Faces of the Festival Jos Coolen, Taikoza Wellington

Meet Jos Coolen, leader of Taikoza Wellington, and one of the powerful forces behind the sound of beating taiko drums booming throughout the 2026 Lunar New Year Festival programme. In our first Faces of the Festival profile, Jos shares how taiko drumming drives away bad spirits, builds momentum for the Festival Fireworks, calling the community together to gallop into the Year of the Horse.

How long have you been involved in the Wellington Lunar New Year Festival and what ethnic community/culture do you associate yourself with.

Taikoza Wellington has regularly been part of the Wellington Lunar New Year Festival for over ten years. While the roots of our group are in Hiroshima, Japan, the art of Japanese taiko drumming as we know it today has been historically influenced by Chinese and Korean cultures. As a spiritual and cultural art form shared across many parts of Asia, taiko integrates naturally into broader celebrations such as the Lunar New Year Festival. Our performers group has members from a wide range of ethnicities and backgrounds, making our music a bridge between Asian cultures and the wider Wellington community.

For the 2026 festival, what is your role, and what traditions or elements from your culture are you most excited to share with Wellingtonians this year?

In the context of the New Year, taiko drumming has a very specific purpose: driving away evil spirits and wishing for good fortune in the year ahead. That is why it pairs well with the Fireworks Display on Saturday evening. The deep sounds of our drums symbolise vitality, strength and a fresh start.

Traditionally, in Japan Taiko drums are often the heartbeat of a festival, both spiritually and socially. The sounds of our drums, you can sometimes feel in your chest before you can hear it. It echoes the very first rhythm we experience as human, a heartbeat, which we experience already in the womb, before we are born. 

The symbolism of life and renewal makes taiko especially meaningful as we welcome a new year.

Lunar New Year is celebrated across many cultures. How does your own cultural heritage shape the way you participate in the festival programme?

We will bring the noise! 

Once taiko drums are heard, the atmosphere changes, it creates a sense of excitement. Traditionally the drums were also used as a call to gather, it tells everyone that the celebration is happening now. 

On Saturday, the booming sounds of our drums at Frank Kitts Park will help build momentum and excitement leading into the fireworks display.

On Sunday we will continue that rhythm  by inviting the community to join us. After our performance, we will hand out drumsticks and invite people to join in and drum together with us. Taiko is something everyone can participate in, and that shared and social experience reflects the inclusive spirit of the festival (and offers a taste of our beginner courses starting on 1 March).   

What has been a standout or memorable moment for you from past festivals, and why does it continue to inspire your involvement?

Every Lunar New Year Festival we've participated in has been a unique experience, from squeezing our drums onto a tiny float in the parade to performing at different locations along the waterfront. What has been consistent is the enthusiasm of the audience and the incredible energy across the city. There is always a sense of anticipation and excitement that showcases Wellington at its best, made possible by the amazing efforts and commitment of the festival organisers every year.

Looking ahead to the 2026 celebrations, what is the one highlight you’d encourage people not to miss, and what do you hope it helps them understand about your culture and the wider Lunar New Year community in Wellington?

As part of our performance in Frank Kitts Park, before the Fireworks Display, we will perform one of our favourite pieces, called Fuuma (風馬).which translates to “wind horse”, a mythical creature that carries prayers and wishes and represents good fortune. There is no better piece to gallop into the Year of the Horse than that one. 

We hope it helps people feel the shared energy of celebration and connection that sits at the heart of Lunar New Year across Wellington’s many communities.