I dreamed that I was practicing playing Japanese taiko drums with a group of people. The practice was very tough; it required a lot of strength and a good sense of rhythm. Sometimes, we hit the center of the drum, and other times, we struck the sides.
Then, we arrived at an international competition. It wasn’t just about technique; endurance was also tested to see which group could play the longest.
"Bang! Bang! Bang bang bang! Bang! Bang! Bang bang bang!" For the first two beats, we had to hit the side of the drum, and for the next three short beats, we hit the center.
During the competition, I noticed that I couldn’t hear the drumbeats of our lead master. I saw him sitting on the ground, exhausted from the long competition. He said he couldn’t continue drumming because he had no strength left.
I thought to myself that if no one played the main drum, we would lose. This couldn't happen!
So, I rushed over to take over. Everyone started talking. At first, my drumming was a bit messy, and I couldn’t keep up with the rhythm. I tried to drum as the master had taught me, but after a few hits, my hands hurt a lot. Drumming required a lot of force to create an impactful sound. I realized how difficult it was, and my hands were in so much pain!
But I had to maintain a sense of honor on stage. I kept drumming with all my might, despite the pain.
It seemed that the competition was also being filmed for a movie. The lead actress was Ariel Lin, who was good friends with our master. He loved her movies and that’s why he came to Japan for the competition.
While drumming, I encouraged our master, saying, "Ariel Lin is in Japan now! If we win, we can watch her new series. You mustn’t give up!"
My hands were really hurting. Maintaining the specific strength and volume required for drumming was incredibly difficult! My hands hurt so much!
夢見我在跟一群人在練習打日本太鼓。練習的過程很辛苦，力氣要夠大，還要跟著節奏。時而擊中間，時而敲旁邊。
然後我們來到一場國際比賽，不只是比技術，最後還要比耐力，看那一組能打最久。
「蹬！蹬！蹬蹬蹬！蹬！蹬！蹬蹬蹬！」前面兩拍要敲鼓的旁邊，後三短拍是要敲鼓的中間。
當我們正在進行比賽的時候，我發現聽不見我們領隊總師傅的鼓聲，我看到他因為比賽時間久了，他已經沒有力氣了。
我看到他蹲坐在地上，他說他真的沒有力氣再打鼓了。我心想如果沒有人打主鼓，我們就輸了。這樣子是不行啊！
我就衝過去接手，大家就開始議論紛紛。我剛開始打得有點亂，抓不準節奏。我試著學總師傅教我的方式敲，才敲幾下，我的手就好痛。因為要很用力敲，才有震撼的效果。我才明白這個鼓真的好難，我打的手好痛啊！
可是在台上要有榮譽感啊！我就這樣子打，很用力打，手好痛喔！繼續打！
好像我們這個比賽同時也在拍攝一部電影。主角是林依晨，總師傅跟林依晨是好朋友，他也很喜歡林依晨的電影，所以才會來到日本比賽。
我一邊在打鼓的時候，還一邊鼓勵總師傅：「林依晨現在在日本喔！我們如果羸了，就可以去看林依晨新的影集，你千萬不可以倒喔！」
我的手真的好痛。打這個鼓必須維持特定的力度與聲量，真的很不簡單！手好痛！
Ending 1: Victory and Celebration
As you continue drumming despite the pain, you find a rhythm and strength you didn't know you had. The crowd starts to cheer, and your team members are inspired by your determination. You push through the final minutes of the competition and your team is declared the winner. The master, rejuvenated by your effort, stands and congratulates you. Ariel Lin herself comes over to congratulate the team, and you all celebrate together, feeling a profound sense of accomplishment and unity.
Ending 2: Unexpected Help
Just as you feel your hands can’t take it anymore, a member of the audience steps forward. It’s a renowned taiko drummer who has been watching the competition. They offer to help, and with their expert drumming, you regain your strength and rhythm. Together, you and the newcomer create an unforgettable performance, blending your styles seamlessly. Your team doesn't win the competition, but the collaboration and the support from an unexpected source leave a lasting impression on everyone.
Ending 3: Inner Strength
As the pain becomes almost unbearable, you close your eyes and take a deep breath. You remember all the hard work and practice, and a calmness washes over you. When you open your eyes, you see your team members smiling and cheering you on. This boosts your morale, and you find a steady rhythm. The audience is captivated, and the judges are impressed by your perseverance and the emotional depth of your performance. Though you don’t win first place, you receive a special award for your courage and spirit, and the master tells you how proud he is.
Ending 4: Creative Breakthrough
Just as you're about to give up, you notice something different about the drum in front of you. It’s slightly out of tune, but you realize you can use this to your advantage. You start playing a different rhythm, incorporating the unique sound. The audience is initially confused but soon captivated by the innovative performance. Your team follows your lead, and together you create a new style of taiko drumming that impresses everyone. You don’t win the competition in the traditional sense, but you are recognized for your creativity and innovation, changing the way people think about taiko.
Ending 5: Dream within a Dream
The pain in your hands becomes too intense, and everything goes dark. Suddenly, you wake up in your bed, realizing it was all a dream. Relieved but still feeling the weight of the emotions, you get out of bed and find a taiko drum in your room. You start drumming softly, remembering the dream vividly. The practice feels easier now, and you are filled with a newfound confidence and determination to pursue your goals, inspired by the lessons learned in the dream.