Rhythmic Relations 2026!

Hi all!  We have a few exciting announcements about Rhythmic Relations 2026. First of all, I am excited to debut a new song featuring Courtney’s vocal talents, which also features marimba, bass, and shinobue (bamboo flute).  In addition, Blaine O’Brien is debuting his dynamic new song “Which Is It?” showcasing infectious grooves and intricate rhythms. 
We’ll also be bringing back some TAIKOPROJECT favorites such as Expanding and Many Sides.  I am particularly excited to share with you our continued evolution as performers and musicians.  We’ve created a great bond and it shows through our artistry.

We are also featuring Bombu Taiko, our adult community group, and Kitsune Taiko, our youth ensemble.  They will each be debuting a new song and performing some old favorites.  When they join TAIKOPROJECT on stage for our opening and closing songs, we will have 41 performers on the stage for a spectacularly full taiko sound!

There is less than two months to go to the show on Saturday, June 20 at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica. Get your tickets today and see you this Summer!

Sincerely,

Masato “Maz” Baba
Artistic Director, TAIKOPROJECT

On April 4, we returned from our Spring 2026 tour, which started on February 23. We performed and taught workshops in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New York. Thank you to all the theater and performing arts center directors and staff members who brought us out to their communities and allowed us the opportunity to share our music and art form! Additional thanks to the taiko groups we did workshops with on tour (Kyo Daiko, Pittsburgh Taiko, Kazenodaichi Taiko) and to Fort Wayne Taiko for hosting an awesome potluck reception for us!

BaseBeat 2026 Campaign Underway!

We are two-thirds to our 2026 fundraising goal of $50,000 to support Rhythmic Relations 2026! Thank you so much to the donors who have supported us this year and if you haven’t yet had a chance to make a tax-deductible gift, there’s still time. BaseBeat donors get the best seats in the house, special gifts, and our sincere gratitude!

This year marks our 20th annual home concert—our first one was way back in 2006 at the John Anson Ford Theatre. Help us continue our annual tradition of sharing taiko with the Southern California community!

We are excited to hold our second Youth Taiko Summer Camp this July 20-24! This year, we will be bringing back camper favorites like taiko games, obon dances, bachi-making & origami, along with an array of taiko styles and songs! We will offer a beginning track (ages 7-12) for new taiko players, and an intermediate track (ages 9-14) for more experienced taiko students. Additionally, we are providing campers with a wonderful opportunity to perform at Higashi Hongwanji's annual Obon Festival the weekend following camp. Sign up here to join us for a fun week of taiko! 

DATE/TIME: Monday, July 20 - Friday, July 24, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

LOCATION: Centenary United Methodist Church

300 S. Central Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90013

TUITION: $325 (Early Bird Tuition by May 15, 2026)

$350 (Regular Tuition)

After Rhythmic Relations 2026, we will be touring extensively over the next year! On July 28, you can catch us at the Redlands Bowl (Redlands, CA). In October, we’ll be touring through Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming. In January 2027, we’ll be embarking on an exciting international tour. And from February - April 2027, we will be touring through California, Arizona, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, and Virginia! All tour dates and venues will be announced this Summer.

TAIKOPROJECT Academy Classes

The TAIKOPROJECT Academy just wrapped up another successful and fun winter session with groups continuing to grow while expanding their song repertoire and tightening their fundamentals.   The session concluded with an awesome performance at the Monterey Park Cherry Blossom Festival at Barnes Park.   

In this case, the drumming didn’t bring the rain (thankfully), as we experienced a beautiful day as each class shared all the hard work they have been putting in.  Support was strong with our Beginning 1 classes in the audience, and a real sense of teamwork and camaraderie was felt throughout the park.   With our family and friends present to cheer us on, each group gathered on the sidelines, supporting the performing group as each song was played.   

We’ve just started a new 12-week session which will culminate in our annual Higashi Obon performance, featuring all groups, so get excited!   Also, we're happy to announce the opening of a new Beginning class, starting Tuesdays from 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm!  The class will run from May 5 through July 21 and is perfect for anyone new to taiko, seeking to learn fundamentals within a supportive and energetic environment. 

If you or someone you know has been thinking about trying taiko, this is a great opportunity to jump in!   For more information or to register and join our TAIKOPROJECT Academy family please send an email to Courtney at tpacademy.courtney@gmail.com.  

TAIKOPROJECT programs are made possible by

The Perenchio Foundation
Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture
City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs
Sansei Legacy of Southern California
TaikoVentures
and our amazing BaseBeat Donors