A New Taiko Community is Now Moving Forward in Los Angeles 🇺🇸

From April 1st to 7th, 2025, I stayed in Los Angeles.
The purpose? Just one—launching a new project: Matoi No Kai LA.

Why “Matoi No Kai” in Los Angeles?

The idea began during my visit to LA in September 2024.
Local community members asked me:

“Could you start something like Kamiya Juku here in the U.S.?”

I was truly honored. But to be honest, I felt I wasn’t ready to take on the role of a “teacher.”

So instead, I proposed:

“Rather than a teacher-student relationship, why don’t we build a community where we create together?”

That spirit of co-creation is exactly what gave birth to Matoi No Kai in Japan back in 2016—and it lies at the heart of this new project.

What is Matoi No Kai?

Matoi No Kai is a performance-based community that transcends titles, age, and experience.
Its core value is: Facing yourself through the art of Taiko.

Founded in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, we’re now entering our 8th year.
To learn more about our mission and past performances in Japan, please visit:

▶︎ Matoi No Kai Official Website

Honoring the Individual – Also in LA

Just like we did in Japan, we started by building strong personal connections—one by one.
On the first day of practice…

Over 30 people showed up!
We trained intensely for 6 hours, from 6pm to midnight.
After that? We celebrated with a casual gathering (of course!).

Sweaty, sore hands, and yet, time flew by.
Everyone was fully immersed—body and soul.

The Future of Taiko in the U.S.

During these few days, we’ve realized:

A Japan–U.S. collaborative performance is not a dream—it’s entirely possible.

Now that we’ve shared a 3-year goal with the LA members, this project has truly taken its first real step.

Creating something across cultures, languages, and perspectives—it feels like a matsuri (festival).
It takes time and energy, but what we gain is far greater.

Corporate Events, Cultural Exchange & More

Matoi No Kai LA is more than a performance group.
We are available for a wide range of programs and collaborations:

• Corporate team-building & training programs
• Cultural activities for incentive tours
• Events for Japanese companies and embassies
• Workshops or guest lectures in schools and universities

💡 View a past case study:
▶︎ Kamiya × Yuranza: Corporate Team Building

💡 For performance planning and booking details:
▶︎ Yuranza | Performance & Event Planning

📩 For inquiries, feel free to reach out via the Yuranza contact form.

The Passion Behind Co-Creation

When I once posted on social media about the struggles of running a group, I received an overwhelming response.

That’s when I realized—there’s real passion in co-creation.
When people commit themselves wholeheartedly, the vision expands—and the journey becomes meaningful.

Right now, I can truly feel that energy blooming in LA.

In Closing – Thank You to All

To everyone I met in LA,
To the four amazing core members here,
To the Matoi team in Japan who always support me,
And to everyone involved in this journey—

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Let’s enjoy the next 12 months together with Matoi No Kai LA!

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