to get about 80 percent of the heat you would get on a return from the moon as they come back and that will verify that this
heat shield that they've built, which is very similar to the Apollo heat shields on the capsules of that era, make sure it works, because this is a
bigger craft, it'll be coming in a little faster eventually.
COREN: Yeah, coming in faster and hopefully if all goes to plan landing in the Pacific Ocean off Mexico's Baja California peninsula.
Mile's O'Brien, CNN's aviation analyst, great to have you with us. Thank you for your insight.
O'BRIEN: You're welcome, Anna.
COREN: Well, let's now turn our attention to Japan where authorities are trying to crack down on the sale of fake pot. But the makers of
synthetic marijuana are staying one step ahead of the law by constantly changing the mix of their products. Will Ripley explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A marijuana flag tells us we're in the right place. At this tiny Tokyo herb shop, the wall art is a bit
misleading: pot is not for sale here. They're selling something experts say is often far more dangerous.
Synthetic cannabis is marketed as fake marijuana, made in Asia, mostly China and India, it has hundreds of names -- spice, fake week, K2, and in
Japan herb.
We choose from a book of flavors, each under $50. The clerk tells our CNN producer this is his best seller, he says has the strongest high.
Unlike real marijuana, which can send you to prison for years in Japan, this package of so-called fake pot is perfectly legal.
No contact information on it.
We tried tracking down the manufacturer. Our emails and phone calls went unreturned. One distributor even hung up on us. The label says not
for human use, only for aroma therapy and bath salts. That doesn't stop people from smoking it.
Countries around the world are trying to outlaw this toxic mix of incense and chemicals. Japan has a growing list of 1,400 banned
ingredients.
Shops caught selling illegal strains can end up like this -- shut down by police.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What the law does is they prohibit one type. So what these guys will do they'll come out and they'll create a different
type.
RIPLEY: The recipe is constantly changing, keeping it technically legal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's really dangerous and potent.
RIPLEY: Tokyo police say a driver smoking herb plowed into a group of pedestrians in June killing one and injuring seven. Japan's national
police agency says herb use caused dozens of crashes, sent hundreds to hospital and killed at least 74 people just this year.
Recovering addicts often spend years at drug rehab centers like this, fired from their jobs, shunned by their families, many have nowhere else to
go.
Did you ever think when you tried herb for the first time that you'd end up here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
"We didn't think it was that bad, because it was legal," says Hajime (ph) a former painter and professional boxer.
"I never, ever thought I could die," says Kaita (ph) who lost his importing business and ended up in a mental hospital.
The rehab center owner says most of these men will relapse more than once.
"Addiction is a sickness that never goes away," says Kirohiro Iwai (ph). He says most new clients are addicted to herb.
"In 22 years of doing this, herb is the most dangerous drug I've ever seen," he says.
A cheap, legal high that can cost so much.
Will Ripley, CNN, Tokyo.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COREN: Well, you are watching News Stream. Forget late night, some say a morning rave is the best way to get pumped up before work. We'll hit
the dance floor. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COREN: Beautiful night here in Hong Kong. Welcome back to News Stream.
Well, this Sunday, CNN celebrates 10 extraordinary individuals who are trying to change the world. Michaela Pereira has a preview of CNN Heroes:
An All-Star Tribute.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At first glance, it might look like every other award show. But "CNN Heroes, An All-Star
Tribute, hosted by Anderson Cooper, is an event like no other. The stars turn out to honor them.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a great night for so many people being honored for just doing good because it pushes humanity forward.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's basically recognizing people for what we should be doing every day, which is thinking beyond ourselves.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm here with my daughter because that's what I want to teach her, that the individual really can make a difference.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Reach. Reach. Reach.
PEREIRA: Individuals like a man who helped people with disabilities get stronger inside and out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is my honor to huge the weight lifter with the biggest heart ever, Ned Norton.
PEREIRA: A woman who saves lions from distinction.
(APPLAUSE)
PEREIRA: And a rabbi with a black belt who helps kids fight cancer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Given the opportunity, these children can inspire everyone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're killing me CNN. You're got me sobbing in my chardonnay.
PEREIRA: It's a night full of emotion.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Those are my babies.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, CNN HEROES, AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE: My friend, Kathy Griffin.
KATHY GRIFFIN, COMEDIAN: Thank you, Jake Tapper. Hi, everybody.
(LAUGHTER)
PEREIRA: An uplifting message.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even in the darkest of places, decency and love can persevere.
PEREIRA: And performances that inspire. Standing higher
(SINGING)
PEREIRA: And it ends with a life-changing moment.
COOPER: The 2014 "CNN Hero" of the year...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COREN: Well, after the string of controversial incidents in the United States, police departments are testing out body cameras. We'll show
you how the technology works. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COREN: Hello, I'm Anna Coren in Hong Kong. You are watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.
NASA's Orion spacecraft has just left Earth and is now in space. Well, NASA tried to get Orion off the ground Thursday, but that was
scrubbed after a series of setback. The unmanned flight is to last about four-and-a-half hours and orbit the Earth twice.
Millions are taking shelter across the Philippines preparing for when Typhoon Hagupit reaches land. It's expected to come ashore at the weekend.
It could hit Tacloban, still recovering from last year's super typhoon that killed more than 6,000 people.
And the keenly awaited U.S. jobs report for November has just been released. The U.S. economy added 321,000 jobs last month, that's far ahead
of what economists expected.
We'll have much more on the jobs report in World Business Today in less than half an hour from now.
Well, there have been protests in the United States over a string of deadly incidents involving police and minorities, that includes the
shooting death of unarmed Ferguson, Missouri teenager Michael Brown. Many are calling for police reform, including the use of body cameras.
Well, Cristine Alesci reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As protests around the country flare-up, police officers are outfitting their officers with
the latest technology. Denver, Los Angeles and New York are major cities launching pilot programs for body cameras.
MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO, NEW YORK: Body cameras are going to be an important additional step in the reforms that we are undertaking.
ALESCI: New York's public advocate estimates outfitting the entire force could cost $32 million. But if it means fewer lawsuits, it could be a
worthwhile investment. Last year, the city paid $152 million to settle police misconduct claims. And local police departments could get a $75
million helping hand from the federal government.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I'm going to be proposing new community policing initiatives that will significantly
expand funding and training for local law enforcement, including up to 50,000 cameras for law enforcement agencies. ALESCI: And that's could be
windfall for companies like Tazer and Digital Ally. In Rialto, California, the police department says from 2012 to 2013, body cameras reduce use of
force incidents by 59 percent and complaints dropped by 88 percent.
CHIEF TONY FARRAR, RIALTO, CALIFORNIA POLICE: I think you have to ask yourself, as a police chief, can you afford not to do something like this?
ALESCI: Tazer is pushing their low light capability. It's software and it says the batteries are dependable.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can run for 14 hours, so we can do an entire shift.
ALESCI : But implementing the technology is where things can get tricky. The camera has to be manually turned on and, of course, can be
turned off leaving room for human error.
Cristina Alesci, CNN Money, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COREN: Well, the White House says President Obama will announce later today that Ashton Carter is his pick to succeed Chuck Hagel as secretary of
defense. Well, Carter is a former deputy defense secretary. And so far the reaction from congress has been generally positive. Both Republicans
and Democrats are voicing support for his nomination.
Well, there are many ways for early risers to prepare for the day: you can go out for a run or catch up with the news, but how about heading to a
rave party? Isa Soares uncovers a new way to boost energy levels before going to work.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This isn't a leftover party from the night before. No, it's a new day in London and this is the
new way to kickstart your mornings -- part exercise class, part fancy dress, this is a hybrid that's attracting huge crowds.
SAMANTHA MOYO, CO-FOUNDER, MORNING GLORYVILLE: In there you'll find your bankers, your lawyers, those professional types, but you'll also find
creatives, you'll also find some students, you'll also find some kids. It's really safe to say you get every demographic Morning Gloryville. I
mean, we've got 1,000 people in there.
SOARES: Inside there are no treadmills or dumbbells. You wear what you fancy and you dance how you want.
The majority of people here are in their late 30s, early 40s. They are part of the rave generation of the 1990s, but this time around they're
keeping it very clean.
It's what many here call conscious clubbing. There's no alcohol or drugs, instead you can have a massage, a smootie and even practice your
tree pose.
Clubbers tell me it helps them feel reenergized and ready to take on a busy working day.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The vibe is wonderful. Everyone is so lovely. And it's just a great energizer. It's better than the gym.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's (inaudible) completely different energy. Yes, positive, crazy. Look at me. I mean, yes.
SOARES: And now you're going off to work.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just feel very wide and on it and I'm ready to take on the day. And I just wish it was more often than...
SOARES: It's this energy that has other cities hooked on this revolution. Berlin has just joined and Montreal will soon have their own
Morning Gloryville, bringing the total to 16. And now even finance and tech companies are queuing up. There's a very (inaudible).
MOYO: It creates happiness. (inaudible) and it brings, you know, team building, mainly that happiness factor, because some people are
starting to realize actually above everything else happiness is the number one thing your staff, your team needs in order to be productive.
SOARES: So, it doesn't matter if you're a fat cat or an angel investor, for these ravers here there's really no excuse for not letting
your hair down.
Isa Soares, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COREN: I get the tree pose and the downward dog, but raving at 6:00 in the morning? That is hardcore.
Well, coming up next the sounds of rolling thunder as CNN's Paula Newton takes us inside the Taiko drum discipline in Japan. You won't want
to miss this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COREN: Welcome back.
Well, in Japan the taiko is more than a musical instrument, it's a tradition with roots on the battlefield. Well, CNN's Paula Newton visited
a troupe that embodies the discipline and stamina to keep this form of expression alive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The power of the taiko drum rumbles through Japan like an anthem to all that can't be put into
words here.
Taiko, literally, fat drum with its thick skin and broad surface is a blunt, bold instrument. The sound has captivated post-war Japan and gained
a following beyond.
At the Higashi Yamajoin (ph) temple, the Ondakoza troupe plays on. And its director says there are reasons for that popularity is the sound.
So rich and complex, it leads to a boom that rushes over you like waves.
SEIZAN MATSUDA, DIRECTOR, ONDAKOZA (through translator): This complexity of sound pulls out the thoughts and the feelings of the human
being. That's why people are moved.
NEWTON: The performance is a blend of music and art and form, best expressed by the Odaiko, the 350 kilogram big drum that the musician plays
to his physical limit, wearing only a shimikomi (ph), or loin cloth.
Hiro Yoshi (ph) is Ondakoza's lead drummer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It's the same I think for all music and expressions of art, the very basic elements are concentration and
physical stamina.
NEWTON: From the pounding of the drum to the pounding of the pavement, discipline is what matters most to the Ondakoza ensemble.
It's 6:00 a.m. on the grounds of Kyoto's imperial palace.
Good morning. Good morning. How are you.
We join them on the morning run. This ritual has been part of Ondakoza since it began. The troupe performs together and runs together,
everyone has to do it.
Does everybody like the running?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think so.
NEWTON: No?
(LAUGHTER)
NEWTON: But it's bound to help for what comes next, a carefully choreographed routine. The drums are carried and dragged and moved into
place. They do it all day after day. It tests the group's stamina.
It almost seems like you have the live the life of a monk to do this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I have been playing these drums for 14 years at Ondakoza. I don't know how long I can keep playing,
but I want to do it for as long as I can.
NEWTON: Discipline and ritual of the performance guide you, but it's the power of the drums that move you.
MATSUDA (through translator): So what is the sound of taiko? It's what you call the slow in Japan. We would like to treasure and value what
we don't want to see disappear.
NEWTON: Taiko has its roots in the sounds of war drums, its roar could be heard clear across battlefields, or as its heard today across
continents, expressing the very essence of a culture through a singular striking sound.
Paula Newton, CNN, Kyoto, Japan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COREN: Now, I could wake up to that.
Well, that is News Stream. I'm Anna Coren. Thanks so much for your company. World Sport with Alex Thomas is coming up next.
END
