A place to empower the people and advance the art of taiko!
A place to empower the people and advance the art of taiko!
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what is tca?
what is tca?
TCA is a cultural arts nonprofit launched in 2013 with a specific mandate from the taiko community to ensure that the North American Taiko Conference (NATC), initiated in 1997 and supported by the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC) of Los Angeles, would continue. TCA’s broader programming includes grants, educational resources, and teaching opportunities - all of which fulfill our mission to empower the people and advance the art of taiko. TCA is a virtual organization, relying on technology to maintain virtual offices and create connections wherever the internet is available. TCA’s primary constituency is within North America, but we can, and have, impacted the global taiko community. Given our virtual operations and our inherently corporeal art form, our in-person gatherings such as NATC are all that more precious and remain at the heart of TCA’s work. More information can be found on our website.
we support taiko
we support taiko
TCA preserves and promotes the art of taiko, and more specifically, taiko as it has evolved in North America. This art form, which originated in Japan and was introduced in the late 1960’s to Japanese American communities in Northern and Southern California, has grown widely and is played by many people who do not have Asian heritage. Our core value of Inclusivity acknowledges that taiko should be universally enjoyed and practiced. Meanwhile, our core value of Heritage and Evolution works towards ensuring that taiko’s cultural roots are widely understood. This is reflected in programs that highlight our North American taiko pioneers as well as current practitioners working to preserve our history. In the past we have also provided workshops and video resources that help our English-speaking North American audience better understand taiko traditions and their continued evolution in Japan.
our milestones
our milestones
1997: First North American Taiko Conference (NATC) held in LA by Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC).
2012: Fiscal sponsor for NATC, JACCC, cancels 2013 NATC.
August 23-25, 2013: Launch meeting held at Stanford University to collectively establish TCA and its purpose and goals.
November 2, 2013: Taikothon launched in San Jose, California.
2014: Granted 501c3 status based in San Jose, California. Hired first ED, Bruce Davis.
June 11-14, 2015: First TCA-operated NATC is held in Las Vegas, NV. Elise Fujimoto, conference coordinator.
August 2015: Staff, ED and Conference Coordinator, released due to lack of financial resources after NATC.
August 10-13, 2017: 10th NATC held in San Diego, CA. Terry Nguyen, conference coordinator.
2018: 50th Anniversary Projects launched. Five-year strategic framework adopted.
August 9-11, 2019: NATC held in Portland, OR. Terry Nguyen, conference coordinator.
August 2019: Advisory Council formed.
October 2019 - December 2019: Susan Yuen and Linda Uyechi review TCA infrastructure; recommend Shift, Sprint, and Invest.
March 2020: Coronavirus pandemic begins. TCA responds.
April 2020: TCA hires staff.
August 2021: TCA hosts its first-ever virtual conference Beyond the Drum.
July 2022: TCA hires its second Executive Director.
Nov 2022: TCA hires new staff to add to our growing org.
June 2023: TCA launches its first-ever NATC-R (regional) in Hilo, Hawaii
OUR MISSION & CORE VALUES
OUR MISSION
OUR MISSION
To empower the people and advance the art of taiko.
OUR CORE VALUES
OUR CORE VALUES
TCA chooses to conduct itself as an organization in accordance with these values and principles.
RESPECT
RESPECT
Acknowledging the diversity of philosophies and practices of individuals and groups within the taiko community while maintaining neutrality, we will:
Use democratic processes wherever feasible; and
Engage in mutually considerate and respectful conduct.
HERITAGE & EVOLUTION
HERITAGE & EVOLUTION
Actively honoring the past as we look to the future of taiko, we will:
Celebrate tradition and foster innovation in the art of taiko;
Respect the wisdom, generosity, and dedication of past and current leaders while developing the next generation;
Identify and seek new ways to serve the evolving needs of our membership; and
Recognize the mutually enriching influences of the global taiko community.
EMPOWERMENT
EMPOWERMENT
Understanding the transformative power of taiko for both individuals and groups, we will:
Support avenues to develop artistic excellence;
Foster an inspirational environment; and
Encourage the creation of shareable knowledge and resources for those interested in taiko.
INCLUSIVITY
INCLUSIVITY
Believing that everyone has the freedom to play taiko and participate in the taiko dialogue, regardless of who they are or where they come from, we will:
Continually seek to broaden the base of participation in the taiko community and reach out to welcome new members into TCA;
Embrace differing perspectives and voices within the taiko community;
Nurture connections within and beyond the TCA, and regularly facilitate in-person gatherings and events to strengthen our community; and
Provide the means to make participation at every level in TCA accessible to all.
TRANSPARENCY
TRANSPARENCY
Appreciating the trust placed in us by the diverse stakeholders of the TCA, we will:
Maintain open, accountable, and accessible governance; and
Encourage the free and responsible exchange of ideas between TCA’s membership and leadership.
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