Who We Are:

The Porto Taiko School represents an innovative opportunity for residents of Northern Portugal to engage with the fascinating world of Wadaiko, also known as Japanese taiko. As the region’s pioneering institution dedicated exclusively to taiko, our school will fill a significant cultural gap by making this dynamic art form accessible to enthusiasts without the need for long commutes.

Our comprehensive training offer is aimed at a wide range of interests and skill levels:

In addition to our main location in Porto, we are committed to expanding our reach and impact throughout the region. To this end, we will be offering introductory taiko workshops at local educational institutions, community centers, and cultural festivals. These outreach initiatives serve a dual purpose: not only will they generate greater interest in our core programs, but they will also educate the local community about this captivating performing art.

Over the summer of 2025, our workshops have provided hands-on experiences, allowing participants to experience first-hand the power and energy of taiko. The response was clear. PORTO WANTS TAIKO! We are now ready to give the community of Porto a chance to experience taiko in a much more structured and formal setting!

Since then, we have been involved in multiple events from ComicCon Portugal, MaiaBD, the Porto Drum Show, and Iberanime to name a few. The resounding response from the community continues to fuel our mission of sharing this vibrant performance art with the community.

The Taiko School of Porto was created to share the powerful art of Japanese taiko drumming and to build a welcoming community through music, movement, discipline, and connection. I am grateful to say that we have now secured a dedicated space for the school: an important milestone toward creating a permanent home for taiko in Porto.

However, before we can reopen classes, the space needs essential work to become suitable for teaching, rehearsals, performances, and community gatherings. The new space is an old storefront in a largely abandoned shopping mall.

While it has great potential, its entrance is currently almost completely open to the adjacent hallway. This allows sound to travel easily throughout the building.

Taiko is a powerful acoustic art form, and we have already received three noise complaints. Out of respect for our neighbors and in order to protect the future of the school, classes have been suspended until we can properly address the issue.

What We Need to Do To reopen responsibly and ensure the school can continue long-term, we need to renovate and equip the space. This includes:

The total amount needed is €20,000. This will cover the renovation, acoustic work, furnishings, and urgent operating costs needed to bring the school back to life.

Why Your Support Matters

The Taiko School of Porto is more than a place to take a music class. It is a growing cultural and creative community where people of different ages, backgrounds, and experience levels can challenge themselves, develop confidence, work as a team, and experience the joy of making music together.

We have already seen how meaningful taiko can be for our students and community. With the right renovations, this space can become a sustainable, respectful, and inspiring home for taiko in Porto for years to come. Every contribution, no matter the amount, will directly help us make the space ready to reopen. If you are unable to donate, sharing this campaign with friends, family, local businesses, and anyone who believes in accessible arts and community spaces would mean a great deal.

Thank you for believing in the Taiko School of Porto and helping us take this next essential step forward.

With gratitude,

Jason Seymore

Founder, Taiko School of Porto