Showcase | Day 1

Rebel Taiko Experiment

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Rebel Taiko Experiment (RTE) is Nevada’s one and only collegiate taiko group, based at UNLV in Las Vegas. What started as a collaboration, between college-enrolled taiko players in Las Vegas’ Korabo Taiko & LV Kaminari Taiko, RTE quickly became a taiko ensemble in its own right. RTE dedicates its focus into the fundamentals of taiko technique and performance, but also equally into composition, collaboration, and experimentation. RTE has put on two full-length concerts - ‘Rebel Matsuri’ in 2016, and ‘Revolutions’ (which featured all member-written compositions) in 2017. We believe all taiko groups, including collegiate groups, should push the boundaries of this incredible art form that we call taiko. Only through honest experimentation, will taiko progress and thrive.

Cal Raijin Taiko

University of California, Berkeley

In the Spring of 2005, a small-but-committed group of students pooled together their resources and formed UC Berkeley's first taiko group. Since then, Cal Raijin Taiko has gone on to become Berkeley's premier Japanese drumming performance ensemble. With a repertoire consisting entirely of original compositions, Cal Raijin Taiko performs to spread the knowledge, love, and passion of taiko to both the campus and the surrounding communities.

Asayake Taiko

University of California, San Diego

Asayake Taiko was founded in the spring of 2002 by Bobby Koga and Reid Matsuoka and had its first performance as a part of UCSD's NSU culture show.Our mission statement is to increase Japanese cultural awareness both within and outside of the UCSD community through taiko. We continue to self-teach and grow our group with new songs and holding regular performances on and off campus, as well as an annual concert to showcase our work.

Jishin Taiko

California State University, Northridge

CSUN’s Jishin Taiko Ensemble is born of an interest in not only Japanese Taiko drumming and Japanese culture, but it is also born of a desire to form an interpersonal social connection with the Japanese-American community at Cal State University, Northridge. To that end, Jishin Daiko’s goal as a performing ensemble is to perform not only at CSUN, but also in the surrounding community, serving both to entertain, enrich and educate about Japanese culture and the Japanese traditional arts. Past activities include collaborations with the CSUN Opera, educational programs with the CSUN Youth Symphony, intercollegiate activities with other Taiko groups, as well as numerous performances and school assemblies both on the CSUN campus and at community gatherings. Jishin Daiko also had an informal overseas exchange with Yansa Daiko, a Taiko group near Tokiwa college, CSUN’s international exchange partner school in Ibaraki prefecture. “Jishin” in Japanese means an earthquake, as well as self-confidence. Originally started as part of the Nikkei Student Association in 1995 after the earthquake, Jishin Daiko began anew in 2002, and was chartered as an official CSUN club in 2005.

Kazan Taiko

University of Southern California

Kazan Taiko is the one and only Japanese taiko drumming ensemble at the University of Southern California. Founded in 2002 by Bryan Yamami, Bridge Mei, and Koichi Sanchez, Kazan Taiko derives its name from the Japanese word for "volcano" (火山), an explosive force that inspires us and characterizes our playing style. Kazan's formation is a testament to the growing popularity of taiko in both the collegiate circuit and North America as a whole. Our goal is to provide a place to learn about the tradition of taiko while allowing members to express themselves through rhythm and movement with traditional and modern influences of dance, music, and culture.

Kazan welcomes all those interested in learning taiko, and we take pride in being one of the only groups without tryout or audition processes. Many members have no prior music experience but are able to perform mere months after joining.

Yukai Daiko

University of California, Los Angles

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 inexplicable and honest joy that comes from playing taiko.

Jodaiko

University of California, Irvine

Jodaiko is a collegiate taiko group based on the campus of the University of California, Irvine. The word “Jodaiko” means “passionate drumming” in Japanese, a meaning that the group strives to reflect through every performance. Jodaiko's passion for fusing martial arts and music together has been growing for now 26 years.

Touzan Taiko

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Touzan Taiko was founded in 2009 under Cal Poly Pomona’s Nikkei Student Union by Michael Oguro and Sofi Chinen. The name Touzan stands for “East Mountains”. Initially, with the support of other groups, especially Kishin Daiko, Touzan was able to grow and develop as both a group and individuals.

Composed of a multiethnic group of college students, Touzan is self-funded and peer driven. Touzan prides themselves in composing many of their own songs and exploring different styles that give members experience with various forms of Taiko. They have built themselves up from a small group of Taiko enthusiasts to an ever growing family, dedicated to passing on the art of kumidaiko. Touzan seeks to spread a unique love and appreciation for the spirit and experience of Taiko drumming in their surrounding and extended communities.

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