Basic Information

Organizational Affiliation		buddhist
Name of Affiliated Organization		Palo Alto Buddhist Temple
Primary Purpose of Group		social

Background Information

Group's Mission and Motivation

Reverend Hiroshi Abiko began the taiko practices for the children as yet another way to help impart the dharma, as well as being a fun, cultural activity for the students.

Group History
Describe how, where, and why the ensemble was founded. What was its inspiration?

Rev. Abiko was one of the founding members of San Jose Taiko, which in its beginnings was a church-affiliated group. A few years after being transferred to Palo Alto, Rev. Abiko, with the help of some temple members, built several taiko and began having practices for the dharma school students.

List of Founding Members

Reverend Hiroshi Abiko, Dharma School Students

Membership Composition
(i.e. ethnicity, generation, average years of experience, musical backgrounds, and motivation for playing)

The group is comprised of Dharma School students, aged 8 years+. We also have one Dharma School Teacher/Parent who intermittently plays with us too.

 

Biggest Changes
Describe two of the biggest changes that have characterized the group's development since its founding

In 2000, when Reverend Abiko was transferred from Palo Alto to the San Francisco temple, we lost our leader. Since then, practices have been run by Pam Murotsune and Amy Yoshida.

Performances, Recordings, Publications

Performances
List a selection of your regular performance venues (for example, Denver Sakura Matsuri, Seabrook obon, business conventions, Manzanar Pilgrimage, Maui Marathon, etc.)

- Every annual Palo Alto Obon Festival, since 1995
- Dharma Teachers' Conference (Airport Marriott, Burlingame, May 4, 2003)
-Various temple functions, celebrations (e.g. the temple's 90th Anniversary) and special services like Hanamatsuri.

Instructors, Teachers & Mentors
List the instructors, teachers and mentors who have worked with the ensemble.

Rev. Hiroshi Abiko, founder and instructor (1995-2000)

Amy Yoshida, coordinator (1995-present)

Pam Murotsune, instructor (1998-2011)

San Jose Taiko , drum repair workhop

Brandon Yanari, former member and instructor (2008-present)