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Photo collage featuring Japanese performers on stage. Left: Two taiko drummers perform, smiling with right arms raised with left making contact with their drums. Centre: A man juggles three balls. Right: Medium close-up of a female taiko drummer, both arms raised with drumsticks as she performs.
Image featuring text superimposed over a photo collage of Japanese performers. Rhythms in Flight. Bottom left: Two taiko drummers perform, smiling with right arms raised with left making contact with their drums. Bottom centre: A man juggles three balls. Bottom right: Medium close-up of a female taiko drummer, both arms raised with drumsticks as she performs. Top right: Partial image of a man balancing on a pole, legs spread wide and elbows bent with hands behind his back and his body parallel to the ground.

Japanese artists Japanese artists

in a remarkable collaborative concert of taiko drumming & acrobatics.

Home Events Performance Nagata Shachu X Ryunosuke Yamazumi: Rhythms in Flight

Nagata Shachu X Ryunosuke Yamazumi: Rhythms in Flight

One night only – on Saturday, April 11, 2026 – Taiko ensemble Nagata Shachu closes their 28th season with Nagata Shachu X Ryunosuke Yamazumi: Rhythms in Flight, an exciting collaborative concert with Japanese circus artist Ryunosuke Yamazumi. This performance will feature the energy, discipline and passion of both taiko and circus, performed by extraordinary and renowned Japanese artists. Presented at The Fleck at Harbourfront Centre Theatre.

Heart-pounding drumming meets sensational acrobatics

Nagata Shachu have created two new works to accompany Ryunosuke’s signature circus acts, and Ryunosuke, who is also a musician, will perform a drumming piece with the ensemble. Ryunosuke will perform his signature routines with breathtaking acrobatic precision on a free-standing pole over 10 feet in the air – and, using a Chinese pole and balls, he’ll explore the limits of his body, free from all gravity.

Nagata Shachu will also perform a new piece composed by founder and Artistic Director Kiyoshi Nagata, funded by the Japanese Canadian Legacy Society, as an open source taiko piece that could be played by all taiko groups across Canada.

The performance will feature Ryunosuke Yamazumi and the eight members of Nagata Shachu ensemble: founder Kiyoshi Nagata, and Aki Takahashi, Andrew Siu, Kevin He, Tatsuki Shimoda, Brian Liang, Eriko Murata and Sakura Ariga.

About Nagata Shachu

Based in Toronto, ON, Nagata Shachu Japanese Taiko and Music Group has enthralled audiences with its mesmerizing and heart-pounding performances of the Japanese drum (taiko) since its formation in 1998. The group has toured widely throughout Canada, the U.S. and Italy, and has performed at major engagements in Lebanon and Mexico. While rooted in the folk drumming traditions of Japan, the ensemble’s principal aim is to rejuvenate this ancient art form by producing innovative and exciting music that seeks to create a new voice for the taiko. Taking its name from founder Kiyoshi Nagata and the Japanese word “shachu” (meaning “group”), Nagata Shachu has become renowned for its exacting, physically demanding and energetic performances on the taiko, as well as for its diverse repertoire. Their playing is the combination of unbounded spirit and passion with the highest levels of musicianship and discipline.

About Ryunosuke Yamazumi

Ryunosuke Yamazumi is an extraordinary Japanese circus artist who specializes in big ball juggling, Chinese pole and antipodism (foot juggling). After becoming the first Japanese man to graduate from Quebec Circus School, he’s been performing his sensational acts for circus companies, including Cirque du Soleil, galas and a variety of festivals all over the world. He won the First Prize in Talents Extrêmes in Quebec, the Second Place on Zoink’d in Canada and Jury’s Special Prize at Izhevsk International Circus Festival in Russia. Ryunosuke adapts his show for any type of event and continues to leave his audience of all ages roaring.

On stage, a Japanese performer balances on a pole, his legs spread wide and elbows bent with hands behind his back and his body parallel to the ground as he smiles at us.

(Photo credits: Ryunosuke Yamazumi.)

 

Event details

Presented by: Nagata Shachu

Type of event: music concert + acrobatics

Featured performers:

  • taiko group Nagata Shachu: founder Kiyoshi Nagata, with ensemble members Aki Takahashi, Andrew Siu, Kevin He, Tatsuki Shimoda, Brian Liang, Eriko Murata & Sakura Ariga. Read about them here.
  • circus artist Ryunosuke Yamazumi 

Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026

Start time: 8:00 PM ET

Duration: 90 minutes (no intermission)

Cost: All prices include HST.

  • Regular admission: C$46.00 – $52.00
  • Seniors & students: C$36.00 – $46.00
  • Early bird discount: Use code RIF15 to save 15% off regular priced adult tickets before February 11.

Location: The Fleck at Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 231 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON, M5J 2G8, Canada

Video: Watch Nagata Shachu perform.

Booking link: Book your tickets here. Accessible seats are available. For all ticketing inquiries, e-mail audienceservice@harbourfrontcentre.com

Contact details: Nagata Shachu; (416) 651-4227, taiko@nagatashachu.com, nagatashachu.com

 

Content warning: For audiences age 10+.

Accessibility: Info here. Accessible seats are available. For all ticketing inquiries, e-mail audienceservice@harbourfrontcentre.com