The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) hosts “Kenny Endo: 50 Years of Taiko” concert at the Aratani Theatre on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $35.00-55.00 (+ $3.50-5.50 fee) Group options available.
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Celebrate a milestone with one of the world’s most innovative taiko masters! For five decades, Kenny Endo has pushed the boundaries of Japanese drumming, blending tradition with jazz, funk, Afro-Cuban, Hawaiian, and Asian influences.
Born in Los Angeles and revered in Japan as the first non-national awarded a prestigious “natori” title, Endo brings his signature artistry back to his hometown for an unforgettable evening.
Joined by a powerhouse ensemble of musicians, Endo’s 50th Anniversary concert at the Aratani Theatre promises thunderous rhythms, mesmerizing improvisation, and the kind of cross-cultural energy that has defined his legendary career.
Musician Ensemble
Kenny Endo, taiko set, tsuzumi, odaiko
Chizuko Endo, taiko, percussion
Jay Lai, guzheng, piano, ukulele
Abe Lagrimas Jr., vibraphone, ukulele, drums
With Special Guest: Dave Iwataki, keyboards, arranger
Kenny Endo is a pioneering taiko master, composer, and teacher who has expanded Japanese drumming on the global stage for over five decades. Originally trained in jazz during the Asian American cultural renaissance of 1970s California, he began with L.A.’s groundbreaking Kinnara Taiko and later joined the San Francisco Taiko Dojo, the first kumi daiko (ensemble) group outside Japan. He then spent a decade in Japan studying with masters of classical drumming and festival music, becoming the first non-Japanese to receive a natori (stage name and master’s license) in hogaku hayashi.
Endo’s artistry blends traditional Japanese taiko with rhythms from around the world, creating a unique style of original compositions and improvisation. He has performed worldwide with acclaimed artists and orchestras, including Bobby McFerrin, Hiromitsu Agatsuma, and the Tokyo Symphony, and at venues ranging from the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center to the Kabukiza in Tokyo. His work spans collaborations across genres, film soundtracks such as Picture Bride, Apocalypse Now, and Avatar, and numerous commissioned projects.
Among his many honors are an artist residency at Lincoln Center, “Kenny Endo Day” in Honolulu, and recognition from Hawaii’s State Legislature and City Council. He continues to innovate with ensembles such as “Island Breeze” and cross-cultural projects like Uncommon Time, while recording extensively and inspiring audiences everywhere with his creativity, technique, and infectious groove.
