TAIKO RECORDING ARTIST & PERFORMER

Berklee College of Music Graduate

Performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center

Touring Member of Amanojaku 2006-2011

Two-Time National Odaiko Champion

Isaku Kageyama is one of the most recorded taiko artists, combining decades of training in Japan with modern music production techniques to produce work that is authentic and creative.  His unique skillset as a performer, producer, and engineer has made Isaku a first-call collaborator for the recording studio as well as live performances.

His resume includes recordings for global franchises such as Avatar: The Last Airbender, Ghost of Tsushima, League of Legends, Mortal Kombat I, and Blue Eye Samurai, tours with the Japan Foundation, residencies with The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, and performances at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

Dedicated to promoting the beauty of Japanese music, he has produced virtual instruments, sample libraries, and loop packs that showcase the breadth of traditional Japanese instruments including Kageyama Taikos, Hybrid Studio Taiko and Onshoku: Taiko Rhythms.

Formerly a principal drummer of Tokyo-based taiko ensemble Amanojaku, he holds a Bachelor of Music from the Berklee College of Music and Master of Arts in Teaching from Longy School of Music of Bard College.

Additionally, he is a two-time National Odaiko Champion, becoming the youngest person to win highest honors at the Mt. Fuji Odaiko Contest in 2000, and Hokkaido in 2003.

Isaku has held clinics at Berklee College of Music, Brown, Cornell, UC Davis, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Connecticut, Wellesley, Los Angeles Taiko Institute, and all major Taiko Conferences including NATC, ECTC, ITI.