We're excited to announce upcoming live performances!

Performances are Resuming

It’s hard to believe, it’s been 14 months since our last performance in front of a live audience. Like many groups in the area, our performance schedule came to a screeching halt when St. Louis instituted a lock-down during the height of the pandemic. So after this long pause we are beyond excited to announce a return to live performances, starting this weekend!

This weekend we will be heading to beautiful Missouri Botanical Garden for the opening of a new sculpture exhibit, Origamiinthegarden. Listen to the sounds of taiko, fue, and shamisen as you explore some amazing sculptures and to see what’s in bloom in the Japanese Garden.

Above: After returning to practice, we have been practicing in smaller groups in order to maintain safe distancing while inside the studio. With warmer weather returning, we're able to take practice outside, allowing us to practice as a full ensemble for the first time since last summer.

June 6, we will be returning to Maryland Heights for the city’s annual event, WorldFest. This year, the event moves to an outdoor location at the Centene Community Ice Center to provide more space for social distancing as the region continues its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

More performances are in the works, so keep a lookout on our website or your favorite social media platform for updates. We can’t wait to see you again!

Origamiinthegarden
Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25 - 1:00-2:30 PM
Missouri Botanical Garden - Japanese Garden
Free with garden admission
*In the event of rain, the performance will take place at Cohen Amphitheater

WorldFest 2021
Sunday, June 6 - 2:00-2:45 PM
Centene Community Ice Center, Maryland Heights, MO
Free event

Celebrating 35 Years!

This year, we celebrate our 35th year as a taiko ensemble, and we think that’s pretty amazing! So much has changed since our group began in 1986 - most notably, we’ve transitioned from a children’s group to a community ensemble - but our drums have been with us almost from the beginning.

In the year following our inception, our group’s founder Daihachi Oguchi donated four chuudaiko, or medium-sized taiko, that make up the backbone of our ensemble even today. Chuudaiko are the most common drums in a taiko ensemble, generally used to play the "melody" of a song.

We began by playing the drums exclusively on beta (upright) stands, but over the years we've incorporated several other drumming styles for additional visual appeal during performances. Some of the more unusual styles require great stamina for the performers, such as when they are placed horizontally on low miyake stands as shown in the top image.

Traditional taiko are carved from a single tree trunk, then covered with cow hide that is hand-stretched across each end and secured with metal tacks. It’s a very labor-intensive process and cost-prohibitive for many ensembles, so we feel very fortunate for this gift.

Join us for an upcoming performance, and see the chuudaiko that have been with us for most of our 35 year history!

Photographer: Kevin Dingman

We are a non-profit group that performs the art of taiko around the St. Louis area and the world.

10734 Trenton Ave. | St. Louis, MO 63132
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