Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1368/

Number 1 Hit "Sushi"

[Play music]

We recorded at radio station, and with this portable [Ampax?] recorder, tape recorder, two-track, so if you made a mistake you had to start all over from the beginning.  So we recorded that album in one day, called the Cool Touch, and I recorded all Japanese songs, mostly, except one or two.

And this song that [Hida?] wrote, called [Sazanaka no michi?], I called it Sushi.  And that's the one that hit, that thing became number 1 in Hawaii in two weeks and this song that [Hida?] wrote, called [Sazanaka no michi?], I called it Sushi.  And that's the one that hit, that thing became number 1 in Hawaii in two weeks.

Dick Clark. He, and Lloyd Thaxton, they both played my record, yeah?  That record.  And the kids were dancing to it.  And I wasn't even working, I was just watching the TV, you know?  I didn't even have a job.  And to work in Hawaii, I couldn't play that song, you see?  Because the managers of all the hotels, strictly, you know, demanded that you play only Hawaiian music, and no other kind of music.  So I was playing at the Moana Hotel, with the trio, you know, during the Sunset hour, that was my first job on Waikiki.  Lloyd Thaxton came to the stage, he said, "You're Ota-san?"  I said, "yeah."  He say, "You wanna play 'Sushi' for me?"  I looked at him, I knew who he was or anything, I say "I cannot play that song." Hahaha!...

[Play music]

Something like that, I don't remember.  Hahaha!


Dick Clark Hawaii Lloyd Thaxton music musical instruments musicians ukulele United States

Date: August 2012

Location: Hawai`i, US

Interviewer: John Esaki

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

78-years-old, is known by ukulele fans in Japan and around the world as "Ohta-san." Ohta-san is a master ukulele player who learned to play the instrument from his mother in the pre-World War II era in Honolulu. He played a major role in popularizing the ukulele in the 1960s and 70s, expanding the repertoire of the instrument beyond Hawai`ian songs to include international pop and jazz. In his interview, Ohta-san vividly demonstrates his stylistic development by playing excerpts from songs that were significant to his career. (June 2014)

Richard Kosaki
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Kosaki,Richard

Change in attitudes after World War II

(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i

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Seiichi Tanaka
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Tanaka,Seiichi

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(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

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Etsuo Hongo
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First taiko performance in the United States (Japanese)

(1949 - 2019) Taiko player. Founded five taiko groups in Southern California

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Etsuo Hongo
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Hongo,Etsuo

Taiko's sounds as Japanese cultural tradition (Japanese)

(1949 - 2019) Taiko player. Founded five taiko groups in Southern California

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Etsuo Hongo
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Hongo,Etsuo

Promoting group identity through taiko contests (Japanese)

(1949 - 2019) Taiko player. Founded five taiko groups in Southern California

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Richard Kosaki
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Kosaki,Richard

Working at a first aid station on Oahu after December 7

(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i

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Mas Kodani
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Kodani,Mas

Changing the taiko rhythm from Japanese to Afro-Cuban

Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.

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Seiichi Tanaka
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Tanaka,Seiichi

Meeting Kinnara Taiko

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

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Seiichi Tanaka
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Tanaka,Seiichi

Happi coats in taiko

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

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Seiichi Tanaka
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Tanaka,Seiichi

Traditional taiko style

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

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Mas Kodani
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Kodani,Mas

American influences on Japanese taiko

Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.

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Mike Shinoda
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Shinoda,Mike

Role as an artist

(b. 1977) Musician, Producer, Artist

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Mas Kodani
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Kodani,Mas

Taiko is a reflection of where you live

Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.

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Mas Kodani
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Kodani,Mas

Playing traditional gagaku while creating an identity

Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.

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PJ Hirabayashi
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Hirabayashi,PJ

Taiko as self-expression

Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko

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