Our Team
Nitay Zelinker, founder of Taiko Life Israel
Nitay had a passion for music and martial arts from a young age. After combat service in the IDF, he traveled to India to study meditation in an intensive course in Pune, with Master Dolano.
To deepen his knowledge and connection to nature, Nitay joined an instructor’s course of the "Garden Guards Organization" and continued to play and practice martial arts: Dennis Survival and Kung Fu Wu Wei.
By the end of the first year of medical laboratory studies at Ben Gurion University, Nitay decided to start a journey following the taiko drums of Japan and the Zen drummers of Taiwan. After repeated attempts, he was accepted into the U-Theater training group and lived with them on the top of a mountain outside Taipei, Taiwan. During this time he trained intensively and perfected his abilities while being exposed to the lifestyle surrounding the demanding music instrument. He also practiced intensively in kung fu, tai chi, attended three full Vipassana courses, learned Chinese, and of course Zen drumming.
After specializing in Taiwanese-style Zen drumming, Nitay moved to Japan. In Japan, he joined Ondekoza, one of the oldest taiko groups in the world. He lived with the team members while maintaining an intense lifestyle that included running 10km every morning, strength training, playing Japanese flute, and taiko drumming. Later Nitay expanded his knowledge in the Japanese style and trained with other leading drumming groups such as Wadaiko, Hiryu Shidara, and Ren Kobe. He then returned to Taiwan to collaborate with Taiwanese drummers, and teach Zen drumming at the Taipei Youth Prison.
After 5 years abroad, Nitay returned to Israel and founded Taiko Life, the first Taiko group in Israel. He was trained as a fitness trainer at Wingate College, was examined by a professional committee for the art of music, and was classified as a standout.
Maho Sato
Born in Japan, Maho was exposed to various musical content and traditional taiko drumming from a young age.
In her youth, she played the tuba in an orchestra, learned musical rhythms and gained a deep understanding of the role of the base.
After graduating from university in Kyoto, Maho moved to Taiwan, her mother's birthplace, to improve her Chinese language skills. In Taiwan she met Nitai and was pulled into the world of drumming.
Maho began training at the school of U -Theatre in Taiwan and later continued under the guidance of Nitay.
In 2015, Maho immigrated to Israel together with Nitay and started playing in "Taiko Life Israel". In 2016 she returned to Japan to study at the Tokyo sushi academy and received a sushi chef certificate.
She then returned to Israel and continued her path as a leading drummer in the team.
In 2021 she gave birth to her first child.
Einat Chitayat
Einat was born in Japan and immigrated to Israel at the age of 16. After completing her academic studies at the Hebrew University, Einat returned to Japan. In Tokyo, Einat studied architectural studies at the Chuo Engineering College and then worked in international building project management companies throughout the years.
She was Inspired by a taiko performance she saw by Sen Amano & Arahan and began studying taiko at the Miyabi Arashi Taiko School under Igarashi-sensei. After 6 years, Einat joined the Miyabi Arashi Performing Group, where she continued her studies and performed for an additional 5 years before returning to Israel.
In 2015, she joined Taiko Life Israel and began training and performing with the ensemble as her main occupation in parallel with design and architecture.
Orit Zelniker
Graduate of the Israel Academy of Music of the Tel-Aviv University, Orit served as the first double bass player of the Israeli Chamber Orchestra and later of the "Tel - Aviv soloists ensemble". She took part in the "Voice of Music in the Upper Galilee" festivals and played as a soloist in television programs edited by Prof. Arie Vardi.
She continues to perform as part of leading orchestras in Israel: the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon Lezion, and more, and participates in chamber ensembles with local and international artists.
Orit also specializes in reflexology and Sujok and has been treating patients for over 15 years in her private clinic.
The power and the energy of the taiko drum fascinated Orit and inspired her to study taiko. Today she is performing together with Taiko Life Israel and contributes with her long and rich musical experience.
Miho Kataoka
Miho grew up in Kyoto, Japan, surrounded by traditional Japanese culture. Exposed to music since childhood, Miho began playing the shinobue, a Japanese traditional bamboo flute, after she heard a Japanese artist playing it. She recalls how her soul was stirred by the experience: “When I heard the sound, though I was very far from Japan, the smell and the sound of bamboo trees, the wind, and the waves, the nature of Japan, was present before my eyes.”
Since then, playing the flute has become a big part of her life. Miho’s experience with the bamboo flute is not exclusively from Japan but also from India, where she studied Indian Classical Dance and performed as a dancer.
Miho also specializes in Japanese ceramic art after completing her studies at the University of Art in Kyoto. Her collection is exhibited in the Tikotin Museum in north Israel and her works are sold throughout several museum shops in Israel.
Eti Zohar Abramovitz
Eti Zohar, a modern flute player, was drawn to taiko music as part of her great love for folk music. Throughout her years of musical activity, Eti Zohar wandered between different folk music such as Irish, Balkan and Celtic music (with Black Velvet), to Cuban and Latin music with the Kimbombo Band and other Latin bands.
In addition to accompanying various artists in the music industry and various artists from abroad with the flute, guitar and percussion, she played in the Chamber Theater, various plays and more.
Eti Zohar's attraction to folk music is expressed in her versatile playing style and is part of the passion that pulls her in different and varied directions.
In addition, Eti Zohar, together with the father of her children, Itai Abramowitz, created a children's record that is all about a musical journey between different styles; the record is called "Crumbs" and it contains experiences from the world of children, made into songs and melodies in a variety of styles and rhythms. Also, Eti Zohar has been teaching music to preschoolers for over 15 years and guides music and kindergarten teachers on how to work with little ones from an attentive place and from a search for a bond of trust, sensitivity and shared creativity with the children.
Eti Zohar was swept in a flash and with great passion for playing with Taiko Life on the Japanese flute (Shinobue).
Eti Zohar Abramovitz
Eti Zohar, a modern flute player, was drawn to taiko music as part of her great love for folk music. Throughout her years of musical activity, Eti Zohar wandered between different folk music such as Irish, Balkan and Celtic music (with Black Velvet), to Cuban and Latin music with the Kimbombo Band and other Latin bands.
In addition to accompanying various artists in the music industry and various artists from abroad with the flute, guitar and percussion, she played in the Chamber Theater, various plays and more.
Eti Zohar's attraction to folk music is expressed in her versatile playing style and is part of the passion that pulls her in different and varied directions.
In addition, Eti Zohar, together with the father of her children, Itai Abramowitz, created a children's record that is all about a musical journey between different styles; the record is called "Crumbs" and it contains experiences from the world of children, made into songs and melodies in a variety of styles and rhythms. Also, Eti Zohar has been teaching music to preschoolers for over 15 years and guides music and kindergarten teachers on how to work with little ones from an attentive place and from a search for a bond of trust, sensitivity and shared creativity with the children.
Eti Zohar was swept in a flash and with great passion for playing with Taiko Life on the Japanese flute (Shinobue).
