To celebrate their 30th anniversary, Eugene Taiko is presenting a celebratory concert on November 2nd. For taiko fans new and old, join them for high energy performances by Eugene Taiko, UO’s Ahiru Daiko and the youth group Waka Daiko. As a special return to Eugene Taiko’s origins, the group will accompany local Obon dancers as they perform traditional festival dances. A short video documenting the group’s history in Lane County and recognizing and honoring the founding members will also be shown.

About Eugene Taiko: Eugene Taiko was founded in 1989 as a program of the Japanese American Association of Lane County. Eugene Taiko was originally formed to provide live, traditional drumming to accompany dancers at the annual Obon Festival. As one of the first fifty groups formed in North America, Eugene Taiko was at the forefront of taiko’s early growth and development. Since then, the group has expanded to conduct workshops for any interested attendees and to perform in schools, nursing homes, and community events ranging from the Eugene Marathon to the Asian Celebration. Eugene Taiko’s mission is to entertain audiences while teaching about taiko and Japanese culture in Lane County.

About Japanese Taiko Drumming: In Japanese, the word taiko refers simply to “drum” but here in North America, “taiko” is a music ensemble characterized by the dynamic and precise playing of Japanese-style drums while performing highly choreographed movements. The first North American taiko groups formed in the 1970’s in response to the civil rights movement; this was a time of increasing awareness and reclamation of their culture by Japanese Americans. Taiko continues to expand worldwide as an art form which speaks to people of all ages and cultural backgrounds, while remaining true to its Japanese roots.

Contact: Lisa Miyake [email protected]