Taiko learning entered a new era in 2014 when kaDON was founded by Kenny Endo, Kaoru Watanabe, and Shoji Kameda in partnership with Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten. Through this online venture, performers can learn how to play taiko, fue, and chappa as well as pieces composed by Kameda and Watanabe. With offerings for beginners and longtime Read More
Asano Taiko has always been a strong supporter of the North American taiko community, and in 2013 that support was taken to the next level when Asano Taiko US opened its doors in Torrance, CA. The facility is also home to Kato Taiko and the Los Angeles Taiko Institute. By hosting workshops, seminars, and special Read More
Just 5 years after they were founded in 2000, TAIKOPROJECT won the adult group division of the 2005 Tokyo International Taiko Contest. They were the first American group to ever win in this competition. After playing the assigned piece “beat Essence” required of all competitors, they performed “Expanding” and “Omiyage.” This feat introduced Japan to Read More
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Eri Uchida is unable to join us as a workshop leader for the North American Taiko Conference. We have worked with Kodo to arrange for Yoshie Abe to offer both workshops as planned: Beautiful Katsugi Okedo Playing and Mindfulness of the Sole Strike. Yoshie Abe (née Sunahata) entered the Kodo Apprentice Read More
At the first NATC in 1997, Duane Ebata, then Program Chair of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC), challenged attendees to start their own regional conferences. The first meeting to come from that challenge was the Regional Taiko Gathering. Held every two years since 1998 at various sites across the Pacific Northwest and Read More
With only 4 days of Early Bird registration left, we have some important announcements to make! We are humbled by the response to NATC 2017. The following items are SOLD OUT. Marketplace booths: We are officially sold out of marketplace booth space. Mini Intensives: Edo Bayashi with Kyosuke Suzuki is officially sold out Both the Read More
For a select few attendees at the North American Taiko Conference each year, the excitement that comes with traveling to the gathering is accompanied by a little bit of nervousness. They come to NATC not just to take workshops and shop in the Marketplace, but also to play for their taiko family friends with public Read More
Started in 2001 by Janet Koike as the Rhythmix tour and renamed KASA/MIX in 2003, this project of Kodo Arts Sphere America has taken eight groups from around the world on a tour of Japan, including a stay at the Kodo facilities on Sado Island. By bringing together taiko players from around the world, the KASA/MIX Read More
Hello Taiko Community! TCA is looking for American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters to help with workshop and plenary session interpreting at this summer’s North American Taiko Conference in San Diego. If you are ASL-enabled, and are interested in helping with this endeavor, contact us at concierge@taikocommunityalliance.org. We’re doing our best to help make NATC accessible Read More
Are you one of the 375 people already registered for NATC 2015?? Did you get everything you need for the conference? If not, check out our ADD ONs page to get everything you need for the conference: NATC ADD ONs: NATC T-Shirts Taiko Jam Tickets Commuter lunch plans ADD ON FORM To use the Add Read More