Taiko Drumming based on tradition, alive with spirit and energy
a little about us
Dokon Daiko was formed in 1996 in Burlington, Ontario under the direction of Kiyoshi Nagata who apprenticed in Japan with the world famous taiko ensemble Kodo. Taiko is the Japanese word for drum.
Our group performs traditional taiko pieces from Japan along with newer compositions. Dokon Daiko incorporates a variety of Japanese instruments to enhance the texture of the music.
The words ‘Do’ and ‘Kon’ translate literally to ‘spirit’ and ‘energy’. The word ‘Daiko’ is the correct grammatical word for taiko in Japanese when it is used as a compound word. As a group, our goal is to embrace the literal meaning of spirit and energy in each performance.
upcoming performances
Experience Dokon Daiko live at upcoming festivals and community events.
- Time: May 9th, 2026 at 1:00 PM
- Location: Burlington Performing Arts Centre – Family Lobby
- Organizer Website: Sakura (Cherry Blossom) Festival – City of Burlington
- Time: August 8th, 2026 at 1:00 PM
- Location: 45 Hempstead Drive, Hamilton, ON
- Organizer Website: CJCC Hamilton
watch us perform
There are many videos of us performing over the years.

