David Neptune

David Neptune is a percussionist based in Los Angeles whose musical voice draws on a lifetime of immersion in Japanese and world music traditions. Born and raised in Japan, David grew up performing alongside his father, renowned shakuhachi master John Kaizan Neptune, developing a percussive style shaped by influences spanning India, Japan, Latin America, and Africa. The two have performed together in concert halls across the globe.

Central to David's musical life is the Takeda Drum, a percussion instrument invented by John Kaizan Neptune. Inspired by the udu drum and crafted 100% from bamboo, the Takeda has a warm, resonant voice entirely its own, and can be played utilizing techniques drawn from many percussion traditions, including the Batá drum and the mridangam. David now produces and manufactures the instrument in Taiwan, carrying forward the world music philosophy he inherited from his father.