School of TAIKO/Japan Creative Arts

Mission

The School of TAIKO / Japan Creative Arts seeks to encourage connecting the community and developing healthy life with providing artistic, cultural, educational and entertainment lifelong learning experiences with bilingual high quality program of beauty and uniqueness of Taiko Drumming & Japanese Culture.

Description

Since 2009, The School of TAIKO / Japan Creative Arts (SOT/JCA) provide performing arts program which centered by Japanese Taiko Drumming performances, weekly classes and educational programs which led by Japanese professional Taiko Drummer who has over 35 years experiences mainly for PNW.

Currently, we still have been heavily damaged by the effects of COVID-19.  Now we need to support from you more than ever, for continuing our programs in greater Seattle area and for our next challenge: Build the practice place up for sharing our soulful sounds more wider community and connecting other kinds of arts as long term project.

Co-Founder Ringtaro Tateishi is former member of the "ONDEKOZA" - world renowned Taiko troupe and performed daily at Walt Disney World / Epcot, Florida for 7 years.  Co-Founder Asako Tateishi also performed at EPCOT together. Moreover she coordinates the Taiko drumming programs as most effective way in the event program with her rare experiences as motorcycle play - by -play announcer at Suzuka Circuit and Event coordinator.

< Weekly Taiko Classes >

There are approximately 300 students from ages 4 to 80s involved in SOT classes, after-school programs, workshops, and summer camps each year.  Students also have a chance to join in community performances, become Taiko instructors, and even be selected to perform with our main professional group "CHIKIRI"

Upcoming Taiko Classes

< Taiko Performances >

Our Taiko performances reach an audience of more than 100,000 people a year thanks to exciting concerts given at Celebrate Asia in Benaroya Hall, in half time shows at Climate Pledge Arena, Lumen Field, Seattle Convention Canter and more various occasions/places. 

Book Taiko Performances

< Educational Programs >

School Assemblies, After School Programs and Kids Summer Camps are our main programs as educational activities.  
Also, we provide unique School workshops and Artist in Residences.

Kids Taiko Summer Camp

< World Taiko Festival & Cool Beats Japan >

One of the highlights of our activities is the annual "Bellevue World TAIKO Festival," which began in 2014.
The festival is held for making new connection for local artists with well-known performance groups from Japan and out side of state of Washington and to make big impact for the audiences with touching the real high quality Japanese performing arts. The festival programs are formed by concerts and workshops. Both programs were very popular, concerts were sold out and workshops were filled up by whom coming from not only Seattle area but also out side of state/country.

Recognition

We are very grateful for our supporters and sponsors who help us to realize our programs, showcase our performances and host the Bellevue World Taiko Festival.　We are generously supported by individual / companies donors and receives funding from the Arts Commission of the City of Bellevue, City of Seattle, 4 Culture, Arts WA, Art Works and the National Endowment for the Arts.  Also we have supported by the Consul General of Japan in Seattle as endorsement for the festivals.

Also, our leading group "CHIKIRI" is selected as Touring Arts Roster of 4 Culture. 

Touring Arts Roster