LA Taiko Festival

Start: Saturday, August 6, 2022 5:30PM
End: Saturday, August 6, 2022 8:00PM

Don! Don! Don! Thundering taiko drums are coming to Little Tokyo this summer as the Los Angeles Taiko Festival celebrates the legacy of two taiko pioneers, Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka, founder of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo and also in memoriam of Sensei Etsuo Hongo (1946-2019), founder of the Los Angeles Matsuri Taiko. Both are pioneers in the rapid growth of taiko in the United States. This exciting event will take place on August 6, 2022 at 5:30pm at the Aratani Theater in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. Taiko translates to ‘drum’ and both these pioneers have collaborated on numerous taiko festivals in both Northern and Southern California. Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka, nearly 80 years old, is referred to as the ‘father of modern taiko’. A native of Tokyo, Japan, Tanaka-sensei established the San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968, the first taiko school in the United States. Since then, hundreds of taiko groups have exploded worldwide, spreading the spirit and tradition of this art form. Tanaka Sensei has also been recognized and awarded by various countries for his talents and contributions to the preservation of Japanese traditions and culture.Sensei Etsuo Hongo established the Los Angeles Matsuri Taiko in 1978 in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, Hongo-sensei established various groups in Southern California and also in South America before passing away in 2019. His daughter, Tomomi, continues his legacy teaching and performing taiko with both her father’s groups and her own. Tomomi will be performing her father’s signature piece “Taiko L.A.” at the festival. Both current and former members of San Francisco Taiko Dojo and the Hongo family of taiko groups will perform original and classic pieces of their repertoire in honor of these pioneers of modern taiko. For tickets and information, please visit https://www.lataikofestival.com/