2008 TAIKOPROJECT Cast Bios Updated July 30, 2008 Full Cast History listed here! Bryan "Let me check my iPhone" Yamami (Artistic Director) was first introduced to taiko with San Jose Junior Taiko from 1985 - 1989 and later continued with Kinnara Taiko from 1996 - 2005. With eight years of touring with the hereandnow theatre company and performances with Mark Taper Forum P.L.A.Y., East West Players, and the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble, he spearheaded the creative development of the ground-breaking taiko theatrical production, TAIKOPROJECT:(re)generation from 2000 - 2007. In 2002, he was recognized as one of "Top 30 Most Influential Asian Pacific Americans Under 30." In 2005, Bryan was brought onto the prestigious Music Center Education Division Touring Roster as a Workshop Artist and served as Composer for East West Players' acclaimed run of "EQUUS." He is also currently pursuing his Master's Degree in Buddhist Studies at the Institute of Buddhist Studies. Masato "Arrrrrgggghhhh!!" Baba (Musical Director) began playing and studying taiko at the age of six under his parents, jazz musician Russel Baba and taiko drummer Jeanne Mercer, who were among the first members of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo. With Shasta Taiko, Maz has performed and helped teach workshops in Alaska, Oregon, and California and was featured on the album "Spirit Drum - Taiko Stories from America". He was also a member of the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble and was an instructor and director of the Youth Group at Endo's school, The Taiko Center of the Pacific. With Endo, he has toured across the U.S., Germany, and Japan; and took part in recording Endo's last two albums: "Hibiki" and "Jugoya". Currently, Maz resides in Los Angeles and works with the On Ensemble and TAIKOPROJECT. "Alabaster" Jen Baik (Performer) has always been involved with music since childhood, but didn't have her first taiko experience until college. While studying for her undergraduate degree at the University of California-Irvine, she joined Jodaiko, the collegiate taiko group on campus and during her 3rd & 4th year, she served as the group's Internal Director and Creative Director respectively. During her final year at college, she joined Kishin Daiko and is currently a part of their instruction staff helping instruct the children's group, Shodaiko and the beginning adults class. Jen's first performance with TAIKOPROJECT was at the 2004 Tofu Festival in LA. Byron "Bruno" Yamada (Performer) started playing taiko in 1999 with UCLA Kyodo Taiko, the first American collegiate taiko group, and served as a director from 2001-2002. During his time at UCLA he also became a founding member of Nishikaze Taiko, a small performing ensemble originally formed to perform daily at Downtown Disney. After graduating with a degree in biochemistry and accounting he joined Kinnara Taiko, based at Senshin Buddhist Temple, as well as Kishin Daiko, based in West Covina. In 2004 Byron joined TAIKOPROJECT as an understudy for the (re)generation tour. In addition to TAIKOPROJECT, Byron also currently performs with Kinnara Taiko and is an assistant instructor for Higashi Honganji's Bombu Taiko and Kitsune Taiko. Yuri "Sleepy Hungry" Yoshida (Performer) has been involved in music since she was 4 years old when she began taking piano lessons in Japan. Throughout her youth, she also received training in dance, theater, gymnastics, cheerleading, and playing the violin and the flute. In 1999, she joined Jodaiko of UCI where she later served as the Intercollegiate Taiko Invitational Coordinator. Yuri joined Kinnara Taiko and as an elementary school teacher, she has educated students on taiko history and Japanese arts and culture. She currently performs with Kinnara Taiko and TAIKOPROJECT. She has performed in several notable performances and events including the Three J-Town Taiko Concerts, Paris By Night 75, the National commercial for the 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse, Hawaii Zenshin Daiko's 6th Annual Taiko Festival and the JACCC's Taiko Jam 2005. Darren "Heh Heh Heh" Endo (Performer) found his passion for taiko when he began playing with UCI Jodaiko in 1998, where he also served as Executive Director. Darren now enjoys his professional life as an Event Planner at UC Irvine and is also a, instructor, performing member and Past President of Kishin Daiko. He is excited to be a part of the TAIKOPROJECT cast and hopes it will lead him to new horizons. Adrienne "Oh No, My Chalupa!" Gunde (Apprentice) grew up with music, playing flute and piano from a young age. She began playing taiko in 2003 at UCLA with Kinyou Yuuhan no Kai, and went on to become one of the founding members of Yukai Daiko. After graduating in 2005, she spent a year in Maebashi, Japan, where she played with the all-women's group Mamure Daiko, and Ichiwa Tsuzumi of Chiba. She also studied taiko in Tokyo at the Nihon Taiko Dojo. She returned to Los Angeles in the fall of 2006 and has been training with TAIKOPROJECT since. Joel "Ssssss" Mankey (Apprentice) has just returned to TP. Jason "Lettuce?" Osajima (Apprentice) first discovered taiko by watching UCI Jodaiko through "Chibi no Gakko," a Japanese cultural summer school for kids that his mom organized. Later, Jason started playing taiko with Kyodo Taiko while pursuing a bachelor's degree in International Development Studies at UCLA. Jason is also an assistant instructor for Bombu Taiko and plays with Progressive Taiko (Prota), a new taiko group based in Los Angeles. Tomomi "Mini-Me" Hongo (Trainee) grew up listening and watching her parents play taiko. She also practiced Nihon Buyo (Japanese classical dance), which deepened her appreciation for the Japanese culture. At age seven,Tomomi joined Niji Taiko from El Marino Language School in Culver City. In 2003, she joined Venice Koshin Taiko, which was also led by her father. In 2007, Tomomi broke off on her own and became a trainee to follow her passion and explore new, exciting avenues with TAIKOPROJECT. Yumi Saito (Trainee) started playing taiko in 2002 with Jodaiko of UC Irvine, where she served as the group's '04-'05 Internal Director. During her junior year at UCI, she also joined Kishin Daiko, where she still currently enjoys her time as a performing member. She joined TAIKOPROJECT in the fall of 2007 and is very excited to be part of the group. Brian Yamagata (Trainee) began playing taiko in 2000 with Jodaiko at UC Irvine, where he later served as the group's Internal Director during his senior year. After graduating, he joined Kishin Daiko and is currently a performing member and on the Board of Directors. BY4 has enjoyed training with TAIKOPROJECT since August 2007. Kitty Yung (Trainee) began playing taiko while pursuing her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Irvine. Her passion soon grew while performing with Jodaiko, a collegiate taiko group based on campus. During her 3rd year of university, she served as the Creative Director for Jodaiko. She soon joined Kishin Daiko, a community taiko group based in West Covina. Currently, Kitty is serving on the intructional staff for Kishin Daiko and has been training with TAIKOPROJECT since the fall of 2007.