If Cities Could Dance

Meet Women Taiko Drummers Keeping the Japanese Art Strong

Season 5 Episode 3 | 6m 44s | Video has closed captioning.

Growing up in Sacramento, California, Tiffany Tamaribuchi was captivated by the Japanese folk music and the big drum that kept a steady beat as people danced at Japanese Obon festivals honoring families’ ancestors. But she remembers being told she could not play the drum because of her gender. That didn’t stop her from becoming a leading taiko master who has won national competitions in Japan.