I grew up seeing taiko at obon and community events, but didn’t start playing until middle school when my cousin and some friends invited me to join the Kona Daifukuji youth group. I continued to practice and perform throughout high school and transitioned to performing with USC Kazan Taiko during college. When COVID hit, I went on a 2-year taiko hiatus but found my way to Portland Taiko in 2022 through a Kazan Taiko connection.

I play taiko to express myself artistically and challenge myself physically, but my favorite thing about playing taiko is how it pushes me out of my comfort zone and forces me to grow as a person and performer. During my time away from taiko during COVID, I developed some anxiety about performing, but during my first concert with Portland Taiko in Wilsonville, I saw the friendly faces of the crowd and instantly felt reassured. I knew no matter what happened, the performance would be a lot of fun.

I started playing taiko when I was nine. My first class was taught by Portland Taiko founders Ann and Zack. I joined the youth performing group, Tanuki Taiko, soon after and played until I left for college. After a decade away from taiko and Portland, I rejoined Portland Taiko in 2022.

I love the creativity and energy of taiko. It’s my favorite way to think differently, exercise different parts of my brain (and muscles) and collaborate with others. Professionally, I’m a coordinator for Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R). One of my favorite events is People of the Drum, an annual collaboration between Portland Taiko and PP&R that takes place during Summer Free for All! In my spare time, I love running and hiking with my pup, traveling locally and abroad and eating all the best Portland food. 

I began with Portland Taiko as a student in 2016. Although I’ve been playing various forms of percussion since the age of 11, I never had the opportunity to get behind a taiko drum until that first class. I knew immediately it was something that would become a regular part of my life. I joined Portland Taiko as a trainee in 2019. I love that taiko is capable of expressing such a wide range of emotions, from earth-shaking power to quiet introspection. I especially enjoy playing with others—even with such diverse backgrounds, we can all share a common language through music. My full-time profession is electronics engineer, and I also work as an amateur artist producing costume masks and prop replicas.

Before taking classes with Portland Taiko, I always took taiko for granted. I was definitely a person who always thought taiko was just a supporting role for all the Nikkei festivals and was never the main attractions at events. When I moved up to Portland from Los Angeles in 2014, I realized I had to make an effort to connect to my roots so I signed up for Portland Taiko classes in 2015. I was immediately hooked from my first class and it definitely redefined my thoughts about taiko. Looking back at my first classes with Portland Taiko, I was very lucky that my cohort consisted only four people…including the instructor ( Paul! ). I say “lucky” because all three of were able to get SO MUCH attention from the instructor and really work on our basics; which of course helped me in the long run. I play taiko today to keep me connected to my roots and to keep challenging my body and mind.

I was first exposed to taiko my first year at UCLA and was immediately drawn to the rhythms I heard on campus during a performance. I began taking classes at San Francisco Taiko Dojo during my summer and winter breaks throughout college. I took a break when I went to graduate school and after 6 years, I am excited that I discovered Portland Taiko upon recently moving here and to be able to play again. Hitting and dancing around taiko drums reminds me of the ecstatic feeling I get from playing taiko. My first taiko performance was at the 2019 Portland Taiko Bonenkai and I became a full member in 2021. I am a civil and environmental engineer by day and during my spare time, you can find me outdoors, at the climbing gym, or planning for my next backpacking adventure.

I started playing taiko when I was 12, when my parents and I all signed up for a beginning taiko class with Shinsho Mugen Daiko. While at first it was just something fun to do with my parents, I soon found it provided a physical and mental challenge that school, and later working as a hardware engineer, could not. Taiko has been a great way for me to connect to new communities whenever I changed location; the shared experience of learning and performing together, combined with the powerful sound of the taiko, helped create connections that were otherwise difficult for me. I spent four years in Colorado Springs after college, playing with the newly formed Taiko Society, before moving to Portland in 2016. I started taking classes with Portland Taiko that year and became a trainee in 2017. I look forward to many new adventures with Portland Taiko!

Growing up as one of the only Asian American kids, taiko gave me the opportunity to explore my heritage as well as interact with kids outside of my school. Through taiko, I gained self-confidence and learned perseverance. I started playing taiko when I was 13 years old. My mom signed me up for Portland Taiko’s kids camp and since then I’ve never stopped playing! After kids camp I joined Portland Taiko’s youth taiko group, Tanuki Taiko. I played with Tanuki Taiko through high school. After high school, I attended University of Oregon in Eugene. In college, I played with Eugene’s community taiko group, Eugene Taiko. Later two of my friends and I started University of Oregon’s collegiate taiko group, Ahiru Daiko. When I look back at my life thus far, many of my happy memories involve taiko. I love the bond that I feel with other taiko players and the power I feel when I hit a taiko. I could not imagine my life without taiko.

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I first saw taiko at an outdoor festival in Taiwan and attended a beginning taiko workshop after moving to Portland. I eventually joined Portland Taiko as a performing member and was active for nine years. After a short break, I returned to the organization in 2016 and I’m glad I did. PT is such a welcoming and supportive community—outside of family, it’s hard to find that in other aspects of life. It’s great to play rhythms in such a physically expressive manner. Some of my fondest musical memories include drums and percussion—whether in orchestra, jazz bands, marching bands, or steel drum ensembles. For that, I’m thankful to continue drumming with Portland Taiko.

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I am a North Clackamas Learning Specialist by day and Taiko Mama by night. My husband Rob and I have three beautiful children: Ricky, Abby, and Jaisa. After my first Portland Taiko workshop in 2001, I was instantly addicted to the power of the drum and eventually became a performer in 2004. Highlights include the group’s trips to Hawaii and Japan. I enjoy the family spirit within Portland Taiko, learning the early roots of PT’s history, and exploring new and complicated pieces. 

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I joined Portland Taiko as a trainee in 2015 after playing with Emeryville Taiko for many years. I appreciate the community spirit of the group and how it succeeds in bringing together a diverse group of people into a powerful, talented whole. I have always loved taiko’s blend of community, physicality, and sound. My favorite taiko moment was the first time I hit a drum and felt it through my whole being. I teach English Language Development to middle school students. My wife and I recently became full members of Portland Taiko.

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My first experience with taiko was taking a beginner class with Emeryville Taiko. I loved how it immediately cleared my mind and made me forget about the day’s stresses. I drummed with Emeryville Taiko for eight years until moving to Portland. I played the flute in high school and have had some success at transferring those skills over to playing the fue. I also played the ukulele while growing up in Hawaii and would love to find the time to pick that up again. I am a structural engineer with the City of Portland. My husband and I started taking classes with PT in 2015 and we are now full members. We have a tuxedo cat named Picasso. Playing taiko is a fun way to not be a couch potato! 

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Playing taiko stretches a different part of my brain than in my working life as a civil engineer. My first experience with taiko was seeing drummers in Southern California. I joined Portland Taiko in the spring of 1998 after attending a taiko workshop. From that first workshop I transitioned into a full performing member and continued to help teach beginning and intermediate classes. Some of my most memorable experiences involve interactions with the audience: it is fun to see so many smiling faces and hear folks talk about how inspired they feel after attending a performance.

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A Portland Taiko performance in 2003 was my first experience with taiko, despite my upbringing in Japan. I instantly loved the art of taiko and the experience with the whole body. Even though I had no musical background, I was invited to audition as a performer after enrolling in taiko classes, and I now enjoy sharing the art with others. Staying connected to my roots and being associated with PT’s talented performers is very rewarding, but the best part is relieving stress by beating on drums!

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(Artistic Leadership Team)

I first saw taiko at the Powell Street Festival in Vancouver, BC, and became involved with Portland Taiko as a volunteer and class member. Since 2008, I have been a performer, artistic staff member, beginning class instructor, violinist, composer, cowbell player, and van backer-upper. I enjoy feeling a deep connection to the community through our mission-driven work, and I am proud to be able to carry on the PT tradition (started by the founding directors Ann and Zack) of featuring the violin in our repertoire. Some of my favorite taiko memories include the Minidoka Pilgrimage in 2010 and unexpected moments during live performances (Toshiki broke a bachi during his solo! Lisa’s drum started to roll towards the edge of the stage in the middle of Amaterasu!). I also perform onstage (and knit backstage) as a member of the Oregon Symphony violin section, haunt Portland’s yarn shops, conduct culinary experiments for my husband, Adam, and nap with my tuxedo cat.

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