Introducing Janelle You, Asano Taiko US and LATI's intern! Janelle is a fantastic taiko player, hailing from Zenshin Daiko in Hawaii. She will be at our facility for the next two months, helping with a variety of office and store tasks and providing feedback on LATI pedagogy. She is also LATI's first full-time student, taking 6 classes a week. Welcome, Janelle!

Enthusiastic taiko friends (including Gaston from Argentina, Margaret from Winnipeg, and Zenshin from Maui!) filled 590 workshop, concert, lecture, and intensive slots in three fun-filled days at the new Asano Taiko U.S. facility! We had the privilege of being the first group to play the new drums and use the new soundproof rooms. Seven guest artists from Japan, plus Tanaka Sensei and PJ and Roy, gave lectures, performed, and taught workshops alongside me and Yuta.