Sydney Shiroyama (she/her), OTR/L first learned taiko when she was 7 years old and joined the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple Dharma school taiko, taught by Rev. Hiroshi Abiko. In graduate school, while she was studying Occupational Therapy, she researched the therapeutic potential of taiko drumming and designed and led taiko workshops for children and adults with disabilities, and for adolescents and adults seeking mental health services.

After becoming an OT, she worked with taiko artists and groups around the world, such as Kodo and San Jose Taiko to develop programs for older adults and people with Parkinson’s Disease. She collaborated with Eri Uchida to develop TaikoIN', an approach to creating inclusive taiko experiences. She now leads regular workshops for the Silicon Valley Down Syndrome Network and a special education class in the Mountain View school district along with her sister and Sensei Gabe.

Sydney is interested in discussions around disability justice, bringing awareness to the Japanese Jodo Shinshu Buddhist experience, decolonizing wellness practice, and cultural appropriation. She has led presentations that explore these themes, such as her presentation in 2021 entitled Is Taiko “The Next Yoga”?: How Appropriation in the Wellness Industry can lead to Erasure of Japanese American Buddhist Communities. Sydney is currently a student at the Institute of Buddhist Studies pursing a Master’s in Buddhist Studies and she is a hopeful ministerial aspirant.