Meet Kumi Masunaga

Kumi Masunaga is a seasoned drum circle facilitator, performer, educator, and founder of Drum Jam, with over 25 years of experience inspiring communities in Hong Kong and beyond. As a native of Japan, she has been based in Hong Kong for more than 30 years, bringing both an international perspective and a strong sense of community to every session.

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With vibrant music and zest, she has travelled to Africa, the Americas, and Asia to deepen her musical roots and cultural understanding. From the late 1990s through the early 2000s, Kumi immersed herself in West African music and culture—an experience that deeply shaped her artistic direction.

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While teaching drumming in Hong Kong and pursuing further exploration of African traditions, she discovered the world of drum circle facilitation through Arthur Hull in 2001. Since then, she has completed extensive Village Music Circles (VMC) trainings and mentorships with Arthur Hull, widely regarded as the father of the modern facilitated drum circle movement.

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As a VMC-Certified Global Trainer, HealthRHYTHMs™ and Music Medicine™ facilitator, as well as Hong Kong’s regional organiser of VMC trainings since 2011, Kumi has shared music-making with people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Tens of thousands have drummed with her through community programmes, team building, classrooms, festivals, wellness retreats, cancer support centres, and special-needs groups.

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For nearly two decades, she led monthly community drum circles at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (2001–2019) and continues to host regular circles at the Fringe Club in Central (2002–present), building community one drumbeat at a time.

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Kumi’s creative, hands-on, and inclusive approach has been described by the South China Morning Post as “the living embodiment of infectious enthusiasm.” She enjoys mentoring emerging facilitators and helping others find their creative paths. Her goal for the training is for everyone to leave feeling confident, connected, and inspired to share the universal language of rhythm in their work, life, and communities.

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