Midori & Friends captivates our students with an outstanding performance of Japanese music.

Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center preserves, teaches, and promotes various styles of Japanese music, with a focus on the shinobue bamboo flutes and Japanese percussion, including the taiko drum.

  • Japanese drums poster of Midori & Friends

    Midori  & Friends performs Japanese drumming to our students.

  • Image of 3 performers banging on the Taiko Drum.

    Midori & Friends performs with traditional Taiko Drum.

  • 2 women are playing the drums.

    Look at the strength it takes to play the drums.

  • 2 women are playing the drums together.

    Performers are playing the drums in unison.

  • 2 Women play the Japanese drum and flute on stage.

    The Japanese flute and the Taiko Drum makes music in harmony.

  • woman is playing a japanese bamboo flute.

    What a spectacular performance on the shinobue bamboo flutes.

  • woman plays the shamisen is a plucked stringed instrument.

    The shamisen is a plucked stringed instrument. Its construction follows a model similar to that of a guitar or a banjo.

  • woman plays the shamisen while singing.

    What an awesome performance on the Japanese  shamisen

  • 2 women playing on the drum and flute.

    The Taiko drum and the Shinobue bamboo flute together.

  • students are standing and waving their arms.

    Students participate in the performance!

  • Students clap and cheer in the auditorium.

    Students get in on the fun while enjoying good music.

  • Students listen to performer on stage.

    Students are eager to learn more about traditional Japanese music and instruments.

  • Students are near the stage participating.

    Students participate along with the performers. What fun!

  • three music performers on stage.

    Special Thanks to the outstanding performers who came to perform and share traditional Japanese instruments with our students.