Features

• San Jose Taiko
• Russel Baba
• Jeanne Mercer
• Masato Baba
• Michelle Fujii
• Toru Watanabe
• Kris Bergstrom

• TaikoProject
• Portland Taiko
• Stanford Taiko
• Lawson Inada
• Seiichi Tanaka
• Jun Daiko
• Shoji Kameda
• On Ensemble
• Kenny Endo
• Son Returns
• Spirit Drum
• Taiko Drums
• Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble

  
  

Michelle Fujii - Guest Artist

ShastaYama 2011 Guest Artist

Michelle Fujii is known for her innovative fusion of taiko and dance and is recognized as a leader in the development of taiko in America. She is the Artistic Director of Oregon's Portland Taiko.

Michelle started taiko training as a youngster with San Jose Taiko and later led UCLA Kyodo Taiko. Michelle rejoined San Jose Taiko and toured the United States. She also has toured with On Ensemble and TaikoProject.

Ms. Fujii received a Bunka-cho fellowship from the Japanese government to study with one of Japan's foremost traditional folk dance groups, Warabiza and dance master, Shohei Kikuchi. She and husband Toru Watanabe combine dance and taiko and collaborate with various artists. Ms. Fujii serves on the North American Taiko Conference Advisory Board.

Since 2002, Michelle has been a perennial Shasta Taiko guest artist and a large part of ShastaYama's success.