TAIKOPROJECT

The TAIKOPROJECT is an ensemble of America's premiere, emerging taiko drummers dedicated to preserving and disseminating American taiko drumming through educational activities and public performances. The ensemble's work balances the traditions and history of American taiko with a contemporary edge exploring new dimensions in taiko.

History

The TAIKOPROJECT was founded in 2000 in Los Angeles, California. The group was conceived by Bryan Yamami with the idea of bringing together the best young taiko players in North America to create a theatrical show celebrating American taiko. That show, TAIKOPROJECT: (re)generation, blends taiko with storytelling, spoken word, music, hip hop choreography, video multi-media, and dance. The show made its world premiere tour Fall, 2003 - Spring, 2004 to Gammage Auditorium at Arizona State University Public Events, Meany Hall at the University of Washington World Series, the Japan America Theatre at the JACCC, the Mondavi Center at UC Davis, and the Kenneth Ford Theater at the College of the Siskiyous.

Following its first tour, the TAIKOPROJECT created a Los Angeles-based cast representing a multitude of various taiko groups. They also developed collaborations with various artists, including klezmer clarinetist Leo Chelyapov, Vietnamese pop singer Bao Han, Chicano rock band Quetzal, internationally-acclaimed European DJ Tiesto, and Vancouver's Chibi Taiko.

In Spring, 2005, the TAIKOPROJECT gained greater acclaim by performing in Mitsubishi Motors of North America's National Ad Campaign "Taiko Drums," featuring women from the group in a 60-second commercial spot. Bryan Yamami was chosen by the RSA Casting to be the lead Creative Consultant for the commercial.

In July 2005, the TAIKOPROJECT performed for "Taiko Jam '05," as part of the 2005 North American Taiko Conference. The group also performed for the Hollywood Bowl's "Summer Sounds" program, working with the L.A. Philharmonic Education Division.

In Fall, 2005, the TAIKOPROJECT traveled to Japan for the first time to represent American taiko at the 4th Annual Tokyo International Taiko Contest. As one of 12 finalists out of over 60 groups, the TAIKOPROJECT was the first American taiko group to participate in the event. The TAIKOPROJECT took First Place in the Adult Group category, becoming the first American taiko group to win the contest.

In Summer, 2006, the TAIKOPROJECT presented Rhythmic Relations 2006, a joint performance with Bombu Taiko, Kitsune Taiko, and UCLA Yukai Daiko at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. They also traveled to Japan to perform at the EXTASIA Festival in Ishikawa-ken, and performed at the Hollywood nightclub Bar Sinister. They ended their summer by performing with the hip hop-apella quartet in their finale for the tv show America's Got Talent.

In Fall, 2006, the TAIKOPROJECT was selected for two juried industry showcases at the Western Arts Alliance (WAA) and International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) Conferences. TAIKOPROJECT also performed for Opening Night of the Los Angeles Kings' 2006 hockey season at the Staples Center and for the half-time show for the Los Angeles Clippers. In October, 2006, TAIKOPROJECT performed as guest taiko artists with rapper Xzibit for a music concert special on the DirecTV program CD USA.

In Spring, 2007, the TAIKOPROJECT toured "(re)generation" along the West Coast to sold-out houses and exuberant audiences along the West Coast at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts, UC San Diego's Mandeville Auditorium, the Lewis Family Playhouse in Rancho Cucamonga, the Washington Center for the Arts, and the Edmonds Center for the Arts.

In Summer, 2007, TP played at the L.A. Coliseum for DYNAMITE 2007, one of the largest mixed-martial arts events in the U.S., broadcast on the Showtime cable network. TP was also cast in David Mamet's 2007 independent film entitled "Red Belt." TP released new signature bachi drumsticks and collaborated with taiko tote-maker extraordinaire Toni Yagami on an innovative new bachi quiver bag. The last summer project in the works is to officially incorporate TP as an official non-profit organization, which we anticipate to culminate next Spring, 2008.

Cast

Current Cast

Bryan Yamami (Artistic Director)

Masato Baba (Musical Director, Original Cast Member)

Jen Baik (Performer)

Byron Yamada (Performer)

Yuri Yoshida (Performer)

Courtney Deguchi (Performer)

Aya Ino (Performer)

Darren Endo (Apprentice)

Adrienne Gunde (Apprentice)

Cherie Lockwood (Apprentice)

Joel Mankey (Apprentice)

Cast Alumni

Naoko Amemiya

Eric Chang

JoAnn Cho

Michelle Fujii

Tiffany Furuta

Kelsey Furuta

Lesley Handa

Shoji Kameda

Julia Kato

Yuta Kato

Charles Kellogg

Carol Lin

Emi Matsushita

Yoko Nishiguchi

Crissy Sato

Vivian Seki

Amy Sugita

Extended Family

Bombu Taiko

Bombu Taiko is a community-based taiko group founded in 2002 at the Los Angeles Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple. Bombu Taiko is instructed by members of the TAIKOPROJECT. Named by Rinban Noriaki Ito after the "Bombu" of Buddhist philosophy, Bombu Taiko has performed throughout Los Angeles at numerous events and gatherings, including the Nisei Week Festival and the L.A. Marathon.

Kitsune Taiko

Kitsune Taiko was founded in 2002 at the Los Angeles Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple along with Bombu Taiko and is named after the mysterious fox (kitsune) of Japanese folklore. The fourteen-member ensemble consists of eight girls, who have claimed the "Shakko," or red fox, and six boys who have claimed "Genko," the black fox as their mascot.

Yukai Daiko

In 2004, Yukai Daiko became the second official taiko group to form at UCLA. Guided by Yuta Kato and Michelle Fujii, ten members attended a week-long camp in Mount Shasta, California to form the group. Yukai, which means "cheerful" or "happy," was chosen to describe the attitudes of its members towards playing and practicing the art of taiko, not simply as individuals but as a group.

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