Basic Information

Leadership Structure		sensei
Primary Purpose of Group		social

Background Information

Group's Mission and Motivation

Our Taiko is folk music. Main purpose is to have a fun drumming and enhances self-expression, self-esteem, and self-confidence. It is also our goal to enrich disciplines such as respect, harmony, and unity through drumming with others.

Structure and Philosophy
Describe the ensemble's organizational structure and philosophy, including leadership structure, membership policy, and instructional process.

Students - Director(teacher) relationship.
Philosohy is to learn taiko as a part of Japanese culture.
No membership policy; whoever are interested in taiko, try and learn. It is our philosophy that Taiko is for everyone, no matter how old you are.
Learn by observing and listening is a primary method.

Group History
Describe how, where, and why the ensemble was founded. What was its inspiration?

Eden Aoba Taiko was formed in 1997 to promote Japanese music art of Taiko drumming to Community members in the area under the direction of Masa. The group started with 6 people and members increased to 50 by the end of '97. Members' age ranges from 6 year-old to 70 up.

List of Founding Members

The Kawabata family and the Fukuizumi family.

List of Current Members

There are about 40 people in the classes.

Membership Composition
(i.e. ethnicity, generation, average years of experience, musical backgrounds, and motivation for playing)

Youngest is 9 yrs to 70 plus old.
Multi-generational group.
Average length member playing taiko is 5 years.
Motivation for playing is to have a fun together.

Community
Description of the group's community - regional, ethnic, social, etc.

We practice in San Lorenzo in East Bay.

Biggest Changes
Describe two of the biggest changes that have characterized the group's development since its founding

More people are interested in learning and diversified ethnic.

Performances, Recordings, Publications

Performances
List a selection of your regular performance venues (for example, Denver Sakura Matsuri, Seabrook obon, business conventions, Manzanar Pilgrimage, Maui Marathon, etc.)

Multicultural programs at various schools in near by counties.
Libraries progarams in Alameda county, Fremont, Livemore, Manteca, Tracy, Stockton.
Alameda & Oakland Buddhist church Obon.
Castro Valley Fall Festival

Instructors, Teachers & Mentors
List the instructors, teachers and mentors who have worked with the ensemble.

Instructor & Director: Masa Fukuizumi

Taiko Collaborators
List a selection of taiko players or groups that have collaborated with the ensemble.

None

Non-Taiko Collaborators
List a selection of non-taiko players or groups that have collaborated with the ensemble.

None

Audio & Video Recordings
List a selection of publicly accessible audio and/or video recordings featuring the ensemble.

None

Publications
List a selection of articles, master's theses, dissertations, or other publications written about the ensemble.

None

Musical & Performance Styles
Describe the ensemble's musical and performance styles.

Kumidaiko, Folk style

Signature Works
Please include title, composer, date of composition, special reason(s) for composition, and what the work represents to the group.

Eden Bayashi composed by Masa(1998) honoring immigrants' hardship and committment to their culture and community.

Fujin/Rajin(God of Wind & God of Thunder) by Masa in 2003, to represent two(2) different beings could co-exist or harmonaize in many ways.