Welcome to
ZenDaiko - 禅太鼓

ZenDaiko was founded in October 2016 by Romina Taverna with the vision of sharing Japanese culture through two complementary disciplines: Taiko and Zazen. This fusion is reflected in the name ZenDaiko and its kanji 禅太鼓, representing the harmony between the meditative practice of zazen and the energetic rhythm of taiko.

Starting in Argentina, ZenDaiko quickly attracted professional taiko players to enhance the quality of training. Notably, in 2018, Rai Tateishi, a former member of the renowned Kodo group, visited Buenos Aires to provide exclusive training for a month and a half.

ZenDaiko’s commitment to continuous growth includes participation in training trips. In 2018, they traveled to Brazil for 7-days intensive workshops with Yoohey Kaito and Natalia Kanashiro of Kaito Taiko, spending up to 12 hours per day in practice.

In 2019, ZenDaiko embarked on a 3-week Taiko Training Tour to Japan, marking the first such tour organized by the Taiko Community in Argentina. During this journey, ZenDaiko became the first independent foreign taiko group to perform in Japan. They had three performances scheduled, including:

  • Harvest Festival on Sado Island, playing own repertoire  in collaboration with members of the Apprentice Taiko Center from Kodo
  • Kanazawa Tsuzumimon Night Performance, a festival organized by the Kanazawa Town Hall at the famous Kanazawa Eki
  • A performance at Daijoji Temple, where they played for the temple’s master and community

In addition to these performances, they trained at Kodo Village on Sado Island, Asano Taiko in Ishikawa, and with Yamada Mizue from DIA+, who was also the first teacher of ZenDaiko’s founder during her time in Japan (2014-2016).

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, ZenDaiko responded by offering open and free taiko classes and zazen sessions to the community, providing a source of connection and solace during challenging times. These online classes grew into an international meeting space, where participants from Argentina, Spain, Germany, France, Hungary, Brazil, the USA, China, and Japan were able to exchange ideas and practice together, breaking down geographical and cultural boundaries.

In October 2022, ZenDaiko made another milestone by releasing “Taiko: Dissociation Exercises”, its first taiko exercise book at the European Taiko Expo. Written in both English and Spanish, this book was a pioneering resource for the Spanish-speaking taiko community. Taiko Alliance Interview here.

That same year, ZenDaiko traveled to Los Angeles – California as guests at the Global Stage Hollywood 2022 film event, following their second-place win at the WGT competition. This achievement made ZenDaiko the first taiko group to perform at the iconic TCL Chinese Theater and Japan House LA.

Today, ZenDaiko is based in Hamburg, where it continues to perform, teach, and host workshops in town and abroad.

Additionally, ZenDaiko is a part of the play Prolog/Dionysos, a collaborative project with the Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg, where they share the stage with local taiko players.

Our Vision

01

Our vision is to create, through the principles of taiko and zazen, a new perspective on life that encourages living in a simpler, healthier, and more respectful way.

Our Mision

02

Our mission is to share Japanese culture through the practice of taiko and zazen. We achieve this by offering classes, workshops, artistic performances, talks, and trips, while also inviting representatives of these disciplines from around the world. We strive to create a participatory and inclusive environment where meaningful connections are formed, fostering a strong sense of friendship within our community.

Our Values

03

  • Discipline: We foster discipline through consistent and dedicated practice of both taiko and zazen, knowing that growth comes with perseverance.

  • Respect: We uphold respect for the art, our dojo, our fellow practitioners, and all our teachers, recognizing that each individual contributes to the learning journey.

  • Love: We cultivate a deep passion for what we do, embracing the art forms with joy and enthusiasm.

  • Companionship: We believe in the power of collaboration, offering support to our peers during practice, and growing together as a group.

  • Tolerance: We honor the unique stages of each individual’s journey, respecting our own progress as well as that of our teammates.

  • Justice: We act with fairness and integrity, ensuring that our actions align with our values and principles.

  • Honesty: We practice honesty in all aspects—through our actions, thoughts, and words—fostering an open and transparent environment.

  • Responsibility: We take responsibility for our choices, accepting the consequences and committing to our decisions with integrity.