DRUM TAO was established in 1993 with the dream of creating the best show in the world featuring Japanese Taiko drums, an instrument with a rare and distinctive variety of expressive sounds. DRUM TAO is based in Oita, Japan and create their own music, stage setups and costumes to produce their one-of-a-kind brand of entertainment

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DRUM TAO 30th Anniversary THE TAO 夢幻響

Benaroya Hall

Experience the power and grace of Drum Tao, a world-renowned Japanese percussion group, and be mesmerized by their synchronized drumming, martial arts, and acrobatic performances.

Drum Tao

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

A feast for the eyes and ears, Drum Tao’s mesmerizing productions combine thunderous traditional taiko drumming with dazzling staging, theatrical costumes, and dramatic lighting effects. The international troupe of 40 performers has seemingly done it all, having collaborated with the Bolshoi Ballet, staged sold-out productions off-Broadway, appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and at the Olympics, and even recorded for Universal Music. Flute, marimba, and harp are added to the drum ensemble for dramatic effects, and high-octane choreography contributes fresh new energy to this centuries-old Japanese art form. “Extraordinarily talented percussion artists, and they’re seductive, alluring performers” (Chicago Tribune).

University of California, Berkeley

Having recently celebrated their 30th anniversary, Drum Tao makes its anticipated return to The Smith Center to showcase the world’s foremost male and female performers in Japanese taiko drumming. Performing for over 800 million audience members across the globe, Drum Tao is hailed for its fiery and athletic drumming routines, performing with impeccable syncopation on a wide assortment of drums, spanning handheld snare drums to Odaiko drums that can weight up to 3 tons. Highlighting Japan’s many art forms, Drum Tao also features elegant performances on flute, marimba, harp and more. Blending drumming with energizing choreography, vibrant sets and contemporary costuming, the group presents a large-scale performance experience that captivates audiences’ eyes and ears.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts

Established in 1993, with the dream of creating the best show in the world using Wadaiko Japanese drums — an instrument with a very rare and unique variety of sound expressions — Drum Tao set their base at Oita, Japan, and started creating their own music, stage setups and costumes to produce their one and only world of entertainment. Their dream came true as their extraordinary athleticism, large-scale drumming and precise choreography, presented with contemporary costumes and stunning visuals, combined to create a truly energetic and electrifying production. This phenomenal performance is sure to thrill audiences of all ages!

Macomb Center for the Performing Arts

TAO: The Martial Art of Drumming is a Japanese drum and dance ensemble formed in 1993. This performing group combines music and dance to reflect Japanese tradition, but also incorporates Korean, Maori, and Indonesian influences. While some songs are traditional, most are modern compositions created by members of the troupe. Many of their performance pieces include only percussion instruments, and in some cases only taiko drums, but other pieces include the shinobue, or Japanese flute, bamboo marimba, gongs, and the koto, a horizontal harp.

Drum Tao Presented by Irving Arts Center

Carpenter Hall

DRUM TAO’s pulse-pounding performances blend highly physical, large-scale drumming with precision choreography, dazzling costumes, and dramatic, innovative stage design. DRUM TAO’s modern, high-energy performances, showcasing the ancient art of Japanese drumming, have transfixed audiences across the globe. Combining highly physical, large-scale drumming with contemporary costumes, precise choreography, and innovative visuals, the performers of DRUM TAO create an energetic and unforgettable production filled with spectacular modern effects that keep audiences clamoring for more.

Drum Tao 30th Anniversary

The Parker

Drum TAO brings their one-of-a-kind instrumental performance, with the distinctly Japanese lineup of Wadaiko drums alongside traditional flute and harp. Drum TAO has received national acclaim for their dedication to the Japanese musical craft. Their traditional style paired with intense physicality and contemporary musical interpretations has earned them millions of YouTube views, a sold-out Off-Broadway run, and opportunities to represent Japan at Japonismes 2018 in Paris, and Japan Year in Russia. They have gained global renown for their dynamic, energetic performances and are on the road for their first world tour since 2020. 

Drum TAO

The Music Center at Strathmore

Back by popular demand, taiko sensation Drum Tao returns with its intensely energetic, highly visual, and pulse-pounding take on the ancient art of Japanese drumming. Athleticism and contemporary costumes blend with thundering rhythms, captivating choreography, and vibrant scenery. See the world’s top taiko percussion masters perform traditional songs and contemporary compositions, showcasing an assortment of instruments from small handheld snare drums to large-scale odaiko drums. Founded more than 30 years ago in Kyushu, Japan, more than nine million spectators have experienced their sheer physicality. “Extraordinarily talented percussion artists, and they’re seductive, alluring performers” (Chicago Tribune).

Hylton Performing Arts Center

Established in 1993, with the dream of creating the best show in the world using Wadaiko (Japanese drums), an instrument that has a very rare and unique variety of sound expressions. Drum Tao set their base in Oita, Japan, and started creating their own music, stage set-ups, and costumes to produce their unique world of entertainment. Many talented artists and staff gathered to join this creation from all over the world and this is why DRUM TAO can make the peerless and most modern “JAPANESE ENTERTAINMENT”.

Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

DRUM TAO’s stage is created through phenomenal performances and expressions consisting of incomparable “Wadaiko-drums” and the beautiful melody of Japanese flutes and harps. It is the “Japanese Entertainment” for a new generation that completely surpasses expectations.

Midland Center for the Arts

Prepare to be swept away by the extraordinary rhythms and breathtaking performances of DRUM TAO! With over 10 million spectators worldwide, this electrifying ensemble blends the thunderous power of traditional Wadaiko drums with the soulful melodies of Japanese flutes and harps to create a completely unparalleled theatrical experience.

Fox Cities Performing Arts Center

Masters of thunderous spectacle and jaw-dropping athleticism, the taiko drummers of Drum Tao conjure “a visual cornucopia” (Broadway World) in their high-energy productions. The Japanese troupe blends cutting-edge stagecraft with centuries-old drumming traditions and breathtaking choreography to dazzle audiences worldwide. Contemporary music fuses with traditional instruments, vibrant costumes, and dramatic lighting for an unforgettable experience!

Cal Performances

Experience the power and grace of DRUM TAO, a world-renowned Japanese percussion  group, and be mesmerized by their synchronized drumming, martial arts, and acrobatic  performances.

Drum Tao

Feb 14, 2026

Drum Tao

Feb 25, 2026

Drum Tao

Mar 5, 2026

Drum Tao

Mar 13, 2026

Drum Tao

21 - 22 Mar, 2026

Drum Tao

Apr 22, 2024

DRUM TAO 30th Anniversary THE TAO 夢幻響

Apr 16, 2024

Drum Tao

Drum Tao