We are absolutely thrilled to announce this year’s taiko spirit contributors!
These lovely individuals have generously offered their time and talent at this year’s Taiko Spirit to help us foster friendship, growth and openness within the European taiko community. <3
Please stay tuned for workshop details coming on 1 June!
Humber Taiko
Emma started working with Lisa delivering Taiko projects in 2008 when the pair were involved in the creation of a production of The Monkey King featuring live music. Lisa is a percussionist and trained at the Royal College of Music in London. Emma is a theatre director and puppeteer, specialising in devised storytelling projects with and for young people. Following the creation of Gyoko Taiko in Grimsby in 2010 and later the formation of Tetsu Taiko in Scunthorpe England, Lisa and Emma established Humber Taiko in order to manage the developing Taiko scene across the region.
Ilka Haase
Studying Japanology and many years in Asia (China, Singapore, Japan) have allowed Ilka to get a taste of different groups and styles. This has had a decisive influence on her taiko style. Flexibility and openness for influences from other genres are her major themes. After founding groups in Hamburg (Tengu Daiko), Shanghai (Kaifu) and Mannheim (MAdaiko), Ilka is currently building a new taiko school in Heidelberg.
Ingmar Kikat
Ingmar has a wide background from classical percussion to jazz and rock and started playing taiko in 2001. He founded Kion Dojo in Hamburg, Germany in 2006 and the cutting edge performance group Taikoon in 2008,after living in Tokyo as a member of Tawoo Dojo (Gocoo). He plays and teaches a unique way of playing taiko with unheard of groove and melodic arrangements.
Isabel Romeo
Isabel began taiko with Ago Kaijin Daiko while working in Japan as a dancer. Since returning to Spain, she has been very active in various taiko-related projects: teaching workshops and lessons, contributing to taiko documentaries and articles, and performing with dance companies. In 2016, Isabel founded the group Issho Daiko based in Madrid. For Isabel, taiko is a joyous way of personal development and expression that incorporates rhythm and movement as well as listening skills, teamwork, trust and self-confidence.
Isaku Kageyama
Isaku is an eclectic and versatile taiko performer, hand percussionist, and drummer. Formerly a principal drummer of premiere ensemble Amanojaku, he is also a two-time National Odaiko Champion, becoming the youngest person to win highest honours at the Mt. Fuji Odaiko Contest in 2000 and Hokkaido in 2003. He currently works with groups such as Asano Taiko UnitOne, film-scoring extravaganza The Masterpiece Experience, world music group Rhythm of the Universe, anime band Soulandscape.
Kotaro Tamada
Kotaro is the head instructor of the Kawasaki Taiko Fellowship Hibiki, where his father Sugio Tamada is president. He excels at Oshita and traditional Japanese music from throughout Japan. He actively organizes performance activities at local festivals and taiko events. He instructs dozens of taiko groups, schools and classes in Tokyo and Kanagawa. Kotaro travels annually with members of his groups as featured performers in the annual Japan Day celebrations throughout Europe.
Marco Lienhard
Marco was a lead performer with Ondekoza for 18 years from 1981-1998. While touring as a professional taiko player in Japan, he mastered the shakuhachi under Master Katsuya Yokoyama. He also studied the fue and the Nohkan with Masayuki Isso. In 1995, Marco founded the group Taikoza with which he has toured in Europe, Russia, Mexico and the US. Marco is also the director and founder of East Winds Ensemble, a shakuhachi and koto ensemble based in New York.
Masayuki Sakamoto
Masayuki began his taiko career at the age of 12 with local taiko group, Kakuzan Sakura Daiko. After graduating from high school in 2003, he entered the Kodo Apprentice Center and became a performing group member of Kodo in 2005 upon completion of an intense 2-year apprentice training. He was featured as a key player in over 1,500 Kodo performances in more than 20 countries throughout the world. At the end of 2017, he made his last appearance with Kodo and became a solo artist in 2018. He developed a tunable Oke Daiko named “Kanade” and worked with electronic instrument manufacturer Roland to develop the world’s first electronic taiko drum. He is now embarking on innovative new musical projects, grounded with the 13 years of his basics he cultivated during his time with Kodo.
Shoji Kameda
Shoji Kameda is a Grammy-nominated musician, composer and producer. He started playing taiko at the age of 8 and has played continuously since. He is a founder and member of On Ensemble, a contemporary taiko quartet, and a member of the jazz fusion group Hiroshima. He is based in Los Angeles, but he tours regularly to teach and perform taiko worldwide. Recently, Shoji has partnered with Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten to create kaDON a new online venture that provides high-quality instruction and repertoire for taiko and fue.
Silke Hanzen
Silke has played Taiko since 1998. Monika Baumgartl was her teacher 2001-2011 as a performing member of Tentekko Taiko. Since 2012 she has taught at TaikoKids in Düsseldorf, Germany and offers workshops for adults and children. Joy and exploring a sense of community while playing taiko is her main focus there. In recent years, she has visited many different taiko groups and gotten to know taiko teachers from Germany, UK, Belgium, Japan and USA. Her heart beats for diversity and respect in a large taiko community.
Steven Cools
Steven has long been fascinated by drums and rhythm. For years his main focus was on playing drum kit until eventually getting hooked on taiko after an inspiriting workshop. Since then, Steven has been playing taiko, recently started offering workshops, and is currently looking for players for his InnerDrum project to spread the taiko message in Belgium.
Tiffany Tamaribuchi
Tiffany is the founder and artistic director of 3 ensembles based in North America, and has toured internationally with a number of professional groups and artists in Japan and North America since 1992. Best-known for her eclectic training background and for emphasizing biomechanically sound techniques, she has been a regular instructor for the NATC since 1997 and a featured guest instructor at the ETC 2. Winner of the O-TA-I-KO Hibike Ippon-uchi All-Japan Odaiko Competition in Fukui and a finalist in the Tokyo International Odaiko Competition in 2002, Tiffany enjoys and plays a variety of styles but is most often recognized as a badass odaiko drummer.
Tsuchigumo Daiko
Tsuchigumo Daiko was founded in February 2016 by Martin Doyle and Shonagh Walker, who had by then already gained extensive performing, touring, and teaching experience. After deciding to overhaul their fundamental approach to playing, they have forged their new group’s own identity, with an ethos focused on sharing, joy, inclusivity, and conquering personal goals. Thier group, based in Central Scotland, has quickly taken the European taiko scene by storm with its explosive energy and diverse playing style. This accomplished and dynamic couple is enthusiastic to connect and share with the taiko community with open minds and hearts.
