Yamato Drummers

Experience a thrilling, high-energy and explosive interpretation of the centuries old Taiko tradition. Yamato, The Drummers of Japan, travels all over the word with Japan's traditional Wadaiko drums, putting its very souls into the unusual instruments, whose sound stirs the hearts of people everywhere. Their virtuosity, strength, spirit, and sheer endurance are astonishing. This past season marked Yamato's 25th anniversary, celebrating over 3,500 performances in 54 countries, and reaching 8 million fans young and old. Audience spirits are lifted to new levels with the drummers infectious sense of joy and entertainment.

This event is part of our discounted performances.

Join us for more! Join us in the Davies Lounge at 6:30 pm for a pre-show Taiko drumming instrument exploration, demo, and chat with local artist Kyoko Ogoda. 

About Kyoko Ogoda:
Kyoko Ogoda hails from Shizuoka, Japan. She started playing the piano with her mother, Tomoko Ogoda, at age 3. She began studying her primary instrument, the marimba, at age 9.

Kyoko attended the University of Toronto from 2003-2006, where she studied percussion with Robin Engelman and Russell Hartenberger (of Nexus) and marimba with Beverly Johnston. During her time in Toronto, Kyoko was also a member of the Japanese Taiko drumming group Nagata Shachu and toured Canada, the US and Italy with them. 

Since moving to Kingston in 2011, Kyoko has performed locally for the Live @ Your Library Jazz series, LCVI, Frontenac Public School, Kingston Multicultural Arts Festival, St. George’s Cathedral Advent/Summer series, Kingston Home Grown Live, Studio 22, Tone Deaf series, Hiroshima Day, Skeleton Park Arts Festival, Music West series at St. Andrew’s By-The-Lake United Church, The Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning Grand Opening (The Whole Shebang Project Kingston), Queen’s University, Building Community Through the Arts Speaker series, and a Fund-raising concert for Syrian refugees for Inter-Church Refugee Partnership and NOW Society.

Kyoko taught Japanese Taiko drumming from 2013 until the COVID lockdown, building a community in Kingston while collaborating with various types of music and cultures and facilitating workshops. Her group, Kings DON Taiko performs at Kingston Multicultural Arts Festival.