About Us

When suddenly compelled to start a new taiko group in February, 1999, Valerie and Anthony Jones were intimidated by the task ahead. However, with the tremendous support and encouragement of friends, family and members of the community, Zenshin Daiko quickly moved from the dream stage to a busy performing schedule. Zenshin Daiko has averaged about 50 performances a year for 20 years. Then Covid hit and we had only 7 performances in 2020 and only a few in 2021. We were back up to 50 performances in 2023 and we hope to continue to be performing regularly from now.

Since Zenshin Daiko was formed as a non-profit corporation on March 23, 1999, it has accomplished several major goals. One of the most important was receiving tax-exempt status from the IRS. This allows people and businesses to deduct donations to Zenshin Daiko. It also made it possible to receive a $10,000 grant from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc. in December of 2001. In 2003, Zenshin Daiko has received a $2400 grant from the State Foundation on Culture & the Arts to build a large hiradaiko. Zenshin Daiko has also received grants from the Frances W. Emerson Foundation, Young Brothers, the Mayor Arakawa Community Kokua Fund and the Fred Baldwin Foundation.

Zenshin Daiko is honored to have been invited to perform in some very prestigious events. In the August of 2004, Zenshin Daiko performed the International Stars of Taiko concert at the Waikiki Shell. In July of 2005, Zenshin Daiko was the first children's group ever to be invited to perform at Taiko Jam, a concert held in conjunction with the North American Taiko Conference in Los Angeles. In January of 2008 Zenshin Daiko performed with the Oshkosh Youth Symphony Orchestra - performing three concerts and 3 school shows in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

In March of 2009, in celebration of Zenshin Daiko's 10 Anniversary, 55 ZD members, parents and friends traveled to Japan to perform with Wadaiko Matsuriza in Hachioji. ZD members also visited Sado Island to have a workshop with Kodo and visit the Kodo Apprentice Center.

In June, 2012, almost 50 members, parents, siblings and friends traveled to Rochester, Minnesota. Zenshin Daiko had been invited to perform in the 30th Annual Rochesterfest. They performed in three events including the big parade before 35,000 spectators.

In August, 2013, ZD traveled to California to perform at the Grand Opening Celebration of the Los Angeles Taiko Institute in Torrance. It was another great honor to perform with some of the most well known taiko performers from Japan.

To celebrate ZD's 15th Anniversary over 50 members, friends and family traveled to Japan in July, 2014. ZD was invited to perform at the prestigious Extasia Concert in Kanazawa and the Summer Festival on Hachijo Island.

Zenshin Daiko was also honored to be invited back to perform at the North American Taiko Conference’s Taiko Jam concert in Las Vegas in 2016.

In April, 2023, Zenshin Daiko was invited to perform in the San Antonio Riverwalk Parade. It is a parade that over 250,000 people watch and ZD was honored to be first in the parade that travels down the famous Riverwalk.

In June, 2023, the Alpine Resort in Door County, Wisconsin invited ZD to perform for various community events in that area. ZD had 10 performances in a week and then went on to Appleton, Wisconsin and Austin, Minnesota to perform too. A total of 13 performances.

In March, 2024, Zenshin Daiko will be traveling to San Antonio at the invitation of Susan Naylor from the Will Smith Foundation (not the actor) to perform in the community. The Will Smith Foundation has been inviting ZD to San Antonio almost every year since 2015 to perform. In the past ZD has performed at some amazing venues including Sea World, the Witte Museum, the Doseum, the San Antonio Zoo, the Will Smith Zoo School, the Tobin Performing Arts Center, the AT&T Center (now Frost Bank Center) during a Spurs game, Six Flags and at the Alamo.

Zenshin Daiko also is the sponsor of the longest running taiko festival concert in Hawaii. Zenshin Daiko will have it’s 25th Annual Taiko Festival at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater on Saturday, June 15, 2024. This year’s concert will feature On Ensemble from Los Angeles and special guest, Kenny Endo.

Currently, Zenshin Daiko is a children's group and currently has almost 50 members, ages 5 to 17. Zenshin Daiko teaches taiko to children and shares it with the community. Many adults have expressed an interest in learning taiko but for now Zenshin Daiko will concentrate working with children. Zenshin means forward. This embraces the philosophies on which this group was formed. We feel that we can learn from the past, but, by looking forward and focusing our efforts on the future, we can expand an awareness and appreciation of our culture and have a lot of fun too.