For those of you interested in taiko, TAIKOPROJECT is having a benefit concert in Los Angeles, California.
See below for more info. Tix info at: http://www.taikoproject.com/IKUZO.pdf
OR contact May Yee at (626)288-7498 or mwyee33@aol.com
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The TAIKOPROJECT presents
IKUZO!
A Benefit Concert to Send the TAIKOPROJECT to Japan
Saturday, October 8, 2005, 8 pm
Senshin Buddhist Temple

“TAIKOPROJECT—not your mama’s taiko, but it may be
your hip, younger cousin’s”
LA WEEKLY

Los Angeles, CA - The TAIKOPROJECT presents the
“IKUZO: A Benefit Concert to Send TAIKOPROJECT to
Japan.” on Saturday, October 8 at 8 pm. The concert
takes place at the Senshin Buddhist Temple, located at
1341 W. 37th St. in Los Angeles, California. Ticket
packages begin at $25. To purchase tickets or to make
a donation, call (626)288-7498. Convenient parking is
located in the adjacent parking lot.

In August, 2005, the TAIKOPROJECT was selected as one
of 12 finalists out of over 60 applicants to
participate in the 5th Annual Tokyo International
Taiko Contest, the largest and most prestigious taiko
competition in the world. In addition, the
TAIKOPROJECT has the distinction of being the first
American taiko group to participate in the contest,
making this year’s contest especially historical.

The 5th Annual Tokyo International Taiko Contest takes
place on October 15 - 16, 2005, at the Olympic Youth
Center in the Shibuya District of Tokyo, Japan. The
TAIKOPROJECT cast departs a few days earlier to
prepare for their performance, rehearsing at taiko
studios throughout Tokyo, while connecting with local
taiko groups and visiting various taiko leaders in
Japan. Their performance takes place on October 16,
following the “Youth Group” category performances and
the “O-daiko” solo category performances. They are in
the “Adult Performing Group” category. For the “Adult
Performing Group” category, participating groups play
a compulsory song, “Beat/Essence II,” by acclaimed
composer Maki Ishii (composer of Kodo’s classic
“Monochrome”), as well as an original song. The
TAIKOPROJECT has chosen to play “Omiyage,” with an
“Expanding” intro.

With the hopes of representing American taiko at this
prestigious gathering, but faced with the task of
self-producing the trip, the TAIKOPROJECT performs in
this special one-night-only benefit concert to fund
their first-ever tour to Japan. This marks the first
time American taiko will be shared with the Japanese
taiko community at this gathering. American taiko
groups rarely have opportunities to perform in Japan,
so the TAIKOPROJECT members are adding extra
rehearsals to be fully prepared for the contest.

Join us for an evening of TAIKOPROJECT favorites and
the debut of “Beat/Essence II.” The 30-minute
performance will be followed by a post-show reception
with the artists. Our goal is to raise $10,000 to
cover the expenses of traveling to Japan to
participate in the contest.