On May 11, 1986, San Jose Taiko hosted Eitetsu Hayashi for his very first tour in the United States. This concert was held at the Calvin Simmons Auditorium in Oakland, California, and featured performances by Eitetsu Hayashi’s ensemble, San Jose Taiko, and San Francisco Taiko Dojo. Featured Taiko...

In this episode of Taiko Trade Talks, Walter sits down with Grandmaster Seichii Tanaka over lunch. They discuss the teaching styles that they grew up with, the medical struggles of Tanaka Sensei, and how taiko shares similarities with other percussion styles around the world.

This performance took place on November 4th, 2023 in PJ and Roy Hirabayashi’s hometown of San Jose, and reflects on five decades of their passion, creativity, and hope for the future. Through their stories and music, PJ and Roy will share their personal journey in discovering how taiko can be a f...