Northeast State’s International Education Project welcomes the Taikoza Japanese Drumming ensemble with the ancestral taiko drums of Taikoza.
Taikoza performs on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the Auditorium (A202) of the Student Services Building on the college’s Blountville campus next to Tri-Cities Airport. The shows are free and open to the public.
Taikoza is a Japanese Taiko drum percussion group that uses the powerful rhythms of the Taiko drums to create an electrifying energy for audiences. The taiko is a large, barrel-like drum that can fill the air with the sounds of rolling thunder. Drawing from Japan’s rich tradition of music and performance, Taikoza has created a new sound using a variety of traditional instruments.
In addition to drums of assorted sizes, Taikoza incorporates the shakuhachi and the fue (both bamboo flutes). Taikoza is renowned for its dynamic performances featuring thunderous taiko drums, bamboo flutes, and traditional Japanese instruments. With roots in centuries-old Japanese festival drumming, the group’s shows are a vibrant celebration of rhythm, spirit, and tradition. Audiences can expect a concert filled with powerful beats, graceful movements, and immersive storytelling.
Audiences experience a different culture and get a better understanding of Japanese culture in a fun and entertaining way. Taikoza has performed in Europe and Asia and extensively toured North America. The Taikoza group also recorded musical selections for the Wii games Red Steel 1 and Red Steel 2.
Members of Taikoza have performed in some of the most prestigious halls, such as Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Suntory Hall, Osaka Festival Hall, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, and Hammerstein Ballroom.
For more information, contact internationaled@northeaststate.edu.