Group History#
RAW Taiko, founded in 1998 as Raging Asian Women Taiko Drummers, is an artist-run Toronto-based performing arts organization made up of East and Southeast Asian women and gender non-conforming drummers. We carry on the diasporic Taiko tradition that grew out of Asian American and Asian Canadian participation in gender and racial justice movements in the 60s and 70s. One of the few taiko drumming groups of its kind in the world, RAW Taiko exists as a critical response and challenge to both systemic and internalized oppressions. RAW Taiko plays large drums as creative resistance for social change, carving space for self-expression, education and community building.
RAW has performed at a wide variety of events including Pride celebrations in Toronto and Buffalo NY, Dim Sum Chinese Festival as part of Harbourfront Centre’s World Routes Summer Festivals, Muhtadi International Drumming Festival in Toronto and Tobago, Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts, Toronto’s WinterCity Festival, Labour union conventions, International Women’s Day events, art festivals, social justice events, and more. RAW has been pivotal in expanding Ontario public’s exposure to the Taiko arts by organizing the Toronto Taiko Festival in 2012, 2017, 2022, and 2024.
Founding Inspiration#
RAW exists as a critical response and challenge to both systemic and internalized oppressions. RAW plays large Taiko drums as creative resistance for social change, carving space for self-expression, education and community building.
Notable History#
- Theatrical production “Moving Between” (2025)
- Toronto Taiko Festival (2012, 2017, 2022, 2024)
- Theatrical Productions: “Home” (2023)
- “Undaunted” (2019)
- “Crooked Lines” (2016)
- “From Rage Comes” (2013)
Future Goals and Values#
Always community building; voice for the marginalized groups; more international performances
Performance Material Sources#
Standard North American repertoire; moving toward all original compositions written by RAW members
Taiko Community Mentors in the Group#
- Mila Mendez: grant writing
- Young Park: group leadership, composition, taiko skills
