Members

 
 

Diana

Founder/Director: Diana discovered taiko in 2006 with UC Berkeley’s Raijin Taiko. After she graduated in 2007, Diana wanted to bring the amazing experience of taiko drumming to her local community, […]

Devin

Instructor: Devin is a percussionist at heart. After many years of taking western percussion, Devin started playing taiko in 2009 with UCI Jodaiko. Four years of collegiate taiko later and […]

Jimmy

Instructor: Jimmy was fascinated when he first saw a taiko performance by UCSD’s Asayake Taiko, as he was seeking a new hobby that would inspire him tremendously. Opportunity knocked on […]

Amy

Amy has been in Naruwan Taiko since 2008. She loves the ability to challenge herself musically and expressively through taiko, and also loves that the group has been a source […]

Daniel

Daniel has had a love for taiko since he was a kid. His parents would take him to taiko concerts as they would come to town. In 2014, Daniel saw […]

Ha

Ha had never seen taiko before Naruwan. Inspired by the group’s spirit, she joined in 2008 and still finds it thrilling to hit a drum today. She has learned so […]

Jen

Jen has been exposed to music and performing arts her entire life from piano, western percussion, hula, and hip hop dance. While in college, Jennifer was a part of the […]

Jenny

Jenny started playing taiko back in 2010 at UC Riverside with Senryu Taiko. Before college, she had never heard of taiko but was drawn to the loud, empowering sounds of […]

Jessica

Jessica saw taiko for the first time in high school, as a participant in a student exchange trip to Japan. But her first real exposure to the art was through […]

Joe

Joe has been with Naruwan Taiko since August of 2014. He started taking classes in the fall of 2013 after seeing Naruwan perform at the Harmony and Motion concert. Joe […]

Joseph

Joseph was first exposed to taiko with the popular arcade game franchise, Taiko no Tatsujin (“taiko master” in English). It provided fun and entertainment for him from junior high through […]

Karen

Karen joined Naruwan Taiko in 2010 and says, “My retired life has suddenly become a lot more interesting ever since.” Initially, playing taiko was out of her comfort zone. “Without […]

Kathy

Kathy has long loved rhythms, both in dance and drums. After playing an African djembe for years and dancing to Middle Eastern rhythms, she is happy to be finally getting […]

Kelly

Kelly joined Naruwan Taiko in 2008 and has been having great fun practicing and performing with the group ever since. Originally from New York, Naruwan was her first exposure to […]

Liz

Liz began her taiko journey after seeing Naruwan perform at a festival in 2015. Following that performance, she signed up for what she thought would be a one-time workshop experience […]

Lori

Lori started playing taiko in 2015 shortly after moving to San Diego. Coming from 15 years of training in the martial arts — but with no musical background or experience […]

Malina

Malina started taking taiko classes with her father back in elementary school. The two practiced and performed together with Ryusei Taiko of Pearl City, Hawaii until Malina moved to California […]

Neil

Neil first heard taiko during Welcome Week at UC Berkeley in 2009. He was amazed by the high energy and the sheer strength of the performers. Through the years, he […]

Priscilla

Fascinated with taiko when she first saw it in a summer concert at the age of 8, Priscilla dreamed of hitting the drum one day. Years later, the opportunity came […]

Rebecca

Rebecca stumbled upon Naruwan in June of 2016 when they were performing at Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. She could hardly contain her excitement and knew instantly that taiko was something […]

Ruthie

Ruthie first experienced taiko while hiking in the Havasupai Indian Reservation. Hearing drums echo through the Grand Canyon was awe-inspiring. The biggest surprise was that the drummers were Japanese. After […]

Yvonne

Yvonne began playing taiko in 2009 as a student in Naruwan Taiko’s community classes. Today, she remains grateful and honored to be a member of the Naruwan family, and loves […]

Corin

Corin started her taiko journey with Ryusei Taiko in Hawaii while she was in elementary school and played throughout high school. After moving to San Diego for grad school, Corin […]

Kristen

Kristen started playing taiko in 2011 at UCLA with the student group Yukai Daiko. She played there for just a couple years but enjoyed the close camaraderie that is inherent […]

Melanie

Melanie has always loved the powerful, moving sound of the taiko and the way it makes her feel. She wanted to learn the art for years, but was unable to […]