Rutgers University’s Pan-Asian Lunar New Year

Soh Daiko performed for Rutgers University’s Pan-Asian Lunar New Year celebration on Friday, February 20th. The event was hosted by the Rutgers’ Asian American Cultural Center and we were honored to join a variety of talented Rutgers students for a night of fun, cultural performances! The night included food and activities, such as, paper lantern making and a photobooth that we had to try. It was so much fun to partake in the festivities and we are grateful to the organizers for creating a space that honors and celebrates diversity!

Columbia University’s Japanese Students Association Matsuri

We had a wonderful time performing for Columbia University’s Japanese Students Association Matsuri on Sunday, March 29th! ‘Matsuri’ means festival in Japanese and it is often a time to exchange food, entertainment, and culture. We played our own rendition of Matsuri daiko to kick off the event. The evening was filled with delicious drinks and treats, such as onigiri and fresh matcha, and other exciting performances! After such a cold winter, it was a relief and a joy to get to celebrate the incoming spring and warm weather. We are appreciative to Columbia University JSA for hosting the event and for inviting us!

PC: William Kim

Rutgers Japanese Students Association Matsuri

We returned to Rutgers University for the Japanese Student Association’s Cherry Blossom Festival on April 3rd!

From enjoying delicious ramen and boba tea, to playing fun games and taking in the beautiful lighted lanterns, everything was so thoughtfully put together.

It was especially fun performing for the audience and seeing everyone join in and dance along to “Dancing Hero”! Huge shout out to the “Spades” dancers for learning the dance so quickly and helping to lead the audience!

H.C. Crittenden Middle School

We had so much fun performing at the H.C. Crittenden Middle School multi-cultural event on Friday, April 10th!

Prior to the performances, the students and their families set up tables to represent the countries their families were from and brought specially prepared foods and fun facts that reminded them of home. Everything we ate was delicious and we particularly loved how the Japan table featured some friendly faces: Hyottoko and Okame! After tasting and learning about different cultures, we had the pleasure of representing Japan with our taiko performance!

It was such a memorable evening where we experienced the power of building community and fostering understanding through sharing the food, art, and history of our cultures!

Japanese American Association of New York Sakura Matsuri

On Saturday, April 18th, we opened the 21st annual JAA Sakura Matsuri in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. We had the privilege of sharing the stage with the Tenrikyo Drum and Fife Corps, JAA Chorus, the New York Okinawan Club & Jumpu-Kai NY, and the Japanese Folk Dance NY. Notably, Ambassador Satoshi Katahira and New York State Assembly Member Mr. Ron Kim attended the event. We also want to wish a warm congratulations to JAA’s 21st Sakura Matsuri honoree, Ms. Hiroko Onoyama! An honor that is well deserved for all your work creating youth exchanges through music. It was a beautiful morning filled with enjoyable performances and speeches!

We also had the opportunity to visit our cherry tree which was planted in 2019 in commemoration of our 40th anniversary. Surrounded by the blooming cherry blossom trees and falling petals, we are always grateful to connect with our community and celebrate springtime in New York.

A huge thank you to the Japanese American Association of New York for organizing and for inviting us to perform at their festival.

Branchbrook Bloomfest

On Sunday, April 19th, we traveled to New Jersey for Bloomfest in the scenic Branchbrook park. Unfortunately, due to weather conditions, the festival was cancelled. However, we played a brief and spirited performance for the staff and vendors before packing up! We are grateful to the folks who cheered us on and made our day. It’s in these moments that we truly relish performing.

A huge thank you to Essex County Parks for inviting us – we hope for more favorable weather next year!

Matcha 116 Opening

On May 8th, we performed for the opening of Matcha 116 in Greenwich Village! We were thrilled to bring a taiko performance for good luck and prosperity. The opening additionally featured a traditional tea ceremony and a lion dance! Afterwards, we enjoyed delicious matcha lattes that kept us caffeinated the whole day!

Japan Parade

On Saturday, May 9th, Soh Daiko made a splash performing at the annual Japan Parade, celebrating Japanese culture in the heart of New York City! We had the honor of kicking off the Opening Ceremony, playing Yuudachi, a powerful piece to start the parade with over 100 participating organizations!

Following the ceremony, Soh Daiko joined the main parade, performing aboard the float of Japan Parade sponsor, Marubeni, as we made our way down Central Park West from 81st Street to 67th Street. The parade was led by Grand Marshall Japanese manga artist and illustrator Acky Bright, and also featured the Consul General of Japan, Ambassador Satoshi Katahira!

We have so much gratitude to the incredible Japan Parade team for organizing the event, and to everyone who cheered us on, danced with us, and shared their smiles, waves, and applause along the route! Despite the rain, we enjoyed the parade so much because of you!

Reflecting on our spring performances, suffice it to say it’s always a privilege to share our passion for taiko and uplift our communities. Stay tuned for more performances to come!

Soh Daiko performances are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Coming out of our recruitment workshops, we are excited to welcome 6 talented trainees to our 2026 cohort! All have prior taiko experience in collegiate groups including Yamatai, Gendo Taiko, Swarthmore Taiko, Taiko Tides, and Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan. Many have musical and athletic backgrounds and some have even composed their own pieces and served as artistic directors!

Most importantly, all of our trainees show a great passion for learning, performing, and kumidaiko. Over the next few months, they will join us for weekly rehearsals and hone in on Soh Daiko’s unique techniques and repertoire through observation, drills, and dedicated trainee hours.

Please join us in welcoming them — we are so excited to see all they are able to accomplish!

Soh Daiko programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

On Saturday, November 22, Soh Daiko returned to LaGuardia Performing Arts Center earlier than anticipated as part of Carnegie Hall’s Spotlight on Japan, a month-long celebration of Japanese art, music, and culture. We were deeply honored to be invited to perform in this incredible series!

This performance was especially meaningful for the group, as we celebrated the return of two former members, Yue Qiu and Nick Loh—both of whom bring an infectious energy and spirit. We were also fortunate to be supported by two of Soh Daiko’s founding members, Alan and Merle Okada. To Alan and Merle: the foundation you’ve built and the unwavering support you continue to offer mean the world to us. おかげさまで。

The concert also featured the return of one of our favorite pieces, Bon Daiko, which pits two groups of drummers—East Side and West Side—against each other in exuberant, high-spirited taiko. According to the audience, the battle ended in a tie… so it looks like a rematch is in order!

Soh Daiko was honored to have the Consulate General of Japan in New York’s new Ambassador Satoshi Katahira and Deputy Chief of Mission Hiroyuki Mase, along with their families, in attendance. Ambassador Katahira kicked off the concert with a heartfelt message to our audience. Thank you Ambassador Katahira and DCM Mase for taking the time to spend your afternoon with us! We are proud to bring Japanese American culture and art to audiences whether they are far from home like the ambassador and his family, or in a part of New York City that might not have easy access to it.

Our enormous thanks go to the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center and Carnegie Hall for their continued support, and to everyone onstage and backstage for the dedication, heart, and seamless teamwork that bring this event to life. And to our amazing audience: thank you. Whether you’re a first-time taiko listener or a longtime fan, your energy inspires and motivates us every time.

Thank you—and don’t forget to tag us (@sohdaiko ) in any photos or videos you share. We love reliving the experience through your eyes!

PC: Veronica Diaz

This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

On November 15, Soh Daiko had the honor of playing taiko at Japan Performing Arts, Inc.’s (JPA) Ages of Enchantment event at the Sharp Theater at Symphony Space on the Upper West Side, just down the street from the New York Buddhist Church.

The evening featured a beautiful array of Japanese performing arts—including Kabuki dance, Japanese harp, contemporary dance, a kimono fashion show, and Awa Odori—before Soh Daiko closed the program with our signature pieces, Matsuri Daiko and Hachidan-Uchi. We had an incredible time and were energized by the enthusiasm of the audience. Thank you all for coming out and supporting the event!

Soh Daiko was honored to perform alongside such talented groups, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to JPA Inc. for inviting us and for organizing a program that so vibrantly celebrates Japanese culture and the arts.

Soh Daiko performances are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

On Saturday October 25th, Soh Daiko started off our 47th year by performing during the New York Buddhist Church’s Aki Matsuri (Autumn Festival)!

After perusing the crafts and delicious treats that were sold upstairs, a happy crowd flooded the basement dojo of the NYBC. It was the largest Aki Matsuri audience we’ve had in recent years and we were so appreciative of the energy and encouragement from the audience. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces — former members and long-time supporters who have cheered us on through the years, along with people seeing their first taiko performance! All of your support means the world to us!

Soh Daiko performed Miyake Daiko and Tsunagu to welcome the changing of the season, and were met with enthusiastic, engaging spectators with thoughtful questions. There’s nothing we love more than sharing our music and spirit with all of you.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes towards NYBC, which has been our home for the past 47 years. Without their continued support, we would not be the performing group we are today. The NYBC has many other fun events and festivals, learn more here: THE NEW YORK BUDDHIST CHURCH – New York City, NY

Also, see our ‘shows’ page for more details about Soh Daiko’s upcoming performances and events!

PC: Julianna Hessel

Soh Daiko performances are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Big announcement!!! For those of you who have been following us for a while, you might know that our citywide concert, sponsored by Carnegie, is typically in the spring.

This year, Soh Daiko is honored to be invited to perform in Carnegie Hall’s Spotlight on Japan this November — a citywide celebration of Japanese music and culture. Join us at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC) in Long Island City for a powerful afternoon of powerful rhythms, dynamic choreography, and our signature Soh Daiko spirit!

Date: Sat, Nov 22 at 3PM
Location: LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LIC)

Admission is free, but RSVP is required.
Reserve your spot: Carnegie Hall Citywide – Soh Daiko | LaGuardia Performing Arts Center

#Sohdaiko #carnegiehallcitywide #LPAC #taiko #SpotlightOnJapan

This program is made possible by New York State Council of the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Photo by Veronica Diaz

Obon is a time for remembrance, celebration, and community. Since 1945, the Seabrook Buddhist Temple, in Bridgeton, NJ, has been hosting Obon, and this year marks a historic, 80th celebration. For over 40 years, Soh Daiko has had the privilege of participating in Seabrook Obon, and we were honored to be a part of the festivities once again for this momentous celebration. We traveled to NJ in conjunction with the New York Buddhist Church (NYBC), which is sister temple, and with Reverend Kurt Rye, who minsters to the NYBC, Ekoji Buddhist temple, and Seabrook Temple. At Obon, we also reconnected with our sister groups, Hoh Daiko, based out of Seabrook Temple, and Nen Daiko, based in Fairfax Station, VA.

In commemoration of Seabrook’s 80th Obon, Soh Daiko proudly presented a commemorative stone for Seabrook’s meditation garden, in honor of the long history that we share. And, it was a perfect day for Obon; the weather was summery, and attendees and performers alike were able to enjoy an evening full of taiko, bon dancing, delicious food, and happy memories.

Soh Daiko departed NY at noon, together with a contingent of the NYBC, and began the 3 hour journey to Seabrook Temple. Along the way, we visited Sorbellos Girls Farm Market, as is tradition. In fact, it’s become so much a tradition that Sorbellos even remembers our visits from decades ago; just another way that history is shared. Once at Seabrook Temple, we stepped off the bus onto the familiar temple grounds and caught up with our sister groups, Hoh Daiko and Nen Daiko. We also thank Hoh Daiko for graciously lending us their drums for our performance, and saving us the difficulty of transporting equipment all the way from NY. At Obon, we performed Tsunagu, written by Kodō, and Matsuri, arranged by Soh Daiko. As the sun went down and bon dancing continued, we soon boarded the bus at 8:30 PM and returned to NY.

Reflecting on the history of Obon at Seabrook, we are honored to be a part of the family that makes Obon possible, and we treasure the connections that have been sustained throughout the years. Finally, we would like to thank Seabrook Temple and all the volunteers for hosting a wonderful 80th Obon, and we hope for many fruitful years to come.

On Sunday, July 13th, Soh Daiko had the pleasure of performing in the New York Obon, hosted by the New York Buddhist Church!

Obon is an annual Japanese Buddhist festival that honors the spirits of ancestors who are believed to return to visit their loved ones. On this day, we played in remembrance of our beloved former Soh Daiko members—Aichi Kochiyama, Maria Olivas, James Moran, and Choony Lee—whose legacy continues to shape our group today. We are forever grateful.

This year’s Obon was especially meaningful. It marked the first festival since the pandemic, and thanks to the hard work of the Obon committee, it was held for the first time right in our own backyard on 106th Street—hopefully the first of many!

We were also thrilled to be joined by many former Soh Daiko members who helped keep the beat for the Obon odori dancers. A special shoutout to former member Akira Baruah, who jumped in and amazed us with his energetic Matsuri solo!

Thank you to the New York Buddhist Church for hosting this beautiful event, the Obon dancers for teaching us, our friends at Hoh Daiko who traveled all the way from Seabrook, NJ, and to all our friends, family, and supporters who made the day so special. It was truly an unforgettable experience!

Soh Daiko performances are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

This past Sunday, June 29th, Soh Daiko was proud to once again walk alongside the New York Buddhist Church (NYBC) in the NYC Pride March. NYBC’s Reverend Kurt Rye led the march, and we were joined by church members, friends, and family. We were especially excited to march this year after the rain canceled our portion of the march last year. Thankfully, the weather this year was 90ºF and sunny, so we could fully enjoy marching together, making music, and celebrating Pride with the crowd!

Our procession began on Fifth Ave. and 28th St. and continued south through Manhattan. Along the entire route, the endless joy and spirit we felt from the onlookers fueled our feet and bachi to march and play despite the hot day. It was fantastic to be able to share taiko in such a euphoric environment, and we felt so welcomed and energized by everyone’s cheers and camaraderie. As our march turned towards Christopher St., we took a moment to pause at the Stonewall Memorial and to acknowledge those who came before with a quick prayer led by Rev. Kurt Rye. It was wonderful and uplifting to celebrate with the LGBTQIA+ community and to honor the history and heritage of Pride.

Soh Daiko supports communities of all identities and is honored to be able to participate in events like the Pride March. We are grateful to Rev. Kurt Rye and the NYBC for allowing us to join them, and we are very thankful to all the organizers of the march. We hope to see you next year!

Soh Daiko performances are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

In preparation for the march, we’ve designed a limited edition Soh Daiko pride shirt! You can order them as a tank or tshirt, and can be ordered here. You’ll only be able to order until June 5th – so place your order today! Order your shirt now and it should arrive in time to wear to Pride weekend!

All proceeds from shirt sales will go directly to the Audre Lorde project, a community organizing center supporting LGBTSTGNC people of color in the New York City area. Find out more about them at their website, alp.org

Order your shirt here.