Born and raised in Japan until the age of 16, Ai Matsuda's journey as a Taiko artist spans continents and cultures. When she moved to Hawaii to study English, she discovered her passion for Taiko under the guidance of her aunt, Mrs. Faye Komagata, founder of Hawaii Matsuri Taiko, at the Ryusenji Soto Mission Buddhist Temple in Wahiawa. This early connection to rhythm and tradition sparked a lifelong devotion to the art form.
Matsuda's pursuit of Taiko artistry has taken her to the forefront of the global Taiko community. She has trained with legendary masters, including Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo - recipient of the 2001 National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts - Kiyonari Tosha of the Nihon Taiko Dojo in Tokyo, PJ and Roy Hirabayashi of San Jose Taiko, Etsuo Hongo of Los Angeles Matsuri Taiko, and Kenny Endo of the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble in Honolulu. Each mentor has shaped her dynamic style, blending power with precision and tradition with innovation.
In 1999, Matsuda became a core member of the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble, captivating audiences across Hawaii and the mainland United States. Her performances, marked by both technical brilliance and emotional depth, reflect a profound respect for the ancient roots of Taiko while embracing its evolving expression. She also nurtured the next generation of Taiko enthusiasts by teaching adult and children's classes at the Taiko Center of the Pacific.
In 2011, Matsuda returned to Tokyo, where her artistic journey continued to flourish. She studied Taiko with Yuu Ishizuka, Classical Japanese music (Kabuki Bayashi) with Saburo Mochizuki, and Edo Bayashi, Shinobue (bamboo flute), and Shishimai (lion dance) with Kyosuke Suzuki of the Taneo Wakayama School of Wakayama Shachu - an institution recognized by the Japanese Ministry of Culture as an "important intangible cultural property of Japanese fine arts."
With every strike of the drum, Ai Matsuda channels a rich cultural lineage while pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. Her work bridges the past and present, East and West, preserving the soul of Taiko while sharing its thunderous heartbeat with the world.
