​We are very pleased to announce that Masayuki Sakamoto and Fred Visaya will be your lead instructors for the third Taiko Gasshuku Alba. It's a massive honour and privilege for us to be hosting two of the most sought-after and highly regarded instructors and performers in the Taiko Community, and we can't thank them enough for accepting the invitation to lead the intensive..

 

If you've taken a workshop or experienced a performance by either, you'll appreciate the depth of knowledge and rich skillsets both men posses. The Gasshuku presents a fantastic opportunity for intermediate to advanced players to deepen their knowledge and understanding of Taiko, improve their skills, and absorb the teachings and philosophies of two genuinely world-class artists.​​​

 

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
 

Masayuki Sakamoto is a taiko performer gaining international attention for his unique fusion of traditional Japanese drumming and rock music. During his long tenure with the taiko performing arts group Kodo, he performed as a soloist and center-stage player, serving as a key member of the ensemble. Under the direction of artistic director Tamasaburo Bando, he appeared as a principal performer in numerous productions, including Amaterasu, Dadan, and Yugen.

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Since beginning his solo career in 2018, Sakamoto has also contributed to the design and development of the tuned oke-daiko Kanade and the electronic taiko Taiko-1, both of which received the Good Design Award.​ He has performed in over 30 countries worldwide, exploring the possibilities of taiko through a wide range of stages, including film scores, Paris Fashion Week, concerts with Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro, and enka singer Fuyumi Sakamoto.

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Currently, he leads the domestic online community Online Taiko Salon and the international Online Taiko Collective, dedicating himself not only to performance but also to nurturing the next generation of taiko players.

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Fred Visaya, born and raised on the Big Island of Hawai‘i, began his taiko career in 2010 with Puna Taiko, where he developed skills in performance, instruction, composition, and stage direction. In 2015, while attending university in Tokyo, he furthered his studies under Master Kiyonari Tosha, a founding member of Sukeroku Daiko and leader of the Nihon Taiko Dojo.
 

After graduating from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Fred relocated to California in 2020 to further his taiko studies and pursue his passion for the art form. In 2023, he received certification from Master Kiyonari Tosha, granting him approval to perform and teach the techniques and repertoire of the Nihon Taiko Dojo, including pieces such as Yodan Uchi and Matsuri Daiko.
 

Fred currently serves as a full-time instructor at the Los Angeles Taiko Institute in Torrance, California, and is an active performing member of UnitOne, a professional taiko ensemble based at Asano Taiko U.S. He teaches weekly classes for students of all levels, covering taiko fundamentals, technique, repertoire, and drills. In addition to group classes, he provides ongoing coaching for taiko groups and offers private lessons for personalized instruction.​​