Fushu Daiko History

1990-2000

Photo of Yoshiko and Charles Cane, dressed in Kimono
Yoshiko and Charlie Cane

OUR FOUNDERS

Yoshiko and Charlie Cane

While performing traditional dance at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, the Cane’s fell in love with taiko drumming.
 
Taiko ensembles from San Francisco, New York, and Hawaii, were brought in to perform at Obon and Hatsume festivals, but there was no taiko group in South Florida.
 
The closest taiko group was Matsuriza,  performing at EPCOT Center
in Orlando, FL
 
Seichii Tanaka at Obon
Seichii Tanaka at Obon - Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
Yoshiko Cane, a student of the Fujima School of Japanese Dance, performs a traditional Japanese number at Morikami Museum's 11th Annual Hatsume Festival. STAFF PHOTO/Frank J. Pisano JAPANESE GARDEN
Early Fushu Daiko group photo. Front: Yoshiko Carlton, Yoshiko Cane Back: Charlie Cane, Joel Martinez, Kendall Covin, Alex Dominguez, Hideki Matsuda

The Canes asked Ishikura sensei (Takemasa Ishikura) from Matsuriza and Tanaka sensei (Seichii Tanaka) from San Francisco Taiko Dojo to teach them, allowing the group to perform locally and share the art of taiko with the South Florida community.

After learning taiko basics and simple rhythms, the group was given our first song “Fushu” and Fushu Daiko Nihon Taiko Hozenkai  (Florida’s Big Drum Preservation Society/Group) was formed in 1990.

Friends, Kendall Covin, Yoshiko Carlton, and Hideki Matsuda soon joined and began practicing at the Cane’s home in Plantation. Friends and family helped support Fushu Daiko to help build drums and bring in new members to practice. The group played often for Yoshiko Cane’s brother at Toyko Sushi on the 17th Street Causeway in Fort Lauderdale, giving the group an opportunity to perform in public. 

Hideki Matsuda, center, performing at Obon
Fushu Daiko at Obon
Our first taiko drums
Fushu Daiko performing at Tokyo Sushi
Scroll to Top