Collegiate Groups

Founded in 2016 by Richard An and Wells Leng, Hinotani Daiko strives to bring a part of Japanese music and ensemble drumming to CalArts. Since its creation, Hinotani Daiko has taught Japanese ensemble drumming to many students and has collaborated with many different ensembles at CalArts.

Founded in 2010, Ahiru Daiko is the University of Oregon's taiko drumming ensemble. Ahiru Daiko is committed to practicing the art form of taiko and sharing taiko music with the UO and Eugene community through performance and collaboration. We strive to inspire future students to join us in our love for taiko and to keep this tradition alive for many years to come. GO DUCKS!

Touzan Taiko was founded in 2009 under Cal Poly Pomona's Nikkei Student Union by Michael Oguro and Sofi Chinen, with Touzan standing for "East Mountains" to represent the location of Cal Poly east of Los Angeles. Priding themselves in exploring different styles and beats of taiko, the group seeks to spread a unique love and appreciation for the spirit and experience of taiko drumming in their surrounding and extended communities.

Founded in 2005 by Tom Hata and Andrew Rowland, Cal Raijin Taiko has been a part of the UC Berkeley community as its only taiko, or Japanese drumming, team. Our group is highly committed to practicing the art of taiko and sharing the culture of taiko with the community. With roughly twenty members, Cal Taiko meets two to three times a week on campus to practice musical drills, songs, and prepare for performances. Outside of practice hours, Cal Taiko also writes its own repertoire and builds its own equipment. Whether it be practicing at night or performing on campus, Cal Taiko is excited to have become a regular part of campus activities and enjoys sharing the energy of taiko with the students of Cal.

Jishin Taiko (地震太鼓) was established in 1995 as a community group after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. Originally created as a way to encourage and help rebuild the community from the effects of the earthquake by performing festive pieces and holding events for the community, our founders christened the group Jishin (地震) to hold two meanings. The first meaning is "earthquake," in honor of the origins of its '94 namesake. The second meaning lies in the philosophy the founders desired for the community to have: self-confidence. While the ’94 earthquake is one of the reasons behind our name, the founders also wanted individuals in the community to become more confident and instilled the meaning of Jishin 自信 (self-confidence), not only to the group but also to the community, to remind us that no matter whatever happens in life, we can find unity and confidence in our community. More than ten years later, we have now evolved into a college-based organization at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and continue to spread Japanese-American culture and taiko to the community as well as believing in ourselves and the ground we stand on.

In the spring of 2002, Bobby Koga, Reid Matsuoka, and several other students came together to start a taiko group at the University of California, San Diego. "Asayake" translates to "morning glow" in Japanese, and invokes the image of the early morning light playing on the ocean mist in La Jolla. Our mission is to promote both cultural awareness and inclusivity in the UCSD and San Diego communities by sharing our love, passion, and respect for the art of taiko through performance.

Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan was founded by John Shinozaki and Stacey Clark in 2001. The word "Bakuhatsu" translates as "explosion," expressing the high energy of our performers on stage. Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan's mission is to promote awareness and appreciation of Japanese Culture throughout our community and its surrounding areas.

Senryu Taiko is a Japanese drumming ensemble based at UC Riverside in the heart of the Inland Empire, California.Founded in 1998, Senryu Taiko had its humble beginnings sparked from the desire of college students to learn about taiko. Ever since then, the group has grown immensely and continues to progress their artform with great passion, continuing the tradition of kumidaiko within the Riverside community and beyond.

Established at UCLA in 2004, Yukai Daiko is dedicated to bringing the community spirit of taiko to anyone who wants to learn it. Yukai Daiko translates to "cheerful drumming" and maintains the philosophy that everyone should have the chance to experience the honest joy that comes from playing taiko.

Kyodo Taiko is the first collegiate taiko group to form in North America, founded in 1990 by Mark Honda under UCLA's Nikkei Student Union (NSU). Kyodo has two meanings - one is "family" and the other, literally, "loud children." Originally, members practiced without drums and became very familiar with the ubiquitous North American art of "air bachi." In 1991, with generous help from Tom Endo and Kinnara Taiko's Kevin Higa, membrs built their own drums - 4 chu daiko - that are still part of the group's primary instruments today. The commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Japanese American internment in 1992 marked Kyodo Taiko's first major performance. Now, we perform at various community events, on the UCLA campus, and throughout the greater Southern California area, with annual performances at the Manzanar Pilgrimage, NSU's Cultural Night, and our own Spring Concert. Kyodo functions as a family, providing its members both a community and outlet for creative expression.

Jodaiko is a collegiate taiko ensemble based out of the University of California, Irvine. We are now in our 27th year since inception. "Jodaiko" translates to "passionate drumming", and we try to show that through our performances. Most taiko groups in the US practice Kumi-daiko or "group drumming." Jodaiko is committed to both respecting and continuing traditions of kumi-daiko with a spirit of passion and dedication, while at the same time embracing the innovation and musical exploration that comes with being a collegiate group in North America.

Since 1992, Stanford Taiko has been devoted to spreading the awareness of taiko to the greater community. With fourteen current members this year, Stanford Taiko is an entirely student-run group with an all-original repertoire under the guidance of the Stanford Department of Music and faculty advisors Steve Sano and Linda Uyechi. True to the goals of its original charter, Stanford Taiko shares its love for the art form through community workshops and performances.

Taiko Kai (meaning "taiko club") was founded in February 2013 by University of Washington students Kim, Kellie, and Jaymi Matsudaira and was one of the first collegiate taiko clubs in the Seattle area. Through the club, the Matsudaira sisters wished to introduce taiko to UW and the greater Seattle community. The club that started with only a few students has grown into about 30 regularly-attending members. Through rhythm and movement, Taiko Kai seeks to spread the joys of taiko with audiences of all cultural backgrounds.

Kazan Taiko is the University of Southern California's taiko ensemble, which focuses on providing a place for their members to express themselves through rhythm and movement. Kazan welcomes all those interested in learning taiko, and takes pride in being one of the only groups without tryout or audition processes. Outside of practices, Kazan members love to have fun, explore diverse activities, and indulge their mutually shared addiction to food and eating of any kind.