Taiko is a dynamic music presentation that combines high energy movements to compelling percussive rhythms that embodies spiritual essence and the heartbeat of Japan and its people. While taiko is inevitably rooted in 3000 year old Japanese traditions that express beauty and harmony, the powerful sound of taiko is a living and evolving art form that is rapidly permeating the entire world.

Japanese history begins with the legend of Amaterasu Omikami - a Sun Goddess that illuminated the world from total darkness by her overwhelming curiosity of an unusual dance to the beat of taiko. Samurai warriors used taiko at battlefields to signal commands and to instill fears into the enemy. People communicated by using taiko to signal danger, and priests used taiko at ceremonies to communicate with the heavenly gods. Temples and shrines throughout Japan display taiko as a symbol of purification and to dispel evil spirits. Until recently, striking the sacred taiko was limited to males of high stature and priests.

Kaminari Taiko was founded in 1996 by Jay Mochizuki along with a number of talented musicians from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities. The members diligently trained under world acclaimed Taiko Masters such as: Daihachi Oguchi, Seiichi Tanaka, Kenny Endo and Takemasa Ishikura to learn the fundamental skills, philosophy and the spirit of centuries old Japanese tradition.

Technical skills were refined through ten years of experience by collaborating with world renowned taiko groups: San Francisco Taiko Dojo and Wadaiko Matsuriza of Disney World Epcot Center, toured to over 20 major cites and performed at over one hundred concerts to live audiences exceeding 150,000 and developed into a prominent performing taiko group.

In addition to stage performances at theatres, festivals and celebration events, Kaminari performers continually refine their skills through mandatory training programs several times per week at their own dojo (studio) and provide weekly taiko lessons for beginner taiko class, weekly public elementary school lessons and fun filled clinical taiko workshops for terminally ill and children with disabilities.

Kaminari’s public awareness/support programs have been recognized by many organizations such as: The Consulate General of Japan in Houston, City of Houston Mayors, Camp for All, Japan America Society, Asia Society, Japan Business Association of Houston and Houston Independent School District.

Kaminari mesmerizes the audience with its unique style of dynamic taiko performances inspired by the traditional values of Japanese art and propulsive toe tapping original world beat and rhythms. Combined with an arsenal of over 30 professional quality taiko including the most powerful taiko in the world. Beauty and harmony with the natural environment and human spirit is amalgamated into each explosive taiko music that rocks the theatre with invigorating stage excitement known to produce earthquake with magnitude 7 on the Richter Scale?

Jay Mochizuki
Producer and Artistic Director
Phone: 713-690-0033
Fax: 713-690-2204
E-mail: email@ilovetaiko.org

Mailing Address:
Kaminari Taiko of Houston
9850 Drysdale Lane
Houston, TX 77041
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E-mail: email@ilovetaiko.org