Cornell Yamatai Taiko Presents

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Decorative Graphic

February 13 - February 15, 2026

Ithaca, NY

about east coast taiko conference

Since its inception in 2011, the East Coast Taiko Conference has been a treasured opportunity for taiko lovers across the East Coast to gather and build community, share knowledge, and celebrate the beloved art and joy of taiko.

This upcoming year, Yamatai Taiko is excited to bring ECTC back to where it all started, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY! Our theme this year is “Many Hearts, One Beat". The theme reflects our hope to bring together drummers, students, and community members from across the East Coast to learn, connect, and grow together.

The Event

East Coast Taiko Conference

Started in 2011, the East Coast Taiko Conference (ECTC) is the largest annual gathering of taiko groups on the U.S. East Coast, uniting hundreds of participants and instructors from across North America. The conference's mission is to celebrate Japanese drumming traditions, promote cultural exchange, and provide education and inspiration through workshops, panels, and performances.

About Yamatai Taiko

In 2026, Cornell University's taiko ensemble, Yamatai, will host ECTC in Ithaca, New York. As one of the largest collegiate taiko groups in the U.S., Yamatai is dedicated to sharing Japanese culture through performance and community engagement. Hosting ECTC 2026 reflects Yamatai's commitment to fostering inclusion, celebrating diversity, and creating opportunities for connection within the growing taiko community.

image of man in front a painting
image of man in front a painting

ECTC 2019 "Growing Stronger", Hosted by Yamatai Taiko

ECTC 2019 "Growing Stronger", Hosted by Yamatai Taiko

Art Event Highlights
Art Event Highlights
Image of a team
Image of a team
Image of a team
A person attentively paints a vibrant, expressive artwork of two people embracing, featuring bold colors like pink, blue, and green, highlighting themes of love and closeness in the painting.
A person attentively paints a vibrant, expressive artwork of two people embracing, featuring bold colors like pink, blue, and green, highlighting themes of love and closeness in the painting.
A person attentively paints a vibrant, expressive artwork of two people embracing, featuring bold colors like pink, blue, and green, highlighting themes of love and closeness in the painting.

Workshop Leaders

Meet the fifteen incredible artists from across the country, each sharing their passion, perspective, and love for taiko.

Emily Harada

Fred Visaya

Joe Small

Karen Young

Leo Ikenaga

Mark H Rooney

Masa Miyano

Michelle Fujii & Toru Watanabe

Patrick Cruz

Shoji Kameda

Stuart Paton

Sumie Kaneko

Tiffany Tamaribuchi

Young Park

Speaker Headshot

Yuta Kato

Workshop Leaders

Meet the fifteen incredible artists from across the country, each sharing their passion, perspective, and love for taiko.

Emily Harada

Emily Harada

Fred Visaya

Fred Visaya

Joe Small

Joe Small

Karen Young

Karen Young

Leo Ikenaga

Leo Ikenaga

Mark H Rooney

Mark H Rooney

Masa Miyano

Masa Miyano

Michelle Fujii & Toru Watanabe

Michelle Fujii & Toru Watanabe

Patrick Cruz

Patrick Cruz

Shoji Kameda

Shoji Kameda

Stuart Paton

Stuart Paton

Sumie Kaneko

Sumie Kaneko

Tiffany Tamaribuchi

Tiffany Tamaribuchi

Young Park

Young Park

Speaker Headshot

Yuta Kato

Speaker Headshot

Yuta Kato

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Decorative Stars
Decorative Stars
Decorative Stars
Decorative Stars
Decorative Stars
Decorative Stars
Decorative Stars
Decorative Stars
Decorative Stars
Decorative Stars

Join us

February 13-15, 2026

Ithaca, NY

FAQ

For any questions, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions document below first. This is a living document that will continue to be updated as more information becomes available. If the embedded FAQ does not load properly, you can also access it directly here: ECTC 2026 FAQ Document. If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to us at ectc2026@gmail.com!

Thank you to our sponsors

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Stay Connected!

Stay Connected!

ectc 2026:

yamatai taiko:

Workshop Leaders

Meet the fifteen incredible artists from across the country, each sharing their passion, perspective, and love for taiko.

Emily Harada

Emily Harada

Fred Visaya

Fred Visaya

Joe Small

Joe Small

Karen Young

Karen Young

Leo Ikenaga

Leo Ikenaga

Mark H Rooney

Mark H Rooney

Masa Miyano

Masa Miyano

Michelle Fujii & Toru Watanabe

Michelle Fujii & Toru Watanabe

Patrick Cruz

Patrick Cruz

Shoji Kameda

Shoji Kameda

Stuart Paton

Stuart Paton

Sumie Kaneko

Sumie Kaneko

Tiffany Tamaribuchi

Tiffany Tamaribuchi

Young Park

Young Park

Speaker Headshot

Yuta Kato

Speaker Headshot

Yuta Kato

© 2025 YAMATAI TAIKO

© 2025 YAMATAI TAIKO

© 2025 YAMATAI TAIKO