School of TAIKO/Japan Creative Arts

We need your help for our 15th Anniversary Project!!

Thanks to everyone's strong support, we are celebrating our 15th anniversary this fall since the establishment of "The School of TAIKO" in Seattle in October 2009.  

Project 1: Realize 100 Taiko Drummer's performance!
We made performance with 75 performers at Seattle Cherry Blossom Festival this year.  Since we have 140 active students who have learn Taiko Drumming with us as the weekly lesson, we would like to make "100 Taiko Drummers Performance" as one of 15th anniversary celebration with community!

For this project, we need more "Taiko Drums" with us.  We are planning to buy Taiko Drums from Japan in 2024 & 2025.

Project 2: Expanding the area to south Seattle - Tacoma/Auburn/Federal Way/Maple Valley area

As you know, the Seattle area's residential population is rapidly expanding from north to south. As a result, we have been receiving a large number of inquiries about classes and requests for performances and school performances, especially from people living south of Seattle.

In light of this situation, we have opened a new base in Auburn.　We believe that by establishing this new base, we will be able to provide more community members with new challenges and lifelong enjoyment through Japanese culture.

Please help us make these challenges success!

What is the Mission of "Japan Creative Arts/The School of TAIKO"?

Japan Creative Arts / The School of TAIKO 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.

What is "The School of TAIKO" ?

This is founded by two Japanese immigrants and is run as woman own organization.  Since 2009, The School of TAIKO by Japan Creative Arts 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 and Cascades area.

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. Furthermore, she utilizes her rare experience as a motorcycle announcer at some of the world's leading racetracks, such as the Suzuka Circuit and Twin Ring Motegi, as well as her activities as an event MC/coordinator, she supports to create the most effective Taiko drumming appearance for the events. 

Here is the information of The School of TAIKO by Japan Creative Arts providing!

< Weekly Taiko Classes >

There are approximately 300 students from ages 5 to 80s involved in School of TAIKO 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 150,000 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 Center and more various occasions/places. 

Book Taiko Performances

< Educational Programs >

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

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 activities.　We are generously supported by individual / companies donors and receives funding from the Arts Commission of the 4 Culture, City of Seattle, City of Bellevue, 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 World TAIKO festivals.

Also, our leading group "CHIKIRI" is selected as Touring Arts Roster of 4 Culture.  If you would like to have our performance for your event, we recommend to contact them for support the artist cost.

Touring Arts Roster