Big Island of Hawai'i, East Side At Aunt Sally Kaleohano's Lū'au Hale Swingposium Hawai'i Tour Featuring San Jose Taiko February 18, 2026 at 6pm Swingposium, interesting. Without looking it up on Google, I accepted my high school classmate's invitation to join her and purchased my ticket online. We used to be in the drumline together. An outing to enjoy taiko drumming, how appropriate. My expectations were limited not knowing what a Swingposium was and how taiko drumming would fit in. I arrived excited with anticipation as a line already formed 50 minutes prior to showtime. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Curiosity took a hold of me as I quickly scoped-out the locale. Limited seating, standing room with quite a heavy crowd, and performance material on ground level. An unconventional set-up I thought. An introduction was given followed by a short interview with a San Jose performer. Her family member was a part of the non-fictional story that was about to unfold. Interesting. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Why wasn't a theater or auditorium with a stage selected, I wondered. Knowing other locations in-town could've provided more seats for attendees. Then it was explained by one of the cast members. Aunt Sally Kaleohano's Lū'au Hale in East Hawai'i, a venue known to me as Seven Seas Luau House while growing up. Throughout my life, a place where I've attended family gatherings and celebrations, events and fundraisers. A multi-purpose hall managed by the County of Hawai'i, next to the home of the Merrie Monarch Festival. The chosen venue for this Swingposium Hawai'i Tour stop on the Big Island. An intimate setting, adding to the mood while a story is shared. To make one feel like in a bunker. Chosen for an interactive performance delivery with audience participation. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The production, just brilliant. Creatively done, well executed. My expectations were blown away by how well the collaboration worked between the non-fictious storyline, a live swing band from East Hawai'i and taiko drums + actors from San Jose. I sat in my seat, then walked towards the Big Island Swing Band to enjoy the live music. I danced, listened, and watched. From my chair with my classmate at times, while other moments were up-close and personal next to the actors. The troupe encouraged the audience to come up, to sit down on the floor so I did. Then the taiko drumming began. I could feel the beat, I could sense their energy. It was exhilarating. A smile widened as I witnessed the community bonding through music and a convincing storyline. Moments throughout the night were timed beautifully by those who wrote it. Everyone, young and old, enjoyed the immersive musical experience and lively atmosphere. Just outstanding. I didn't want it to end, I believe others didn't either. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Days after, I saw the owner of one of the title sponsors out in public. I thanked him as he openly shared with me his reasons for sponsoring the production. Captivating. To all the sponsors and volunteers, thanks for making this tour stop possible on the Big Island of Hawai'i. To the performers and production crew for bringing an astounding evening to life. For your time and commitment, your presence and talent. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Is there a future performance in your area? If so, this is one I would highly recommend. You'll feel the connection, not only from the performers and music combined, but also by the carefully chosen venue within your local community. Like it was for me. This is Swingposium, featuring San Jose Taiko. read more

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Drumming! Dancing! Singing! I love it! I love it! I love it! Since I live by Japantown, I've been fortunate to see San Jose Taiko perform many times. It's fun and lively! The beat of the drum is so powerful I can hear my heart vibrate, and it makes me want to bop my head to the rhythm. Since I'm one of the Assembly Organizers (or Coordinators or whatever the heck we're called) for our school, I booked them last year and this year. Their website is user friendly and it was so easy to set up the assemblies with Yurika. Teachers and students were captivated by the performance. It was really cool that they showed kids how to use the drums, and had a few student volunteers to try them. I was fascinated by the history and philosophy that they talked about in the assembly. I read the lengthy version before, but having them explain it to young kids were impressive. I received rave reviews from my peers, and the students too! Woo hoo! Thank you for a wonderful performance SJ Taiko! And Thank you,Yurika! I'm sorry I haven't responded to your last email but I really appreciate all your help!!! read more

San Jose Taiko - School Assembly! Teachers & kids loved it! - Performing Arts Near Me - San Jose, California

I have been a fan of San Jose Taiko since the '70s, around the time when PJ and Roy Hirabayashi were performers. I recently made my first purchase from their online store and was extremely disappointed. I ordered a 45th Anniversary t-shirt. The shirt I received looks like a damaged piece of worn fabric. In their defense, SJT does put the word "distressed" in the shirt description; however, they use a photo that does NOT show any distress and do not indicate that the shirt you will receive will not resemble that photo. Although they do not accept returns, they did offer me a refund as long as I mail back the shirt. I am 68 years old and waiting in line at the Post Office in this current health climate is not an option for me. read more

San Jose Taiko - Website photo - Performing Arts Near Me - San Jose, California

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San Jose Taiko is an amazing team of talented people of different Asian ethnicities playing Japanese drums with an astounding rhythm and performance. San Jose Taiko has won numerous of awards and has performed all over the world. My husband and I happen to be lucky to partake in their recent performance at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center at Cal State Long Beach's campus on January 30th. The show was Ji: A Common Pulse with San Jose Taiko x Bangerz (Japanese drums concert mixed with hip hop music, spun by the talented Bangerz DJ group). The show was both audio and visual appealing. The San Jose Taiko danced across the stage as they artfully banged on their instruments, along with the accompaniment of hip hop music. Two different types of music that you wouldn't traditionally put together. The beat that was going for each set made me tap my feet on the floor and move my head to the rhythm. If you ever get a chance to see this incredibly talented group perform, you should buy your tickets early. You won't be disappointed because the music is family friendly appropriate for all ages and should appeal to everyone. read more

San Jose Taiko - San Jose Taiko performed at The Carpenter Performing Arts Center on California State University, Long Beach campus with the DJ Bangerz group - Performing Arts Near Me - San Jose, California

I've been itching to try out some taiko classes either in Northern or Southern California and I'm very pleased to say I was able to have my first taiko experience with San Jose Taiko over my summer break. Their site is up to date and professional compared to other taiko groups. They made it easy for me to sign up with their program. They offer an array of programs for people interested in taiko, including youth programs, one day workshops, and recreational classes. If you're hardcore about it, you can even audition to become part of their performing group! I did their one day public workshop and had an absolute blast! Adam and Allison lead the workshop. In 3 hours, they give you a bit of history of taiko, their group, and provide demonstrations of different instruments they use. It's interesting how they incorporate other culture's instruments into their performances, which sets them apart from many other taiko groups. The fun part comes when you actually get to play on the drums and by the end of the workshop, you'll be playing a song with your whole group. It was an amazing experience and I felt like I learned a lot in those 3 hours, which passed by all too quickly. Taiko is really performed with the whole body, not just your arms, so your whole body will most likely feel sore after the workshop, but it is oh so worth it. Fun times! If I was still in San Jose, I'd sign up for the recreational classes in a heartbeat, but sadly I will have to wait until the day comes when I move back up to the Bay. I left my heart.....................with San Jose Taiko. read more

I saw them at the Sj Obon yesterday.. which was one of the first places they performed 34 years ago.. For some of their newer beats they're mixing in some Latin touches.. and to punctuate their drumming are employing clavels .. and .. a COWBELL!! Yay! I like it.. They also have this playful drumline routine where they uhm.. I guess you might say.. sequentially chain bump each other off of one drum and onto the next ... obviously having fun and connecting with the crowd.. I like it!!! read more

I'm doing a bunch of San Jose Japantown reviews, all of which are overdone and hopefully well received. The new buildings coming into Japantown are supposed to house SJ Taiko. Part of the reason I'm writing this is that SJ Taiko is so great, part is to bring attention to the need that the new buildings come in and fit into the Japantown look and feel. And that SJ Taiko gets the space that they're supposed to. They need to be back in Japantown. I can't count how many times I've heard SJ Taiko, I've heard a few other groups... and the Taiko in the US are all a bit unique and different than in Japan. But I like our home grown variety... whether outside, inside or on TV. But you really owe it to yourself to see, hear and feel their passion, energy, discipline and joy! If your company wants to see if they can perform, that would be "priceless!" read more

You know that thunderous drum music you hear at Japanese festivals, or in movie soundtracks? That's taiko, a genre of music based primarily on percussion originally used to coordinate troop movements in medieval Japan. This is the clubhouse for the San Jose Taiko group. Their nearest rivals are the San Francisco Taiko, but I prefer the performances of the San Jose company. You may notice at their performances their high degree of diversity- there are a bunch of non-Japanese people in San Jose Taiko. SJ Taiko is always recruiting... they have a pretty intense "apprentice" program as well as a bunch of classes. read more

OK - I knew the Taiko Technology would not be good - some intuition on my part. First couple pieces were OK with projections of music abstractly on a screen behind. Then came like weird modern "interpretations" of earthquakes - all but 2 people from our row left the theater at least by the second piece of the second half. Too much "I" and getting into the head and not coming from the heart. What I like about Taiko is that I can feel it in my bones and it sings to me for a few hours after so to speak. This was the directors and actors getting up and saying "I CREATED This" which should be a 1/2 hour talk after the show instead of interrupting the flow and feel of the music. It was like putting too much spice in the pot - the dish loses its taste or worse. There were also plugs for 3 companies: Kin..., anti-Cl......., and at least a neruo-sensing headgear... - were these sponsored adverts for start-ups or??? They need to come clean if it was... I tell ya spending $40 for that was not worth it. The theater (at National Hispanic U?) did not have good acoustics. We sat behind a short wall and had barely any room to cross our legs or let people in and out. Yuck. Maybe that deserves a 1 star overall. I am willing to try it again but my DH said he was Taiko'd out. I certainly will not be going if they are doing expensive documentaries with sponsored (?) advertisement and anti-euphonic music. read more

This is one of the best Taiko groups in the area. I joined the group when I was in the 3rd grade and kept playing till my senior year in high school. Since then I've gone to play with other groups around my area and none of them could really compare to how SJ Taiko ran their operation. Roy, PJ and the rest of the older group was great to work with and also performing with the Jr. Taiko group. I'd have to say that playing Taiko with these guys gave me some good memories to look back on now that I'm older. read more

I saw this taiko crew perform in Nashville and totally enjoyed every minute of it. It was a great event for people of all ages. They were very informative, and explained the history of the music, and the instruments they were playing. Afterwards they hung around to talk, take pictures, etc, and even let people try taiko for themselves. read more

I'm not an expert on Taiko but it was enjoyable listening, they sound enthusiastic, eager to have students join them and really seem to try to connect with the community that attends. read more

San Jose Taiko is the best!!! I took my whole family out to the show there in Campbell. The drums they use are amazing. The team is fun loving and passionate about their work. They get the audience involved, and you can ask the Taiko team questions by texting messages on their big screen during intermission. They answered many of the audiences questions. San Jose Taiko operates with and in total respect mode for its audience. I am fan for life, and will go to Taiko whenever they are in town doing shows. The tickets are reasonable, and my kids loved it! read more

The San Jose Taiko group hosted our corporate teambuilding event this week. I can't say enough positive things about the experience we had, and the leaders, Franco and Meg. Clearly they are both passionate and highly skilled in their art. It was fun and active- nice to get out of the office for a change. We learned a ton about the culture surrounding Taiko and about the importance of practice, communication, and supporting one another in any setting. I highly recommend this group for both entertainment and teambuilding purposes. read more

Their 40th anniversary concert was really good. The medley of works was very energetic and fun. The rap piece wasn't my favorite, but it's fun seeing different types of work. read more

I went to their introductory community class this afternoon. It was extremely well designed and taught. The instructors were terrific and we learned a lot and had a lot of fun! read more

Attended the workshop with my wife, not knowing at all what to expect. The class was excellent and a lot more fun than I had expected. Have to say, I thought the class sounded great when we did a practice. But my primary take away is that I'll really respect the amount of effort and skill that goes into one of their fabulous performances the next time I get to see them! Sign up - take a friend -- and do something different! read more