Instructors

Akemi Imai and Hunter Loyd

Makoto Taiko

Akemi Imai began playing taiko from 2001 at the age of 13 with Makoto Taiko. She currently serves as Makoto Taiko’s President, Executive Director, and Instructor. While studying International Relations at the University of Southern California in 2006-2010, she helped lead USC Kazan Taiko as Artistic Director and Artistic Coordinator. As part of Makoto Taiko's professional performing group, Akemi has performed at Colorado Peace Summit in Boulder, CO, and Taiko Ten during the 2017 North American Taiko Conference.

Hunter Loyd began playing taiko in 2000 with Makoto Taiko. While studying Languages and Cultures with an Emphasis in Japanese at Cal State University of Northridge he introduced and taught popularized taiko styles to Jishin Taiko from 2007-2009. From 2010-2012 he lived in Japan and taught English while playing taiko with Hikari Daiko in Yamaguchi, Japan.

PROTA

Formed in 2007 (initially as Progressive Taiko), Prota is a Los Angeles-based ensemble of taiko performers united by passion, creativity, curiosity, and a certain amount of quirkiness. With members whose experiences comprise a wide range of music, dance, theatre, and no small amount of eclectic interests, the members of Prota strive to find innovative and impactful ways for practitioners and audiences alike to experience the art of taiko.

Taiko Project

TAIKOPROJECT was founded in 2000 in Los Angeles, California by a group of young, emerging taiko drummers led by Bryan Yamami and Masato Baba. The group continues to define a modern American style of taiko, blending traditional forms with an innovative and fresh aesthetic.

TAIKOPROJECT first made waves when they became the first American taiko group to win the prestigious Tokyo International Taiko Contest in 2005, besting all of the Japanese taiko groups in the competition. That year, they were cast in the Mitsubishi Eclipse commercial, the first and still only national advertising campaign to prominently feature taiko.

Since then, the group has performed on the Academy Awards, the Grammy Awards, NBC's "The Voice,"Syfy's Face/Off, The X-Factor, rock band 30 Seconds to Mars' "Up in the Air" music video, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live, the iHeartRadio Music Festival, and were honored with the prestigious Visionary Award from East West Players.

TAIKOPROJECT has performed and recorded with Stevie Wonder, Usher, Alicia Keys, A.R. Rahman, John Legend, Kanye West, producer Squeak E. Clean, Sean Paul, Diplo, as well as international stars such as Greek singer Antonis Remos, Persian singer Mansour, Brazil's Olodum, and Netherlands' Tiesto. They have recently appeared on Ovation TV's "The Art Of", The Late Late Show with James Corden, and Food Network's Iron Chef Gauntlet.

David Wells

PROTA & Taiko Project

David began his musical journey as a clarinet player under the guidance of his father, a professional jazz musician. In 2003, he discovered Stanford Taiko, performing internationally with the group and eventually serving as one of the group's Artistic Directors. Since then, David has trained extensively and has performed with such groups as the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble, TAIKOPROJECT, Prota, On Ensemble, and Unit Souzou. He is an instructor at the Los Angeles Taiko Institute and an avid composer, having created work for all of the ensembles with which he has performed in addition to several commissioned works.

Naruwan Taiko

Naruwan Taiko was founded in 2008 by Diana Wu. The organization practices "taiko," a style of drumming from Japan that was traditionally used in battlefields or festivals. Although the group practices a Japanese art form, the name “Naruwan” is actually a tribal Taiwanese Ami greeting which implies, “welcome," "home," and "family" and is something a person would say to someone close to them, like a family member. This name embodies the Naruwan’s vision of the taiko as a tool for bringing together people of all backgrounds, ages, and experiences to produce a powerful united sound. Naruwan Taiko is currently teaching classes in San Diego and is in the process of building a full fledged school for the community!

San Jose Taiko

San Jose Taiko was founded by young Asian Americans searching for an outlet to convey their experiences as third generation Japanese Americans, or Sansei. Looking to Japan for inspiration, they were drawn to the empowering sounds of the taiko - the Japanese drum - an instrument that embodies the spiritual essence and heartbeat of Japan.

Since then, San Jose Taiko has become a world-class ensemble, performing extensively both nationally and internationally, reaching more than 75,000 audience members each year. By studying with masters of other traditions and cultures, San Jose Taiko has broadened and embellished this historical art form into a distinct performance style that blends the traditional rhythms of Japanese drumming with the beat of world rhythms, including African, Brazilian, Filipino, Latin and Jazz and is often described as “dancing with drums.” Known for synchronized choreography, eclectic musicality, and joyful spirit, San Jose Taiko performances and instruction are sought throughout the world by taiko fans and practitioners alike.

Isaku Kageyama

Isaku Kageyama holds a Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Longy School of Music of Bard College, and a California Teaching Credential in Music. He currently teaches at Los Angeles Taiko Institute and from his private studio.

From 2011-2014, Isaku was the resident taiko instructor at Wellesley University and the University of Connecticut, and has held taiko clinics at Berkley, Stanford, Brown, Cornell, the North American Taiko Conference in 2011 and 2015, and the East Coast Taiko Conference from 2011-2015. He has held workshops across the US, Japan, UK, and Brazil.

As a music educator, Isaku completed his Student Teaching in LA Unified School District, and has taught after school programs at Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, Quincy Jones Elementary School, and Yokohama International School.

Kenny Endo

Taiko Center of the Pacific

One of the leading personas in contemporary percussion and rhythm, KENNY ENDO is at the vanguard of the taiko genre, continuing to carve new territory in this Japanese style of drumming. A performer, composer, and teacher of taiko, he has received numerous awards and accolades, including very special recognition in Japan—he was the first foreigner to be honored with a “natori,” a stage name, in Japanese classical drumming. Kenny Endo was a featured artist on the PBS special “Spirit of Taiko” in 2005. He has performed for such musicians as the late Michael Jackson and Prince, opened for The Who, performed a duet with singer Bobby McFerrin, and is featured on the soundtracks for Kayo Hatta’s film “Picture Bride”, Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now”, and worked on James Cameron’s “Avatar”. He has had a day named for him in by the Mayor of Honolulu “Kenny Endo Day”, and was honored by the National Endowment for the Arts for American Masterpieces. He has released 10 CDs of original music. Kenny is a consummate artist, blending Japanese taiko with rhythms influenced by his jazz background and by collaborations with artists from around the world. Kenny's taiko are provided courtesy of Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten. website: www.kennyendo.com

Photo Credit: Toyo Miyatake Studio

Kristofer Bergstrom

Los Angeles Taiko Institute

I first saw taiko at Stanford University, where I happened to be sitting next to a drummer. When the performance ended, he turned to me and said, "We should try that!" I did try it... and I loved it. I played for four years in college, moved to Japan to study, formed On Ensemble, moved back to the US to tour, founded Los Angeles Taiko Institute... and somehow grew up to be a taiko player. My love for taiko continues to grow and it is a great honor to be back to my roots here in the collegiate scene. Let's make 2018 ITI the best yet!

Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko

Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko literally translates to “Ryukyu Kingdom Festival Drums”. Ryukyu Kingdom is the ancient name for what is presently known as the Okinawa prefecture of Japan. Located just southwest of mainland Japan and northeast of Taiwan, it consists of about fifty islands, of which Okinawa is the largest. Due to its unique location, its culture and traditions have been greatly influenced not only by Japan, but also China, Korea and southeast Asia. Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko is modeled on the traditional Okinawan obon festival drum dancing called “eisa”. The performers dance and drum simultaneously to an exciting blend of traditional and contemporary Okinawan and Japanese music. The group performs with several types of drums: the odaiko (big drum), which is suspended in front of the body by long pieces of purple cloth over the shoulder and back, the shime-daiko (hand-held, flat, two-sided drum), and the paranku (handheld, flat, one-sided drum). The organization was founded in 1982 in Okinawa and has chapters in mainland Japan, throughout South America, Mexico, Hawaii and the continental U.S. The Los Angeles chapter was established in 1995, and has performed at such venues as Dodger Stadium, Japanese American National Museum (JANM), Nisei Week Parade, Taiko Gathering, and Coronation Ball, the City of Monterey Park Cherry Blossom Festival, the U.S. Japan Expo - Los Angeles, and the L.A. County Fair.

Kishin Daiko

Since the group’s establishment at the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center in June of 1981, Kishin Daiko has continued to entertain, educate and enlighten audiences with the dynamic, powerful and heart stopping sounds of taiko (Japanese percussive-style drumming). The group’s performances embody the translation of Kishin, which is energy, spirit, and heart

Kishin Daiko’s music consists of traditional and adaptations of traditional Japanese taiko pieces, along with original compositions by contemporary musicians and Kishin members.

Kishin devotes itself to sharing Japanese and Japanese American culture by holding workshops and classes and performing all over Southern California and beyond. Some of their performance highlights include: World Cup Soccer Celebration at Universal Studios, The Super Bowl XXXII Pre-game, the Clippers game half time, Knott’s Scary Farm Maze Reveal, Video Music Awards, and Special Olympics torch run ceremony.

Kishin strives to promote community harmony through the group’s uniquely engaging and diverse expression of taiko music.

Sascha Molina

Sacramento Taiko Dan

Sascha Joined Sacramento Taiko Dan in 2007, and is the Assistant Director of the group as well as the Director of the Youth program and Educational Outreach, which provides cultural enrichment to children in grades K – 12 throughout Sacramento and the surrounding areas. Additionally, Sascha is a member of the North American Kasuga Onigumi and the all-female Taiko group Jodaiko.

Tiffany Tamaribuchi

Sacramento Taiko

Tiffany Tamaribuchi is totally "Taiko-Baka" and a certifiable Taiko Geek. She is a well-regarded professional teacher and performer of wadaiko, and has been touring nationally and internationally since 1992. As a solo artist and guest performer with other artists and ensembles, she has appeared at a number of prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Moscow International House of Music, and at Suntory Hall in Japan.

A passionate educator with an eclectic background and often playful and humorous approach to teaching, she's taught a number of intensives throughout North America, in Australia, the United Kingdom, and most recently the 2017 ECTC & NATC conferences. She runs her own series of taiko intensives at various locations throughout North America, and she is currently scheduled to teach an improvisation and composition mini-intensive at the 2017 North American Taiko Conference in San Diego, CA.

Founder and director of the Jodaiko International Women's Taiko Ensemble and the Sacramento Taiko Dan, Tiffany is also a member of the Kasuga Onigumi of Sado Island, Japan.

She is also notable as the 2002 winner of the Otaiko Hibike Ippon Uchi all-Japan national Odaiko competition.

Yee Man Mui

Taiko Center of the Pacific

Yeeman Mui (Manman) is an experienced performer and acclaimed teacher. She was a Taiko Center of the Pacific Fellow in 2012-2014 and performing member from 2013-2017. She has an MPhil in Musicology from the University of Hong Kong and is a certified Orff Schulwerk instructor (San Francisco International Orff Level I-III). Mui now teaches at Los Angeles Taiko Institute, performs as a solo artist, and gives workshops to groups around the globe.

Yuta Kato

Los Angeles Taiko Institute

After seven years studying with San Francisco Taiko Dojo, Kato was a leader of UCLA Kyodo Taiko before moving to Japan to study at Nihon Taiko Dojo and on Hachijo island. He performed professionally with TAIKOPROJECT, On Ensemble, Portland Taiko, and coordinated the 2011 North American Taiko Conference before turning his attention to taiko teaching. Kato currently resides in California serving as the principal and instructor for LATI (Los Angeles Taiko Institute) housed at the state-of-the-art taiko facility - Asano Taiko US. He performs as a member of UnitOne (Torrance, CA).

Google Sites

Report abuse