Portland Taiko blends the tradition of Japanese taiko drumming with a sense of Asian American identity, creativity, and empowerment. Formed in 1994 by Ann Ishimaru, Zachary Semke, and Japanese American community activists, Portland Taiko started with one homemade taiko and practice drums made from car tires. With community support, the group built and purchased new drums, presented its first full-length concert in 1997, and became a non-profit organization and toured North America in the early 2000s.
The group has headlined at arts festivals and concert halls, released three CDs, and performed at hundreds of community events and school assemblies. Portland Taiko has commissioned and collaborated with numerous artists, including Kenji Bunch, Fear No Music, Hanayui, Seiichi Tanaka, Kenny Endo, Obo Addy, and Minh Tran.
Portland Taiko performs throughout the Pacific Northwest, offers classes and workshops, and conducts team-building workshops for businesses and community groups. Portland Taiko is eager to share its artistry and educational programs throughout the greater Portland community and the country. To date, Portland Taiko has reached over 1 million audience members at over 1500 performances at theaters, schools, community events, and festivals.
In 2023, Portland Taiko welcomed world renowned taiko player, Tiffany Tamaribuchi as their Artistic Director. Tiffany helped the group celebrate their 30th anniversary season in 2024, which included a performance at Carnegie Hall with Sivagami Vanka and The Kalabharathi School of Dance, their annual family-friendly Farm Festival, and a sold-out formal concert at PSU Lincoln Performance Hall.
