Matsuri (Japan Festival) Byron Bay is an annual, non-profit, free community event that has been running since 2017, introducing unique Japanese cultural experiences through food, kimono, Taiko drumming, dancing and music. This is a rare opportunity for a free professional Taiko artist concert. This year, Matsuri Byron Bay will be featuring Ryuji Hamada from Taikoz, Sydney as the 7pm event finale, as well as Kizuka Taiko from the Gold Coast.
Ryuji has been invited as a special tutor for a three-day intensive Byron Taiko Music Camp being held on July 7, 8 and 9. Members will be learning a song during this workshop to perform in the final showcase on Sunday evening. This has been sponsored by Regional Youth NSW.
The Kids Taiko drumming workshops have always proven to be popular and will be happening again this year. This family-friendly event will also host a range of Japanese handmade market stalls, kids activities and crafts, dance workshops and more.
Bring your family along, grab a picnic rug, and enjoy a hot Japanese meal while listening to the beats of the Taiko drums.
Byron Taiko Youth was established in 2018 by Byron Council’s Community Initiative project at Byron YAC. Through the healthy full-body workout of Taiko drumming, the Byron Taiko project has provided a healthy routine and successfully educated children and youth about cultural diversity through after-school drumming workshops. With years of weekly practice, the Byron Taiko Youth group have recently performed at the Blues Festival, Soul Street Byron NYE, Bangalow Billy Cart, Byron Music Festival and Lismore Lantern Parade.
Please come along and support Matsuri Byron Bay so they can continue to hold this much-loved community event with the hope that they can move back to their original location at Main Beach in the future.
Want to learn Taiko drumming? Taiko drumming will blow your mind! Real music with vibrations to your heart. Anyone can learn. Weekly classes held on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. [email protected] for more information.
Enjoy the Matsuri Festival on Sunday 9 July 2–8pm at the Byron YAC – live music, entertainment, and Taiko drumming will continue until 8pm. No tickets needed. Just turn up, grab some Japanese food and enjoy the entertainment, starting with the 2pm opening ceremony with Didgeridoo and Taiko.
There will be a range of Japanese street food stalls serving their winter dinner menu, 2–8pm.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
