Next Generation
Empowering the next generation’s free spirit.
pj & roy“We wanted to meet with a younger taiko crowd to spark their curiosity about WHY they play taiko because we feel that knowing the WHY comes first.”
ROY“Why do you play taiko? Why is taiko important to you now?”
PJ “What motivates you, what brings you joy?”
kazu“I’m realizing how composition is more like storytelling. It's not just about the rhythms and creating a song. If you want to create a story and experience, then that's a whole different level of composition.”
vicky“There’s a level of transition happening now that I wasn’t actively preparing for, but sooner rather than later it’s going to be upon us to now be teaching the next incoming generation.”
sydney“I play taiko because it connects me to my family, culture, and community. PJ and Roy have always supported inclusive practices and taiko as individual and collective empowerment. Their outlook has inspired me, as an occupational therapist and taiko player, to advocate for more diversity within the taiko community.”
hiromi"It makes me feel motivated to think about what experiences I have to offer and share. And I think there's something healing about that when you can share it with the community and pass it down. And so years down the line, people will play this song and feel an element of what we felt. That's really special. The values that might get lost in words are still felt through experience."
We started the idea of these informal taiko talks to chat over coffee and tea at our home.
Facilitating conversations about taiko with the youth of our community has allowed us to gain important insight into what’s on their minds as taiko players and also for us to impart a little wisdom here and there.
This knowledge enables us to deepen our commitment even further to empowering the next generation of taiko players to be who they are, be free spirits, and continue to respect those who came before them.
HIROMI“The connection I feel with other people when I play taiko is so great that I cannot walk away from it. I get so much joy from feeling the beat of taiko pulse through my body all while playing in rhythm with others. Feeling this togetherness while letting go and expressing myself—nothing else can beat this feeling!”
roy“My hope for the current and future generations of taiko is to stay connected with an understanding and respect of taiko’s history, its legacy, and those who came before them.
pj“My hope for the taiko community is that each person understands the power within the drum and can really tap into its essence with an open heart, open mind.”