Kenny Endo: 50th Anniversary Tour

Celebrating 50 years in Taiko with the Golden 2×25 Tour in Fall 2025, Kenny Endo stands at the vanguard of the taiko genre, as one of the leading personas in contemporary percussion and rhythm in North America and in Japan. For 5 decades, he has led the way in this Japanese style of drumming in the U.S., and will be touring with his Contemporary Ensemble.

As jazz percussionist and early innovator in Japanese taiko, Kenny Endo embodies the history of taiko in the U.S. His adventurous spirit continues to stretch the taiko genre, incorporating influences like funk, jazz, Afro-Cuban & Hawaiian, with roots firmly grounded in tradition. His performances are nuanced, brilliant, exciting!

“… the concert was absolutely amazing. Each performer was a master soloist in their own right, and you all came together in a very special ensemble … all blended into a modern approach to percussion that I believe is unique in the world today.” –Chair, Dept of Music, Lafayette College Endo tours with his Contemporary Ensemble – taiko, vibes, drums, ‘ukulele, flute, koto (or shamisen) performed by renowned performers from the U.S. and Japan. He has received numerous awards and accolades, including special recognition in Japan—he was the first non-national to be honored with a “natori,” a stage name, in Japanese classical drumming.