Odaiko Sonora

05/25/2026

Registration for TaikoLoco 2026 is open! Stretch your skills with focused multi-drum set and shime work, then experience the powerful All Souls Procession, one of the largest community ceremonies in the US. Sign up today at: https://forms.gle/R8cSHMFz1QC683XW9

05/21/2026

Reasons to cancel taiko practice are few. This is one: celebrating Linnae's graduation from Rincon High!

Graduating 4th in her class and in all ways an amazing human being, Linnae has played taiko with us for almost a decade. Watching her grow into the extraordinary young adult she is has been a joy and inspiration.

Jimi was there also but he's a minor so we magic-erased him from the 2nd image :-/

05/18/2026

Here's a working draft of what you can expect from TaikoLoco before registration opens on 5/25 — just over a week away! Build your skills under Tiffany Tamaribuchi and Sascha Molina's expert instruction, then cap your experience with participation in the All Souls Procession. Sign up for for early access to registration here: https://forms.gle/czFS95uo8GmEARRY8

PC: Dean Kelly

05/10/2026

We are thrilled to announce Tiffany Tamaribuchi, founder of Sacramento Taiko Dan and JODAIKO and Artistic Director of Portland Taiko, and Sascha Molina, Artistic Director of Sacramento Taiko Dan, as our inaugural TaikoLoco instructors for 2026. Want a deep dive into playing shime and multi-drum sets? Then get ready — registration opens May 25th! For early access, sign up here: https://forms.gle/czFS95uo8GmEARRY8

PC: Susan Tiss, Art State Arizona, Lieven Leroy

05/06/2026

We're back at Whiskey Del Bac tomorrow 6-8PM for another taiko takeover! All ages welcome. Get your tickets here: https://whiskeydelbac.com/event/05-07-26-tucson-taiko-takeover/ PC: James Tokishi

05/03/2026

Mark your calendars for TaikoLoco!* A new taiko intensive November 5-9, 2026 in Tucson, AZ. Improve technique, increase confidence, and deepen your sense of tradition in this intensive, which culminates with your participation in the All Souls Procession, one of the largest community ceremonies in the US. Details coming soon — watch this space, or click https://forms.gle/czFS95uo8GmEARRY8 to be the first to know when registration opens!

*thanks to Tiffany Tamaribuchi for the inspiration!

PC: Kathleen Dreier, Dean Kelly

03/24/2026

If you want more dance and taiko after the Tucson Japanese Festival (and who could blame you), we're excited to invite you to Rhythm Industry Performance Factory THIS Wednesday, 3/25, to see Arugakki in concert with their Tricky Left Tour 2026!

Over three years in the making, "Tricky Left" is a dynamic and emotional powerhouse of original music and choreography, featuring taiko (Japanese drums), percussion, synthesizers, and home-made instruments enmeshed with movement.

Formed in 2020 by life-long dancer, Minh Nguyen, and internationally-recognized taiko artist, Kristofer Bergstrom, Arugakki debuted with its critically-acclaimed theater production, "Harbor" (https://k--b.org/performances/harbor-premier) and has gone on to become one of the taiko world's most exciting ensembles. A preview of "Tricky Left" presented at the 2025 North American Taiko Conference was acclaimed as one of the most original and emotional taiko performances of the last decade.

Show time 6:30-7:30 PM; doors open at 6. FREE (donations accepted at the end of the show)

03/15/2026

If you're not yet looking forward to the Tucson Japanese Festival hosted by the Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition next weekend, here's a list of reasons why you should be....Including two dear friends visiting from Japan and Hawaii who will be taking the stage to share their own festival traditions!

03/12/2026

Odaiko Sonora Enews: Friends Near and Far -

One thing we love is when friends come to visit. This spring we have several who will share our space and stage, and we invite you to join the party!

01/01/2026

Odaiko Sonora Enews: The More Things Change -

Happy New Year, dear friends! We hope that your 2025 ended gracefully and your 2026 has started on a good note. OS had a busy fall with lots of “firsts”—the first North American Taiko Conference held here in Arizona and the purchase of our first jibyoshi daiko (at left, with a very happy Artis...