Bio
Kristy “Aki” Oshiro (they / them) is a queer, trans and non-binary, 4th generation Japanese Okinawan-American professional taiko artist based in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area. They started playing taiko at age 9 in Kona, Hawai’i with Kona Daifukuji Taiko and was an instructor and touring ensemble member of Portland Taiko from 2001-2007 while getting their bachelor’s degree in Music Performance in Percussion at Portland State University. Aki was also an instructor and youth programs director at Sacramento Taiko Dan from 2007-2014.
Aki is currently the founder and Artistic Director of the Tsubaki Ensemble, SOKO Taiko, and Queer Taiko, Creative Director of Placer Ume Taiko, instructor for San Mateo Buddhist Temple Taiko, a touring member of Taikoza, Unit Souzou, and has performed and given taiko workshops across the US and in Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and Colombia.