2023 Taiko Taikai - Theme 'Odaiko' (5 Judges with Awards for Top 3 Finalists, 20 Participants Playing “Narukami,� Composed by Yoshikazu Fujimoto)NEW

The 2023 Taiko Taikai is a Japanese drum competition that will be held in Los Angeles, CA on May 20, 2023. The theme for this first Taiko Taikai is “ODAIKO�! The Taikai will have up to 20 participants playing “Narukami,� composed by Yoshikazu Fujimoto of Kodo, for five judges with awards given to the top three finalists. 

The competition will be followed by a taiko concert, which will include many local taiko groups, as well as the judges.

In Japanese, "ODAIKO" refers to a large drum used in traditional Japanese music. It is a two-headed drum, typically made from hollowed-out tree trunks with cowhide or deer hide stretched across both ends. The drum is played with large wooden drumsticks called "bachi" and is often featured in Japanese festivals and ceremonies.

Event Date
May 20, 2023 - Saturday

Event Time
10 am - 9 pm

Tickets Information

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About Taikai (Tournaments) 
Taikai (tournaments) are events where players come together to demonstrate their skills to experienced judges. Such taikai events in Japan are hosted for taiko, shamisen, folk singing, and many other art forms. They are amazing bonding experiences for all participants, due to the fact that participants aren’t competing against each other, but rather demonstrating their skills directly to the judges. Although the players with the most points do win in the tournament, participants should feel camaraderie because they all are there to give their best effort, and all feel that sense of nervous excitement beforehand (like any performance or demonstration). This shared experience can even lead to the formation of long term friendships! In Japan, many people of all skill levels will participate every year in order to see their friends and enjoy the shared spirit of giving their best effort.

It’s a common misunderstanding that tournament events promote an almost-hostile competitive spirit of “player-against-player�. While this might be true for certain arts/sports, it is usually not the case in the Japanese world of “Taikai� (tournaments).

The 2023 Taiko Taikai, presented by Bachido will be made up of the competition portion (taikai) during the day and entertainment (concert) at night.

The theme for this first Taiko Taikai is “ODAIKO�! The Taikai will have up to 20 participants playing “Narukami�, composed by Yoshikazu Fujimoto of Kodo, for five judges with awards given to the top three finalists.

A monetary prize, as well as a certificate will be awarded to the top 3 finalists.
1st place: $500
2nd place: $250
3rd place: $125

Competitors will be able to reserve practice time on the Taikai Odaiko at Asano Taiko U.S. in preparation for the Taikai the day before the event. Workshops will also be given afterwards for those who wish to continue learning and improving on their skills.

The evening concert will feature four acts: An odaiko jam/solo session (by the Taikai judges), a shamisen performance by Kyle Abbot and Mike Penny, a performance by a local community taiko group, and a performance by Unit One. The entire event will also be livestreamed for anyone who cannot make it in person!

Location
Terasaki Budokan, Los Angeles - Little Tokyo, 249 S. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Title
Taiko Taikai - Theme 'Odaiko' (5 Judges with Awards for Top 3 Finalists, 20 Participants Playing “Narukami,� Composed by Yoshikazu Fujimoto)