The University of Puget Sound’s Taiko drumming club was not just an extracurricular activity for Lev Jersan '26 — it was a primary reason he chose to apply.
His journey from Missouri to Washington is a great example of the Puget Sound experience. It’s the opportunity to find a deep sense of community and fully invest in a passion. The Taiko club, known as Yume Daiko, serves as a home for students of all backgrounds, from those like Jersan who sought it out for years, to those who simply walk in curious, never having heard about it at all before.
Jersan, now a Japanese Language and Culture major, grew up in St. Louis, watching the professional St. Louis Osuwa Taiko perform. His love for this Japanese art form became a huge motivator when it came time to find a college.
“I was actually looking for colleges that had a Taiko group,” said Jersan, the Taiko Club co-president. “That’s kind of what ended up bringing me over, basically.”
At Puget Sound, Yume Daiko offered a unique sense of belonging for Jersan, as well as the other club members. It was founded in 2014 by Mikiko Ludden, an instructor in the Asian Studies Program, and is celebrating its 11th year. While it is a club associated with the Japanese Language and Culture program, Ludden emphasizes that the club’s doors are open to all.
“They don’t even have to speak Japanese,” Ludden said jokingly. “But they will learn some, naturally.”
Jersan confirmed that most members join with no prior experience, and many have never even heard of Taiko before walking into the chapel for a practice.
“You don’t have to have any musical training or dance training or anything like that,” Jersan said. “Just show up and we’ll teach you what you need to know.”
The club practices twice a week, and the sessions are as much about community building as they are about rhythm. Members describe a close-knit atmosphere where practices often end with trips to get boba tea.
“It’s more like a family,” Ludden said. “So people feel really comfortable in the club.”
The club also provides a platform for performance and leadership. Members actively perform across campus, collaborating with the School of Music, and throughout the Tacoma community. Their engagements include events like the Tacoma Film Festival and the Cherry Blossom Festival, and they most recently performed at the Walk for Reconciliation Against Racism on Oct. 25, at Chinese Reconciliation Park.
The club's story was recently featured in the documentary “Bang the Drum: Taiko in Tacoma,” which screened at The Grand Cinema. The film highlights Wendy Hamai, a 74-year-old Tacoma woman who teaches Taiko at the Tacoma Buddhist Temple and plays for “peace, justice, and her own health.” The documentary crew filmed the Yume Daiko club during a practice session, cementing its role in the local Taiko scene.
“We’re always happy to do performances,” Jersan said. “Anyone can always invite us to perform.”
For some, the club is more than a college activity; it is a launchpad. Former club president Nicholas Navine ’19 was recruited by a world-famous Taiko group in Japan, Kodo Taiko Performing Arts Ensemble. He is now in a two-year apprenticeship with the group.
“Once training is done and he’s successful, he’ll be one of the members to travel around the world performing,” Ludden said. “So that’s a big thing. I’m so proud of him.”
The drumming club is just one example of the student-driven communities that define the Puget Sound. It is a reminder that the university is a place where passions are not only discovered but deepened, and where a student’s interests can resonate far beyond the classroom.
Prospective students and community members are welcome to observe practices, held on Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. in Kilworth Memorial Chapel and Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Music Building. Jersan invites anyone who wants to join to attend and even encourages community members to pop their head in to say hello.
“Don’t feel scared or intimidated by the really loud drumming,” Jersan said. “It’s part of the fun, and we love sharing it with new people.”
