29/09/2026
He has taken the stage across Australia and abroad, including New Zealand, India, the Netherlands, Austria, Singapore, and Spain, and now, we are so excited to welcome guest artist Ryuji Hamada to Cairns to take part in the Drum Infinity Mugendai 10th anniversary concert. Ryuji is a member of Sydney’s Taikoz – Australia’s only professional taiko ensemble — where he tours nationally and internationally as a taiko soloist, shinobue (Japanese bamboo flute) player and dancer. Recent highlight projects include Taikoz Meets Shogo Yoshii, Natural Forces and Chi Udaka, which was recently presented at the Sydney Opera House for its 50th Anniversary Celebrations and in Singapore’s Esplanade Theatre. He also served as musical director for Taikoz’s Water Mirror, a contemporary dance collaboration that toured domestically this past June. When not taking the stage, Ryuji is passionate about passing his skills onto the next generation, having spent several years instructing the “Tataku” youth class at the Australian Taiko Academy, and provided long-term taiko instruction for Moorambilla Voices. Ryuji is now preparing to share his tips with the wider Cairns community at Drum Infinity Mugendai’s Let’s Try Taiko public workshop on 1 November.
Fun fact: Having been appointed a full member of Taikoz in 2016, he also happens to be celebrating his 10th anniversary as a professional performer in Australia!
