All the performers are active volunteer members, taking on various roles to keep this group functioning. In addition to performing, all of these talented multi-taskers do a number of behind the scenes work ranging from teaching, composing, promotions, administration, fundraising, booking, performance production and more. What motivates them? Their affinity of love and passion for Taiko!
Akiko, a second generation Japanese Canadian (Nissei), was born in Toronto and grew up in Brampton. All her exposure to Japanese music & culture was through her mother who loved singing old traditional Japanese songs while doing housework. When Akiko moved to Toronto for university she began to realize the abundance of different cultures, which prompted her to look into her own heritage. She started off with training in various martial arts and befriending many working holiday visitors from Japan. In Taiko she discovered a perfect blend of martial arts, Japanese heritage and music, and began to take Taiko lessons from Yakudo in the summer of ’95. In 1996 she joined the performing group as an apprentice and after many years as a performer, she was honoured to become the Director in 2004. Now as a mother herself, she has made a resolution to pass down the Japanese culture and history to her son, through Taiko. In addition to being Yakudo’s Director, she enjoys teaching the Kodaiko class and is actively involved in preparing and presenting Taiko workshops and presentations.
Raised in Scarborough, Sam was exposed to a myriad of different cultures, customs and music. A search into his own culture sparked a passion for Japanese martial arts and customs. The discovery of Taiko in 1991 was a revelation for Sam; Taiko embodied all of the things he sought. Lessons were followed by admission into Toronto Suwa Daiko which not long after became Yakudo, Traditional Japanese Drummers. Over a decade later, Sam will admit that the art of taiko is one that is not easily mastered and is indeed, one that requires constant refinement and perseverance. Sam currently serves as Chairman on the Board of Directors and is an advisor on Taiko maintenance and repairs, ensuring Yakudo’s taiko are in tip top shape.
In search for a new experience, Amanda moved to Japan after graduating university. She first discovered Taiko at a Kodo concert at Uchiko-za, a small traditional wooden theatre. As Kodo performed, she could feel the vibrations within herself, and instantly developed a fascination for this art, which she found powerful yet so graceful and soothing. After returning to Canada, she wanted to stay connected to the Japanese culture, and what better way but to pick up Taiko! After participating in workshops and lessons with Yakudo, she eventually auditioned to become an apprentice. She has been an apprentice with Yakudo since the spring of 2009.
Andrew was born and raised in Toronto. His passion for Taiko is deeply rooted in his musical background that he developed throughout his elementary and high school years at St. Michael’s Choir School. During that time, Andrew also learned and practiced martial arts with Sammy Cheng’s Lion Dance studio where he learned a combination of martial arts techniques, lion dancing and traditional Chinese drumming. After taking classes with Yakudo, Andrew immediately auditioned to become an apprentice and is working his way towards being a full member. His goal is to continue to share the spirit and power of Taiko through performances and youth outreach with the hopes that this amazing musical art continues its legacy in Canada and beyond.
Connor is a native of Pickering Ontario and has been learning Taiko with Yakudo for 3 years! Apart from Taiko, Connor is an avid dirt biker and drummer!
Carrie’s first encounter with Taiko was at a Kodo concert. Inspired by their energy and the physical challenge, she decided to look for a local Taiko group and found Yakudo. Within nine months of lessons she was hooked. Their unique style of taiko, full of energy and spirit, moved her to audition to become an apprentice. She was accepted as the newest member of Yakudo in April of 2010 after a year of apprenticeship with her inspiring and supportive mentor, Elsie Vane. Carrie is now a happy and proud member of the Yakudo family.
Dillan was born in Fukuoka, Japan and moved to Toronto at the age of two. As a child, Dillan watched Yakudo perform and eventually started taking Taiko classes at the age of six. At eleven, he temporarily stopped Taiko lessons only to return to it four years. As music is one of his passions, he also studies violin at the Etobicoke School of the Arts and has been taking piano lessons for ten years. Dillan is now working hard as an apprentice with Yakudo in hopes that he will eventually become as good as his amazing mentors.
Dylan is a fourth generation Japanese Canadian (Yonsei) born in Japan while his parents were there teaching English. Because Dylan’s grandfather is a member of the Lemon Creek Harmonica Band, (a band originally formed in the B.C. internment camps during World War II), he has grown up listening to traditional Japanese music and going to the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. This, along with his childhood love of Pokemon and other Japanese anime, sparked an interest in his Japanese heritage. After taking a taiko workshop at the age of 10, he decided to continue with the classes and became an apprentice a couple years later. In addition to taiko, Dylan is very involved in baseball, and played AAA Minor Midget this past year. Being a pitcher, he finds taiko and baseball complement each other because they both require discipline and concentration.
Justin first saw Yakudo perform at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre when he was just 2 years old. His first response at the sight of the big O-Daiko was “Wow, big drum!” He’s been a fan ever since and in 2009 at the age of 10, he started learning to play taiko himself.
Jo-Ann’s first experience with taiko was watching Arashi Daiko in Montreal at Japanese community festivals. She started taking taiko classes in Montreal and then discovered Yakudo after moving to Toronto. She has been an apprentice with Yakudo since early 2009. When not playing taiko, Jo-Ann enjoys spending her time with her family, who are very supportive of her taiko playing.
Kristie was always fascinated with martial arts and particularly Japanese culture. She started taking lessons on and off with Yakudo from 1997 to 2002 and was always a fan. In 2002 she began to take Taiko more seriously and worked towards Yakudo’s apprentice program which she successfully completed and became a full member in 2006. Her bubbly personality and unquestionable dedication have been a great addition to Yakudo.
