Join US IN CELEBRATION: 2026 RMD MA 6th anniversary SHOW

Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Massachusetts RMD MA

RMD MA was established in 2020 as the Massachusetts branch of Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko, a creative Eisa group founded in 1982 in Okinawa, Japan. The name Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko translates to Ryukyu Kingdom Festival Drums.

Eisa (Okinawan: エイサーEisaa) is a form of folk dance originating from the Okinawan Islands, which were once known as the Ryukyu Kingdom. Eisa is a celebratory dance that is commonly performed by young people of each community during the Obon festival to honor the spirits of their ancestors and is considered an important part of Okinawan culture.

As a creative Eisa group, Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko performs all year round and focuses on sharing “Kokoro Spirit” with dynamic choreography based on a combination of karate form (kata) and traditional Eisa movements. The performers dance while drumming to a lively mixture of traditional and contemporary Okinawan and Japanese music. They invite people of all backgrounds to join them in exploring and preserving Okinawan culture through the art and spirit of taiko.

As of August 2024, Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko has 50 branches in Japan and 28 branches in eight other countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Peru, Taiwan, and the United States of America. There are approximately 2,500 RMD members in total.