Interviews

1. Realizing Importance of Birthplace

2. Honing Artistic Talent at Camp

3. The Birth of Kinnara

4. Taiko Community

5. Defining "Lifestyle"

6. Playing for Yourself

7. Ocean of Sound: Taiko in the Womb

8. Getting along with "Jichan" and "Bachan"

9. Pushing Taiko to the Limit

10. Influencing Japan

11. Japanese American Taiko

12. Thank You, Shakuhachi

Abe,George

(b. 1944) taiko and flute performer

Getting along with "Jichan" and "Bachan"

This thing of skipping a generation, I think as Sanseis we began to look more not at what the Niseis did but what the Isseis did. We wanted to communicate with jichan and bachan and found out that there was a very rich culture there where maybe the Isseis really didn’t transfer that or the Niseis didn’t pick up on it. Maybe they were too close, and they hated the parents because they were so strict. Any number of things where, as Sansei kids, maybe we were more spoiled by grandparents. So we have a closer relationship, and we want to know more. It was also this thing of finding more identity, who we are. This maybe be stereotype, but I think Asians do have a certain aesthetic sense. I think it comes from growing up in house where art things are around—calligraphy, pottery, baskets and bamboo things are displayed and used every day. They have function and beauty. It’s part of growing up, maybe.

generations immigrants immigration Issei Japan migration Sansei

Date: December 10, 2004

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Art Hansen, Sojin Kim

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

Interviewee Bio

George Abe (b. 1944), renowned taiko and flute performer, was born at Manzanar concentration camp. He was one year old when his family relocated to Los Angeles, California. His mother was kibei, born in the city of Orange, California, moved to Japan when she was about nine years old, and returned to Los Angeles at about 26 years of age. His father was an Issei.

George grew up among artists and musicians, often attending biwa (lute) recitals with his mother. He played multiple instruments in his school band, including the clarinet, saxophone and oboe. As an adult, George remained fascinated with music, and learned to play the shakuhachi and fue, traditional Japanese flute-like instruments.

George was a founding member of Kinnara Taiko, a taiko group based at Senshin Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles, and remains associated with them today. Kinnara Taiko was one of the first taiko groups to form in North America, second only to Sensei Seichi Tanaka’s San Francisco Taiko Dojo. George believes in the influential power of art and the energizing effects of taiko. He uses his art to bring cultural, spiritual and community awareness to others. (December 10, 2004)