Performer: HINODE TAIKO

"Pure raw energy and power tempered by precision and focus" - Winnipeg Free Press

In the rolling thunder and boisterous dance that drew Amaterasu the Sun Goddess from her cave and returned light to the world, Hinode Taiko was formed. The bold antics of Uzume and the laughter of the gods shaped their performance. From humble workshop beginnings in 1982, using broomsticks and old tires as practice equipment, Hinode Taiko (in Japanese "Rising Sun Drums") went on to build concert-quality drums and study with the greatest taiko players of modern time – rooting taiko in the heart of the Canadian Prairies.

Over the past 25 years, Hinode Taiko's original repertoire has won fans on three continents and the group has received accolades from taiko experts around the world. The only Canadian taiko group selected to perform at the inaugural 1997 North American Taiko Conference in Los Angeles, Hinode's stature in North American taiko was affirmed in 2003 when they became the only taiko ensemble (out of the continent’s 150-plus groups) chosen for a repeat performance at the NATC. Their debut CD, “Hinode Taiko,” was released independently in spring 2004.

Enjoying a strong base in Winnipeg's Japanese-Canadian community as well as a solid profile in the arts scene, Hinode Taiko continues to push itself to new artistic heights, while sharing the art and appreciation of taiko through workshops and classes in schools and the community.

For more information, please visit Hinode Taiko’s website: www.hinodetaiko.ca