Masakazu Sunagawa and his partner Tomoko Yanagida are the pioneers in introducing West African drum and dance to Japan since 1980s. I first got to know them in 1989 at a workshop they held in Hotaka Yojo-en. I was on and off with this interest, but had a chance to learn djembe drumming for the first time from Sunagawa-san before I departed to the U.S. He was sincere to the music and the instrument he has devoted himself to. I cannot thank both of them enough for having opened the door for me to a journey of exploring the joy of West African drum and dance.