Interviews

1. Taiko as a family tradition

2. Obon and the community

3. Taiko from the old days

4. Taiko as a family activity

5. Participation in community events

6. The multicultural perspective

7. Focus on peace

8. Mothers and Taiko

Fukumoto,Kay

(b.1960) Third-generation taiko drummer, leader of Maui Taiko

Taiko from the old days

So, when I became involved at 10 years old, I remember the group being a group of older men just getting together to have fun. From the stories I’ve heard, the Kiahula plantation Obons, back then, it was just Fukushima Ondo in terms of an Obon song. So, all the stories from all the 80 year old, 90 year old women and men from that generation is that they played Fukushima Ondo from sun down to about 1 or 2 in the morning. So it was a very rigorous five or six hours worth of Fukushima Ondo. And it was a community event. All the families from the various ethnic groups joined in.

drum Fukushima Ondo (song) taiko

Date: July 9, 2004

Location: Hawaii, US

Interviewer: Art Hansen, Sojin Kim

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

Interviewee Bio

Kay Fukumoto, of Maui Taiko, continues a multi-generational family tradition of playing taiko at local, annual Obon festivals that began with her grandfather and great-grandfather and now includes her husband and son. Though the Maui Taiko group was formed officially in 1996, it has been operating informally on Maui, Hawaii for over 100 years.

In 1970, at the age of ten, Kay was the first girl to be allowed to play the taiko at an Obon festival on the island of Maui. She now leads Maui Taiko, which plays at 16 different temples during the Obon festival season. In 2001, she coordinated a trip for the group to perform taiko in Fukushima and Hiroshima, Japan. (July 9, 2004)