This picture was taken at the 1st and Central Summer Concerts 2007 event outside of the Japanese American National Museum on July 26, 2007 at 6:30pm. San Jose Taiko was the featured group that night, and they traveled all the way down to Los Angeles to perform for us.

Here, the crowd watches intently as San Jose Taiko performs for them in unison, with great power and spirit.

San Jose Taiko was founded in 1973, and is under the artistic directorship of Roy and PJ Hirabayashi. SJT mixes the beats of traditional Japanese drumming with African, Balinese, Brazilian, Latin and jazz percussion rhythms as well. The group currently has 15 performing members and three apprentices.

Photographed by Richard Murakami.