Kazé (Wind) featuring Nagata Shachu taiko group and master flutist Toki Tatara

Nagata Shachu Japanese Taiko and Music Group proudly present Kazé featuring master bamboo flutist from Japan, Toki Tatara, as part of its 27th annual 2024-2025 season touring Ontario and Quebec. The acclaimed ensemble will collaborate with Tatara in a performance that will seamlessly combine the worlds of shinobue (bamboo flute), taiko, and the three-stringed shamisen while exploring new possibilities for these traditional instruments. 

Based in Toronto, Nagata Shachu has enthralled audiences with its mesmerizing and heart-pounding performances of the Japanese drum (taiko) since its formation in 1998. The group has toured widely throughout Canada, the US and Italy, and has performed at major engagements in Lebanon and Mexico. While rooted in the folk drumming traditions of Japan, the ensemble’s principal aim is to rejuvenate this ancient art form by producing innovative and exciting music that seeks to create a new voice for the taiko. Taking its name from founder Kiyoshi Nagata and the Japanese word shachu, meaning group, Nagata Shachu, has become renowned for its exacting, physically demanding and energetic performances on the taiko, as well as for its diverse repertoire. Their playing is the combination of unbounded spirit and passion with the highest levels of musicianship and discipline.