Community Outreach
An important part of Kaminari Taiko's mission is to give back to our community. Through performances, classes, cultural demonstrations, and interactive workshops, we entertain and educate enthusiastic audiences. Kaminari often partners with local organizations to spread knowledge of Japanese culture and music.Kaminari Taiko's largest community outreach program to-date is our new One Heart Taiko Tour, launching in March 2011. For details, including how to sign your organization up for free, see below.
One Heart Taiko Tour
Click here to request a spot on the One Heart Taiko Tour schedule. It's free!
About the Tour
Kaminari Taiko's One Heart Taiko Tour is a series of fun-filled, hands-on, educational taiko workshops and taiko performances for children of all ages. The primary mission of the Tour is to provide these workshops and performances free of charge to support organizations for children with special needs, hospitals, and similar institutions. As our schedule allows, we will also provide the programs free of charge to schools at all levels from elementary schools to universities throughout Texas.
Taiko are Japanese drums that have been played for thousands of years in many different contexts. In the modern style of taiko that we perform, many people play together as an ensemble, weaving together the energies of individual performers. Drumming is a powerful way for people of all ages to express themselves through rhythm and experience the joy of making music as a group. We hope to inspire children across Texas to learn about themselves and their world and teach them how to play from the heart.
The One Heart Taiko Tour leaders are selected from among the most experienced members of Kaminari Taiko's Performing Troupe. Our curriculum focuses on Japanese culture, Japanese language, fundamental musical concepts, physical activity, and hands-on experience, plus how to work together and listen to each other's instruments. Our curriculum is adaptable for all ages and ability levels; we will work closely with your organization to determine how to make our program accessible and inspirational to the children you serve.
Taiko are Japanese drums that have been played for thousands of years in many different contexts. In the modern style of taiko that we perform, many people play together as an ensemble, weaving together the energies of individual performers. Drumming is a powerful way for people of all ages to express themselves through rhythm and experience the joy of making music as a group. We hope to inspire children across Texas to learn about themselves and their world and teach them how to play from the heart.
The One Heart Taiko Tour leaders are selected from among the most experienced members of Kaminari Taiko's Performing Troupe. Our curriculum focuses on Japanese culture, Japanese language, fundamental musical concepts, physical activity, and hands-on experience, plus how to work together and listen to each other's instruments. Our curriculum is adaptable for all ages and ability levels; we will work closely with your organization to determine how to make our program accessible and inspirational to the children you serve.
Honorary Chairman Seiichi Tanaka
The Honorary Chairman of the One Heart Taiko Tour is Taiko Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka, founder of San Francisco Taiko Dojo and a world leader in the development of taiko as an art form and a powerful means of cross-cultural communication.
After founding the first taiko school in North America in 1968, Grand Master Tanaka has worked ceaselessly to preserve, develop, and share the culture and philosophy of taiko with the world. He has taught more than 10,000 students, many of whom have gone on to form over 200 taiko groups throughout North America.
Grand Master Tanaka's work has been recognized many times, most notably in 2001, when the National Endowment for the Arts named him one of thirteen National Heritage Fellows, one of the nation's highest honors in folk and traditional arts. In 2003, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs honored Grand Master Tanaka with its prestigious Foreign Ministers Commendation in tribute to his decades of work promoting peaceable relations between Japan and the rest of the world through the spread of the Japanese art of taiko drumming.
Kaminari Taiko is honored to receive Grand Master Tanaka's support and guidance in creating and developing the One Heart Taiko Tour. We hope to continue his forty-year tradition of promoting the art of taiko drumming and educating people around the world in Japanese art and culture.
Request a Visit From the One Heart Taiko Tour
We are currently developing our tour schedule for the next several months, and we need places to go! If you would like Kaminari Taiko's One Heart Taiko Tour to visit your school, hospital, or organization, please click here to fill out our Request Form. You can also contact the tour organizers directly at oneheart@ilovetaiko.org.Support the One Heart Taiko Tour
Would you like to help Kaminari Taiko share the joy of taiko with special needs children across Texas? Email us at oneheart@ilovetaiko.org or click here for more information on how you can help.
Consul-General's Commendation
On September 18, 2009, at the Grand Taiko Concert, the Consul-General of Japan publicly recognized Kaminari Taiko's cultural outreach efforts with a Commendation.The English translation reads, "The Consul-General of Japan extends his deepest regards to Kaminari Taiko in recognition of their distinguished service in contributing to the deepening of mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and the United States of America. Tsutomu Osawa, Consul-General of Japan at Houston"
