I currently work as the Conference Manager for the Taiko Community Alliance, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that was founded to manage a growing conference that was initially held by the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC) in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.

The North American Taiko Conference was first held in 1997 and has had been significant in developing the art form and community of players in North America. It remains the largest recurrent taiko gathering on the continent.

There were an absence of in-person conferences during the pandemic, but we returned to in-person events with the North American Taiko Conference Regional in Hilo in the summer of 2023. The regional series of conferences aims to bring the experience to a wide variety of communities of taiko players and is directed by committees of local taiko players.

Moving forward, we will be having regional conferences in even years and national conferences in odd years. Potential host groups can submit through an RFP process.

I began working with the TCA in 2022 and Hilo was my first production with the organization. I love getting to meet and work with taiko players from all over! If you have any questions about the conference or are interested in getting involved or potentially having a conference near you, please get in touch using my email listed above. I hope to see you at a conference soon!