Taiko Taikai 2023 - 1st Place Performance

**Liked this performance? Get your tickets for the 2024 Taiko Taikai livestream or in-person at Los Angeles Little Tokyo's Terasaki Budokan on May 18th! Tickets: taikotaikai.com/ We hope to see you there and thank you for all your support! SUBSCRIBE for more performances like this and to stay tuned for this year's Taikai! **Please consider donating to support the taiko community + help make this event possible here: form.jotform.com/233194883678978 A huge thank you to TaikoVentures, who is generously aiding us with crowdfunding logistics!

I was a junior in college when a Taiko troop came to the college to perform. The Dean of students started by saying "Please silence your cell phones during the performance" to which the troop leader replied "Don't worry about silencing your cell phones, you won't hear them anyway." The sound that permeates from those drums can be felt throughout the body.

I wonder how someone reaches a point in their life where they say "That's it, I'm going to play those really big drums at a professional level"

Great work. You can tell she's trained hard by her musculature. It takes not only arm and shoulder strength to carry thus out, but a lot of leg and core strength and endurance as well!

Holy shiz that was epic. The strength and endurance needed here is amazing. Mastery comes in many forms.

Now I get what my upstairs neighbour is training for at 4 am... He clearly wants to become as proficient as her playing that giant drum.

I always loved the rhythm of the shoulder rotations of this for of drumming. It is hypnotic

This looks like the type of drumming an Earthbender would do :o

I know nothing about this art, skill, music, performance; but dang that was brilliant.

As much dance as drumming. Amazing athleticism and musicianship.

Crikey, my arms are hurting just watching this! How very talented 👏

Reminded me of a time when 2 Draught Horses (Clydesdale) came up a small hill, in a 10 acre paddock, and charged us, at full gallop. Their hooves pounding on the dry soil. Vibrating not only the land, but the very air, as they closed the distance.

My one public performance on taiko was at...a biker wedding. Special request. I held the beat on one side while a professional drummer did variations on the other. It went well, but I was scared to death I'd screw up.

I was lucky enough to attend Taiko Taikai live last year, it was amazing. All the performers were amazing, Sarah was phenomenal, and getting to watch the concert at the end of the night is a memory I will hold onto for a long time. Looking forward to Taiko Taikai 2024!!!!

While I was in the US Navy, I once had the honor of being invited to play a taiko at the Nebuta Matsuri (festival) in Northern Honshu. As a musician, I simply copied the same rhythm I heard locals playing, trying to come as close as I could to the same technique. The people were very pleased, while I got death stares from my envious "fellow" GIs. Most of them didn't even try to play the bamboo flutes that were being handed out. I'll remember that melody till the day I die. Folks were so pleased with what I did, someone gave me a happi coat, which I wore for many years.

That is one powerful woman playing the giant Tiako drums.

I envisioned a clash between two fighters listening to this amazing performance - from the initial face-off to the physical confrontation/battle and in the end one of them delivering the final blow. Outstanding performance!

Can you call these still "ghost notes" when you are thrashing them with so much power? Great performance!

never thought i would be so mesmerized by someone hiting a realy big drum with so much passion

My two most amazing memories I brought back from my years stationed in Japan were taiko and sumo. Totally amazing traditional art forms.