Fushu Daiko
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Florida's Big Drum


 

Since 1990, Fushu Daiko has been training in the art of Taiko, a musical art form that builds on a 2600+ year old tradition of Japanese drumming.

Our music combines the traditional drums and rhythms of Japan with musical styles from around the world, such as jazz and rhythm and blues, to create an exciting, powerful cross-cultural experience that strives to cross boundaries and connect cultures.

Our resume includes:

Live concerts: US and abroad
International taiko festivals
Collaborations with grammie nominated artists
The opening of Miami Heat N.B.A. games at the
American Airlines Arena

Our Training


The training began with Sensei Yoshiko Cane and Sensei Charles Cane who formed the group in September of 1990. Then, with generous help from Grandmaster Sensei Seiichi Tanaka of San Francisco Taiko Dojo, and other great and generous Taiko Sensei, Fushu Daiko has become powerful and spirited performers in the art of Japanese Taiko Drumming. Fushu Daiko stuns live audiences with their thundering rhythms, dynamic movements, and intense showmanship.

Japanese taiko is more that 2,600 years old.  Originally it was used only in holy shrines. Later it moved onto the battlefield, and now it is mostly seen in a festival setting. The art of Japanese drumming requires vigorous training and athleticism. Fushu Daiko trains weekly at its dojo in Dania Beach, Florida.

Recognition


Fushu Daiko has been recognized by the Mayor of Miami and the Consulate General of Japan in Miami for creating a greater understanding of the Japanese culture in our community and strengthening the bonds between Florida, USA, and Japan.

 

 

 

"Your music, which blends martial arts and the skill of drumming, has delighted South Florida audiences and provided a powerful and unforgettable sample of Japanese art. You have clearly succeeded in increasing the interest of Floridians about Japan, and your contributions have been instrumental in building greater understanding and strengthening the bonds that bridge both our peoples." -- Consul General of Japan - Hideaki Asahi

Taiko Drummers

Kendall Covin

Senpai Kendall Covin

Our Senior Drummer and Senpai, Kendall has been and still is a source of strength and spirit...

Hideki Matsuda

Hideki Matsuda

Hideki has been drumming with Fushu Daiko for more than 14 years...

Ben Miller

Ben Miller

Ben has been dedicated to Fushu Daiko since 1998...

Greg Williams

Greg Williams

Team Coordinater
Greg was born in Grand Prierrie, Texas. Since 1998 he has been with the group. Greg is now a backbone of our strength...

Jeff Hollen

Jeff Hollen

Jeff has been a student of drums since the age of 10, playing in concert, orchestra, jazz, and marching bands...

Naomi Morishita

Naomi Morishita

Born in Okinawa, Japan, Naomi is our most experienced female drummer. Her strength and grace have enriched this team steadily for years...

Maiko Kusano

Maiko Kusano

Born in Tokyo and raised in India, Japan, and Indonesia, Maiko is a doctoral student of Forensic Chemistry at FIU....

Amy Minshew

Amy Minshew

Amy is a long-time friend and supporter of Fushu Daiko who has at last joined our ranks. She brings an aggresive feminine style to our taiko....

Yukako Beatty

Yukako Beatty

Yukako was born and raised in Chiba, Japan. She practices shinobue and taiko with a dedicated spirit...

Jen Hoffman

Jen Hoffman

Jen’s dedication and humility are readily apparent in the dojo. Her Intensity, grit and spirit make her a great Taiko drummer...

Apprentices


Mary O'Hara


Marlena Britton


Chris Hudspeth

Koto Sensei

Yoshiko Tokuda Carlton

Yoshiko Tokuda Carlton

Department of Cultural Preservation, Asain Festival Coordinator
Yoshiko is the groups' senior performing member...

Management / Bookings

Fernando Moraes

Fernando Moraes

Private/Corporate Event Coordinator Fernando Moraes started music studies at 14 and graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1982...

Shakuhachi

Jorge Alfano

Jorge Alfano

Born in Argentina, Jorge has been a musician since the age of 13. He is a very versatile performer and composer...

Senpai Kendall Covin Our Senior Drummer and Senpai, Kendall has been and still is a source of strength and spirit. Since the beginning of Fushu Daiko he provided younger players with the power and inspiration that is at the root of strength.

His performance is truly energetic and full of personality a master of the bells and canon. He has trained with Sensei Hongo, Sensei Ishikura, and Grandmaster Tanaka. It is an honor to have Kendall in the dojo and on the stage with Fushu Daiko.

Hideki MatsudaHideki Matsuda was born in Hokkaido, Japan. In addition to Taiko drumming he is also a skilled athlete, excelling in soccer & skiing.

Prior to coming to the U.S., he was in the Japanese Army, where his strong marksmanship abilities earned him a first place award.

Hideki has been been trained by Sensei Hongo, Sensei Ishikura and Grandmaster Tanaka. He has been drumming with Fushu Daiko for more than 18 years..

Ben MillerBen has been dedicated to Fushu Daiko since 1998. Along with his apprenticeship under Senseis Charles and Yoshiko Cane with Fushu Daiko, he is honored to have studied and performed widely with Sensei Ishikura of Matsuriza Taiko Drumming.

He has also received training from Grandmaster Sensei Seiichi Tanaka. He has originally composed much of Fushu Daiko's repertoire. Ben is a licensed Acupuncture Physician and Chinese Herbologist (A.P., M.Ac). He maintains a practice in Deerfield Beach, FL. 954.784.6463

Greg WilliamsGreg was born in Grand Prierrie, Texas. Since 1998 he has been with the group. Greg is now a backbone of our strength and stamina. His physicality and imposing presence on stage are not easily missed.

He has also trained and performed on stage with Sensei Ishikura and Matsuriza taiko drumming and has been trained by Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka. He is a highly spirited performer and leader who sets an example of humility and perseverance in the dojo.

Jeff HollenBorn in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Jeff has been a student of drums since the age of 10, playing in concert, orchestra, jazz, and marching bands. After graduation he spent a tour with the Florida Wave Drum and Bugle Corps before joining Fushu Daiko in 1999.

He has had training with Grandmanster Tanaka. He is currently a PTA and further studies to become an athletic trainer.

Naomi MorishitaBorn in Okinawa, Japan, Naomi is our most experienced female drummer. Her strength and grace have enriched this team steadily for years.

She has had training with Grandmaster Tanaka. She is 1st Kyu in Kendo (Iaido Shodan) and 2nd Kyu in Japanese Calligraphy.

Yoshichica YokoyamaBorn in Sapporo, Japan. Yocchi is fast and fluid. His taiko is an inspiration to our team. His knowlege and skill of taiko challenges each player to raise their level.

He has trained with Sensei Ishikura and Grandmaster Tanaka. Yochi has practiced many different outdoor sports as he was growing up, and is a skilled snowboarder.

His early Karate studies can be observed in the form and fluidity of his taiko drumming style.

Maiko KusanoBorn in Tokyo and raised in India, Japan, and Indonesia, Maiko is a doctoral student of Forensic Chemistry at FIU. You will notice her bright smile and sharp eyes while she performs. She receives training from Grand Master Seido Kobayashi and Mizuho Zako of Oedo Sukeroku Taiko when she is in Japan. Her mind absorbs rhythms quickly and her body has taiko in the blood. She is a talented taiko drummer and friend of Fushu Daiko.

Amy MinshewAmy is a long-time friend and supporter of Fushu Daiko who has at last joined our ranks. She brings an aggresive feminine style to our taiko.

By day she is a hair stylist. Her determined warrior spirit and commitment in the dojo moves her on the path towards taiko mastery.

Yukako BeattyYukako was born and raised in Chiba, Japan. She practices shinobue and taiko with a dedicated spirit. Her involvement is always committed and focused.

During her school years she studied Naginata (a Japanese martial art) and was a competitive swimmer.

After traveling the world as an airline flight attendant, and then as crew on a billionaire’s mega yacht, she settled in Florida.

She is now the owner of a worldwide yacht charter and brokerage business.

Jennifer HoffmanJen’s dedication and humility are readily apparent in the dojo. Her Intensity, grit and spirit make her a great Taiko drummer.

Raised in New England, she studied Japanese language and literature at the Univ. of Mass. at Amherst where she also served in the Japan-America club. She became a fan of Fushu Daiko after moving to Florida in 1998.

She later joined the group and has never looked back. When not drumming she runs an internet services company www.TSCinternet.com.

Yoshiko Tokuda CarltonDepartment of Cultural Preservation
Asain Festival Coordinator

Yoshiko is the groups' senior performing member, performing since Fushu Daiko's inception. She is a mentor and guides us in the ways of Japanese culture. Born in Kagoshima, Japan,

She has studied koto under the "Ikuta" style school and also extensively under several renown teachers. During the last six years, she has been very active in educating and introducing Koto music to the West. Koto is a Japanese harp.

Fernando MoraesPrivate/Corporate Event Coordinator

Fernando Moraes was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He started music studies at 14 years old and graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1982.

He has been a performing taiko drummer of Fushu Daiko since 1997, has had training from Hongo Sensei and Grandmanster Tanaka, and is currently also our Business Manager along with his production company Sincronia USA, Inc which has produced all the Fushu Daiko albums.

He has worked as a percussionist with major artists such as Mariah Carey and Shakira.

Jorge AlfanoBorn in Argentina, Jorge has been a musician since the age of 13. He is a very versatile performer and composer.

Fushu Daiko is very honored to have Jorge perform on the shakuhachi and other wind instruments during their events.

http://www.fushudaiko.com/images/drummers/performers/Charles%20and%20Yoshiko.jpg

Charles & Yoshiko Cane


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Fushu Daiko was founded and began training in 1990 under the guidance of Sensei Yoshiko Cane and her husband, Sensei Charles Cane.

Sensei Charles Cane hand made almost all of Fushu Daiko's original drums, many of which are still used by the group today. Sensei Yoshiko Cane choreographed and taught many of the rhythms to the group.

Fushu Daiko received assistance in its early years from grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka, who established the first American Taiko dojo in San Francisco in 1968, and Sensei Yoshihisa Ishikura of Orlando’s Matsuriza.

Together the founders of Fushu Daiko gifted us with loyalty, dedication, and a great passion for taiko drumming.

The Six Original Members of Fushu Daiko - Our Mentors


Yoshiko Cane

Yoshiko Cane

Charles Cane

Charles Cane

Kendall Covin

Kendall Covin

Yoshiko Tokuda Carlton

Yoshiko Carlton

Hideki Matsuda

Hideki Matsuda

Karl Sturman

Karl Sturman

Yoshiko Cane

We will always remember the mother of Fushu Daiko.
May she rest in peace.

Friends


East Meets West Herbie Hancock

Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka, San Francisco Taiko Dojo
Sensei Takemasa Ishikura and The Matsuriza
Harmonia Taiko - Sao Paolo, Brasil
Himawari Taiko - Sao Paolo, Brasil
Wa Daiko Sho - Sao Paolo Brasil
Kaminari Daiko - Houston, TX
Soh Daiko - New York, NY
Kuniko Yamamoto
Herbie Hancock
Fernanda Porto
Wayne Shorter
Kenwood Dennard
Fredrick Kaufman & Karen Fuller - FIU, Miami

 Over the years we have had the honor and pleasure of sharing company with many great friends.   These are just a few.

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