Since 2000, the group has been active in the international scene through tours and exchange concerts in countries such as Japan, China, and Thailand.
[5] Stanford Taiko is a student-run group under the guidance of the Department of Music and faculty advisors Stephen M. Sano and Linda Uyechi.
[6][non-primary source needed] Stanford Taiko continues to spread understanding of the art form among the university community and build upon its knowledge through workshops with professional groups from Japan such as Tao.
[7] Ann Ishimaru first saw taiko in a Seattle festival and was inspired by the energy and intensity of the art form.
Part of the Stanford Workshop on Political and Social Issues (SWOPSI) program, the 1990 course, called Redress Now!
: The JA Internment and Taiko, was a half-history, half-practicum course that brought Ishimaru in contact with Valerie Mih.
During the first year, the group spent weekends drum building in Ishimaru's house, which helped the members bond.
The group debuted in the spring of 1992 at White Plaza in Stanford with their first two pieces, renshu and matsuri, and their instruments: two chuu daiko, one odaiko, a tom-tom drum, and a cowbell.
Stanford Taiko member Susan Kanagawa (Yuen) organized the logistics for the Stanford-based event.
It is sponsored by the Music Department, which waives fees for concert and rehearsal spaces, and The Stanford Fund.
The group's charter members were Julie Kikuchi, Joe Kimura, David Li, Zack Semke, Barden Shimbo, Isa Stenzel (Byrnes), Hiroshi Tanaka, Linda Uyechi, Susan Kanagawa (Yuen).
[4][non-primary source needed] As a result, Stanford Taiko shares variations of the core principles of SJT, including ki (energy), kata (form), musical technique, and attitude.
In its early years, Stanford Taiko borrowed lessons from a myriad of groups, and Kimura contributed his perspectives in the form of the Osuwa Daiko pieces he knew, including isamigoma and hiryu sandan gaeshi.
The first two pieces were Renshu, literally "practice" and Matsuri, both derived from musical elements of Oedo Sukeroku repertoire.