Jaymie Sensei & Shuji Sensei

Jaymie Komagata began her taiko career at the age of 11 with Hawaii Matsuri Taiko in 1986 while attending Japanese language school at Wahiawa Ryusenji Soto Mission. In 1989 she joined the performing ensemble and quickly became one of the group’s young leaders.

In 1990, Jaymie was recruited by the late Den Tagayasu to join the renowned taiko group Ondekoza in Japan. Although she ultimately declined the offer, the opportunity opened doors for her to study with many distinguished taiko artists including Kiyonari Tosha, Seiichi Tanaka, Kenny Endo, Chizuko Endo, Seido Kobayashi, Etsuo Hongo, Yoshikazu Fujimoto, Marco Lienhard, Roy Hirabayashi, and PJ Hirabayashi.

In 2005, Jaymie co-founded Somei Taiko with her husband, Rev. Shuji Komagata, at the Soto Mission of Aiea. In January 2015, Jaymie and Rev. Shuji succeeded Faye Komagata as the leaders of Hawaii Matsuri Taiko, continuing its legacy while mentoring the next generation of taiko performers.

Jaymie and Shuji have two children, Remi and Reigen.

Bishop Shuji Komagata began playing taiko at the age of five in 1979 and is an original member of Hawaii Matsuri Taiko, founded in 1984. Throughout his youth he studied under pioneers of kumi-daiko (ensemble taiko drumming), including Rev. Shuichi Thomas Kurai, Kiyonari Tosha, Seiichi Tanaka, Kenny Endo, Chizuko Endo, Seido Kobayashi, Etsuo Hongo, Yoshikazu Fujimoto, Marco Lienhard, Roy Hirabayashi, and PJ Hirabayashi.

In 1994, Shuji moved to Japan to formally study the Sukeroku style as a performing member of Kiyonari Tosha’s Nihon Taiko Dojo. After receiving certification from Tosha Sensei to teach Sukeroku-style drumming and repertoire, he joined the San Francisco Taiko Dojo Performing Group under Seiichi Tanaka in 1996.

Shuji returned to Hawai‘i in 2001 and became the head instructor of Hawaii Matsuri Taiko. In 2005, while serving as resident minister of the Soto Mission of Aiea, he co-founded Somei Taiko with his wife, Jaymie. Together they have grown the Hawaii Matsuri Taiko and Somei Taiko schools to more than 100 students.

In January 2015, Shuji and Jaymie Komagata succeeded founder Faye Komagata as the leaders of Hawaii Matsuri Taiko. In 2019, Shuji also succeeded Rev. Shuichi Thomas Kurai as director of Fuden Daiko in Italy.  Bishop Shuji is currently a chaplain with the Honolulu Police Department, the resident minister of the Soto Mission of Aiea, chief priest of the Soto Mission of Hawaii, and the bishop of the Hawaii Soto Mission.