About us:

UCLA Kyodo Taiko is the nation’s first collegiate taiko team, founded in 1990 by Mark Honda. Since our establishment 35 years ago, our ensemble has worked to promote the art of Japanese American taiko drumming within UCLA and the greater Los Angeles area, as well as instill within the community a sense of respect and understanding of Japanese American culture.

Our concert:

Every year, Kyodo Taiko’s annual Spring Concert is a completely student-led, produced, and performed event that honors the resilience of previous generations, showcases the tireless work of our members, and inspires the UCLA community to explore and learn more about taiko and Japanese American culture. Over the past 25 years, we’ve performed numerous original compositions for sold out audiences of over 300 people, and this year we will return to the stage for another memorable performance.

We are honored to present our 27th Annual Spring Concert, "Akai Ito" (赤い糸) on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 7-9 PM in Northwest Auditorium. “Akai Ito” translates to "red string (of fate)", representing an unbreakable bond that connects people across time and distance. This theme reflects the friendship, trust, and dedication within our team, built through countless hours of practice and shared effort. Taiko can serve as an escape from our daily stresses, and the countless hours each member has put into our event is a testament to how much our team cherishes this artform.

Why we need your help:

Our Spring Concert has always been free to the public to overcome financial barriers and constraints for guests, as well as advocate for the ease of accessibility to students, faculty, and other community members. Your generous donations will directly contribute to the costs associated with the event and allow us to continue celebrating the rich history of Japanese and Japanese American culture.

Please consider supporting our efforts, and help make this 27th Spring Concert a success! We thank you deeply in advance for your endless support and generosity. All donations made to our organizations are tax-deductible, and if monetary donations are not possible for you at this time, we gladly accept any support you can give our way.

Akai Ito Concert Tickets: [ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxY57qpzsu-Vve8uIMCRiucFu8R0YvvUn22nKAZ8FZG1tJOQ/viewform ]

The following is a link to submit program ads: [ https://forms.gle/YXoW2hjCcgsThGks7 ]

Additionally, we are offering the opportunity to leave shoutouts for our members in our program: [ https://forms.gle/PmnSABv8AMS2UiEj6]

Sincerely,

Nico Franz, Nellie Nguyen, Natalie Tokita

Kyodo Taiko co-Directors, 2025-2026