ODAIKO NEW ENGLAND INC

What ODAIKO NEW ENGLAND INC does

Odaiko New England Inc (ONE) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit performing arts organization founded in 1994 by Elaine Fong, a former member of Soh Daiko in New York City, and is recognized as the oldest operating taiko (Japanese drumming) group in the Boston area. The organization teaches kumidaiko (ensemble taiko drumming) and related techniques — including katsugi oke (shoulder-slung taiko), naname (slanted-drum) style, and odaiko (large barrel drum) — through a structured class curriculum (Introductory Workshop, multi-week Beginner Taiko, Skills & Drills, Basic Katsugi Oke, and an advanced 'Cobweb Runs' practice session) at its dojo in the New England Movement Arts building in Burlington, MA, and performs publicly across New England at festivals, universities, museums, schools, and private/corporate events.

Its business model rests on three revenue streams: (1) class and workshop fees priced publicly at roughly $30-40 per drop-in and $160-300 per multi-week session; (2) performance and workshop bookings — festival sets (20-30 minutes), full concerts (60-90 minutes), corporate team-building workshops, and 8-week school residencies — priced on inquiry; and (3) tax-deductible donations under its 501(c)(3) status. The organization is led artistically by Junko (Juni) Kobayashi, with Elaine Fong continuing as founder and board member, and a small governance board handling operations. With approximately five employees, ONE operates as a community-anchored performing arts group whose competitive position rests on three decades of brand recognition, deep instructor lineage tied to KODO and other leading taiko artists, and embedded relationships within the regional taiko and cultural festival ecosystem.

Name

ODAIKO NEW ENGLAND INC

Legal name

Odaiko New England

Website

https://onetaiko.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Odaiko New England Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit performing arts organization and the oldest operating taiko group in the Boston area, offering Japanese ensemble drumming classes at its Burlington, MA dojo and performances, workshops, and residencies across New England for schools, festivals, corporate clients, and cultural institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Combat Sports Gyms & Dojos (MMA, Boxing, Wrestling, Martial Arts) (MPAKAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI)

Keywords

• Japanese taiko drumming
• Performing arts classes
• Ensemble drumming instruction
• Cultural performances
• Drumming workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Class and Workshop Fees: Revenue from multi-week courses (Beginner Taiko $300 for 10 weeks, Skills & Drills $160), single workshop sessions ($40 introductory workshops), and drop-in class options ($30-40 per class).
2. Performance Bookings: Fees for booked performances at private events, corporate functions, festivals, and university concerts. Programs include Festival Sets (20-30 minutes), full Concerts (60-90 minutes), and corporate team-building workshops.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from supporters as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, supporting educational demonstrations and workshops for school children and performances across the region.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Odaiko New England is a 501(c)(3) non-profit performing arts organization that teaches Japanese taiko (ensemble drumming) through multi-week classes and workshops at its Burlington, MA dojo, and delivers live taiko performances and educational programs at festivals, corporate events, schools, museums, and private functions across New England.

Product overview

Odaiko New England is a non-profit performing arts organization offering Japanese taiko drumming instruction and performances. The organization provides a structured curriculum of taiko classes (Introductory Workshop, Beginner Taiko Class, Skills & Drills, Basic Katsugi Oke, and The Cobweb Runs practice sessions) at its NEMA dojo location, along with various performance programs including Festival Sets, Concerts, Workshops, Lecture Demonstrations, and Collaborations/Special Projects. The class offerings progress from beginner level to advanced practice sessions, while performance offerings range from short festival sets to full concerts and custom collaborations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Introductory Taiko Workshop A beginner-friendly workshop offering a chance to experience Japanese ensemble drumming; by the end, participants will be playing a taiko song. Priced at $40 per session.
• Beginner Taiko Class - Summer Session 2026 A 10-week multi-session course introducing kumidaiko (Japanese art of ensemble drumming), teaching fundamental techniques and rhythms. Priced at $300 for the 10-week session with a $40 drop-in rate.
• Skills & Drills A focused practice class emphasizing technique improvement, kata (form), and sound development through targeted repetition. Priced at $160 for the 8-week session with a $30 drop-in rate.
• Basic Katsugi Oke A 60-minute class exploring shoulder-slung taiko drums, fundamental striking techniques, and dynamic movement exercises.
• The Cobweb Runs Practice Session A 30-minute practice session for experienced enrolled students to test memory and performance readiness of songs not played recently, playing cold with no review. Free for students enrolled in at least one class.
• Festival Performance Sets Performance sets typically 20-30 minutes long, suitable for festivals, community events, private functions, and corporate events. ONE has been featured at Boston Dragon Boat Festival, Cambridge River Festival, First Night Providence, and more.
• Concert Performances Full concert performances lasting 60-90 minutes, performed at venues such as universities including Bridgewater State College and University of Rhode Island.
• Taiko Workshops (Booking) Introductory-level workshops for all ages ranging from 30-minute sessions for children to 3-hour intensive workshops for adults, to 8-week school residencies. Corporate team-building workshops also available with custom pricing.
• Lecture Demonstrations Educational presentations combining taiko performance with lecture components, suitable for school-based shows and museums.
• Collaborations / Special Projects Custom performance collaborations pushing boundaries of traditional taiko, including compositions for plays, nightclub performances, and fusion pieces.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 years of continuous operation since 1994
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered foundational, notable, minor, flagship and core.

• Soh Daiko (New York)foundationalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Elaine Fong, founder of Odaiko New England, was a former member of Soh Daiko from New York City. She looked to continue the art form of taiko within New England by forming ONE, carrying forward her training from Soh Daiko.
• Taikoza (NY-based)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerJuni Kobayashi has toured internationally with Taikoza under the artistic direction of Marco Lienhard, representing a collaboration between ONE and this NY-based taiko group.
• Genki Spark (Boston)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrian Forbis has collaborated with Genki Spark, a Boston-based taiko group, as part of his ongoing collaboration with different taiko groups to develop his skills.
• Rutsubo Taiko (Boston)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrian Forbis has collaborated with Rutsubo Taiko in Boston, expanding his taiko experience and cross-pollinating artistic approaches.
• OMNY Taiko (Brooklyn)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrian Forbis has collaborated with OMNY Taiko from Brooklyn as part of his professional development in the taiko community.
• Claremont Colleges Shogo Taiko (California)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarly Coe served as creative director of this taiko group during college, representing a connection between ONE and West Coast taiko organizations.
• Makoto Taiko (Pasadena)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarly Coe continued taiko studies with Makoto Taiko in Pasadena before joining ONE, maintaining connections between East and West Coast taiko communities.
• San Francisco Taiko DojonotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerElaine Fong received instruction from Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka, artistic director of San Francisco Taiko Dojo, influencing ONE's teaching methodology.
• Taiko Center of the PacificnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerElaine Fong received instruction from renowned taiko soloist Kenny Endo, artistic director of Taiko Center of the Pacific, contributing to ONE's artistic development.
• Sacramento Taiko DannotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth Elaine Fong and Kumiko Yamamoto received instruction from Tiffany Tamaribuchi, Artistic Director of Sacramento Taiko Dan, influencing their odaiko style.
• TaikozanotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerElaine Fong received instruction from Marco Lienhard, Artistic Director of Taikoza, for composition and performance techniques.
• Kodo Drummers (Japan)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerElaine Fong received instruction from world-famous Kodo drummers of Japan, representing the highest level of taiko artistry influencing ONE's performances and teaching.
• Continuum Dance CompanynotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn October 2023, Elaine Fong composed and performed music for Continuum Dance Company's site-specific Chinatown performance 'Becoming Water', representing cross-disciplinary collaboration.
• New England Movement Arts (NEMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOdaiko New England's new dojo location at New England Movement Arts, a multi-studio building focused on dance and martial arts. Perfect location for taiko group as it is filled with like-minded artists.
• Taiko Community AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource organization for taiko community events and networking, recommended for finding taiko events and conferences.
• Taiko VenturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource organization for taiko community events and professional development opportunities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sacramento Taiko Dan: Northern California taiko group under Artistic Director Tiffany Tamaribuchi, who trained both Elaine Fong and Kumiko Yamamoto in odaiko style. Directly comparable as a community taiko ensemble offering classes, performances, and cultural programming.
• Soh Daiko: New York City-based taiko ensemble founded in 1979. ONE's founder Elaine Fong was a former member, making Soh Daiko a direct lineage peer with shared repertoire and instructional tradition serving similar community/performance audiences.
• San Francisco Taiko Dojo: San Francisco-based taiko school founded by Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka, considered the pioneer of North American taiko. Elaine Fong received instruction from Tanaka, and the dojo offers comparable classes, performances, and workshops with the same Japanese ensemble drumming tradition.
• Genki Spark: Boston-based community taiko group that has collaborated directly with ONE member Brian Forbis. Operates as a direct local peer serving overlapping New England audiences with performances, classes, and community programming.
• Taikoza: New York-based taiko group under artistic direction of Marco Lienhard. Both Elaine Fong and Juni Kobayashi have trained under Lienhard, and Taikoza offers comparable concerts, workshops, and educational programming with shared artistic lineage.
• OMNY Taiko: Brooklyn-based taiko group that ONE member Brian Forbis has collaborated with. Comparable as a regional community taiko ensemble offering classes, performances, and workshops in an urban Northeast market.
• Makoto Taiko: Pasadena, California-based taiko group where ONE member Marly Coe played before joining ONE. Operates as a community performing arts ensemble offering classes, performances, and cultural programming to similar demographic audiences.
• San Jose Taiko: One of the longest-running community taiko groups in the United States, founded in 1973 in San Jose, California. Elaine Fong served as interim general manager. Directly comparable as a community performing arts taiko organization offering classes, performances, and educational programming.
• Taiko Center of the Pacific: Hawaii-based taiko school under artistic director Kenny Endo, who instructed ONE's founder. Offers comparable workshops, classes, and performances rooted in the same Japanese ensemble drumming tradition serving community and educational audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Kodo: World-famous professional Japanese taiko ensemble based in Sado Island, Japan. Kodo represents the global benchmark for taiko performance and has directly influenced ONE's founders through instruction, making it a broad incumbent peer whose presence sets the artistic standard for the entire North American taiko ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@OdaikoNewEngland
• Facebookfacebook.com/OdaikoNewEngland
• Instagraminstagram.com/odaiko.new.england
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/odaiko-new-england-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ODAIKO NEW ENGLAND INC