Watsonville Taiko was founded by Jim Hooker in September 1991 as a Taiko drumming community of performers and supporters.
Ikuyo Conant was appointed artistic director in 1992 and set the group's goal to strive through exploration of Taiko to develop an art that combines drumming with folklore, mythology and symbolism.
Our Mission
Watsonville Taiko creates opportunities to make meaningful connections through taiko drumming.
Our VISion
Watsonville Taiko students learn to reflect themselves through drumming. They train to cultivate positive energy and express themselves through drumming. By sharing drumming through performances and teaching, they create positive dialog among people in the community. They connect themselves and learn to connect to something bigger than themselves.
““Wrapped in the large booming voice of Taiko, I am lost to the deep soft sound that resonates from the drum. The sound of taiko gives me a sense of awe. Creating this awesome sound is very hard. It requires physical training and absolute concentration to be in right position, right form and right mind. The power of taiko synchronizes the power of life in me. When this happens, I feel alive.””
