05/07/2026
The legend says:"The four musicians were once dedicated apprentices at a strict, traditional school of Japanese percussion. Under the ascetic and uncompromising gaze of their master, Sensei Makoto, they learned the sacred art of crafting and playing traditional bamboo instruments (like the Angklung, Gendèr, and Taiko)."
"However, the apprentices harbored a deep, irreverent urge to fuse this ancient, pure craftsmanship with the pulsing, dark sounds of modern Western electronic music and techno."
"To the Sensei, this was an unforgivable sacrilege—a pure defilement of centuries of tradition. By integrating electronic machines, reverbs, and dancefloor beats into the sacred bamboo instruments, they committed a complete betrayal of their master's teachings."
"As punishment for their dishonor, they were cast out, becoming Ronins (masterless samurais). To carry their shame and protect their identity after this treason, they chose to hide forever behind their signature fencing-style masks, turning their "sacrilege" into a secretive, nocturnal techno ritual"
The lore and fantasy mythos behind the French electronic/techno group Makoto San builds a fascinating backstory out of their unique real-life background.
Originary from Marseille, France, the group learned under the sensei Makoto Yabuki, a Japanese master musician who founded the Bamboo Orchestra in Marseille.
Makoto help them discover and build their unique and custom "world-first electronic bamboo instrumentarium!"
As guests of FITS at Sibiu 2026, they impressed the massive crowd with mesmerising rhythm, combining perfectly the meditative with the eerie, their performance being one that I haven't seen for a very long time. Despite hearing them for the first time I was drawn to the magic, uniqness and the impeccable peformance they had on stage. I became a fan and cannot wait to see them perform again.