Enriching Taiko enthusiasts with Japanese culture and music.
We are Stockholm Taiko
About
We are not just a drumming group. We are a circle of rhythms, stories, and souls.
Founded in 2024, Stockholm Taiko blends the deep spirit of Japanese Taiko with the inclusive and grounded rhythm of Swedish life.
Here, Taiko is about listening to the body, connecting with others, and awakening joy through movement and sound.
We believe in the power of rhythm to inspire people, energize communities, and create a sense of unity—across cultures, generations, and ways of life.
Mission
We reconnect body, mind, spirit, and society through the living rhythm of Taiko.
Taiko is more than performance or music—it's a ritual of return. A return to self, to others, to the ancient pulse that unites all life.
Vision
A world where rhythm is not just heard, but shared—reconnecting people across generations, cultures, and borders.
We envision communities where Taiko awakens joy, presence, and belonging, reminding us that we are part of something greater than ourselves.
Our Values
1 / Resonance Through Rhythm
We value both musical quality and shared energy. Through dedicated practice and playing together, we create rhythms that connect performers and audiences.
2 / Inclusion over Competition
Everyone—regardless of age, background, or ability—has a place in the rhythm. We grow through support, not pressure.
3 / Presence in Every Movement
Taiko is a full-body art form. We bring focus, intention, and energy to every movement and every strike, creating sound that can be felt as well as heard.
4 / Rooted in Tradition, Alive in Community
We honor the Japanese spirit of Taiko while listening to the rhythms of the land we live in. Culture is not fixed—it grows through relationships.
5 / Joy Through Shared Experience
Inspired by the spirit of Japanese festivals (Matsuri), we celebrate the joy of playing together, sharing energy, and creating memorable experiences across cultures and generations.
Stockholm Taiko & Stockholm Taiko Center
Founded in 2024, Stockholm Taiko is a Japanese taiko performance group and cultural initiative led by Maki Kobayashi. It offers performances, workshops, and cultural experiences for companies, institutions, and communities.
Stockholm Taiko Center (STC) was established in 2025 as a separate, registered non-profit association (ideell förening) to support regular group practice, membership activities, and the long-term development of the local taiko community.
The two work closely together, sharing a passion for Japanese drumming while maintaining distinct organizational roles.
Founder & Artistic Director
Maki Kobayashi is a Japanese taiko artist and cultural producer based in Stockholm, Sweden. She founded Stockholm Taiko in 2024 to share the energy, joy, and communal spirit of Japanese festival drumming.
With a professional background in business, consulting, and innovation, alongside extensive experience in Japanese martial arts and yoga, Maki brings a unique perspective to taiko, connecting rhythm, movement, creativity, and human connection.
Through performances, workshops, and cultural collaborations, she brings people together across cultures and generations.
Maki is also the founder and Chairperson of Stockholm Taiko Center, a non-profit association supporting the local taiko community.
Our Team.
Our team brings together people from diverse backgrounds and levels of taiko experience, united by a shared passion for Japanese drumming. Through regular practice, performances, and cultural events, we continue to grow together as an ensemble, bringing the energy and spirit of Matsuri to audiences across Sweden.
Ami Keiko Janson
Ensemble member
Anna Robbins
Ensemble member
Anzhelika Nikiforova
Ensemble member
Ensemble member
Dirk Hubrecht
Ensemble member
Ensemble member
Shahida Syed
Ensemble member
Simone Slaviero
Ensemble member
Théo Guedes
Ensemble member
Yuki Hamana
Ensemble member
Almudena Arques
Foundation member
Andrew Gomes
Foundation member
Marion Ehmann
Foundation member
Morgan Askins
Foundation member
Nadia Bolis
Foundation member
Sonja Lindblad
Foundation member
Alma Datena
Support member
Jonas Labeeb
Support member
Juliana Wolf Garcindo
Support member
Marina Brandt
Support member
Norton Craas
Support member
Sanna Fujiko Berg
Support member
Guest Artists & Cultural Partners
Connecting Through Japanese Arts
Stockholm Taiko collaborates with Japanese taiko instructors and musicians who share their knowledge, experience, and cultural background with our community in Stockholm.
Japanese Taiko Master & Cultural Tradition Bearer
Ryo Shiobara 塩原良
Ryo is a Japanese taiko master based in Nagano, Japan.
A Grand Prize winner of the Tokyo International Taiko Contest (Odaiko division), he has dedicated decades to performing, teaching, and preserving traditional taiko culture.
He serves as an advisor to Stockholm Taiko and has played a key role in developing taiko activities in Sweden.
Japanese Taiko Master & Cultural Tradition Bearer
Kumiko Suzuki 鈴木久美子
Kumiko Suzuki is a Japanese taiko instructor based in London.
She has supported the Stockholm taiko community for many years, teaching traditional repertoire such as Hatsuuma Daiko since the early days of Sweden Taiko.
Japanese bamboo flute / shinobue
Yasukazu Kano
Yasukazu Kano is a globally recognized shinobue (Japanese bamboo flute) artist and former member of the world-renowned taiko ensemble Kodo.
Through performances and collaborations around the world, he brings the expressive sound of the shinobue to international audiences.
