Snap shot

• Established in summer of 1990
• Started with Victor Fukuhara and Jaime Kamei
• Aimee Yamada of Yamato Taiko helped start Kokoro Taiko
• Based in Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center in West Long Beach

Originally the Kokoro Taiko Kai was founded by Victor Fukuhara and Jaime Kamei in early 1990 to promote one aspect of Japanese culture to the community in general, especially to those young Japanese Americans.

Under the guidance of Aimee Yamada (a former instructor for Isami Taiko of Gardena, started her own group, Yamato Taiko) Vic and Jaime learned the art of taiko (at least in a basic form) and started the group in Long Beach.

The name, Kokoro Taiko Kai, is based on the Japanese word “Kokoro”, which means heart or soul. Kokoro represents the heart or soul of the taiko performer. The rhythm of the drums parallels the sensation that we feel in our hearts and minds of our listeners.

The first performance was done at Long Beach Japanese Community Center during the Summer Carnival in 1990. Since then, we performed in various locations, including Gardena 5000, LB Marathon, LA Marathon, Nisei Week Parade, and part of opening ceremony of LB Aquarium of Pacific for VIPs. Many of our performance are performed in private parties, any where from fund raising event to a wedding party so, unless you are the invited guest of the party, it is very difficult for public to see us perform.

The best way to catch us perform is to come to the LBJCC summer carnival held in last weekend in June.