Japanese-Americans in the Scottish Arts
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As a term project for UCLA's upper-division Asian-American Studies course entitled "The Japanese-American Experience", I decided to create a Nikkei Album depicting the role of Japanese-Americans who are involved in the Scottish arts, which includes bagpiping, drumming, and highland dancing. The sequence of images illustrates Japanese-American individuals practicing their respective aspects of Scottish culture and aims to draw a correlation between the complex and dynamic Japanese-American psyche/culture and the Scottish arts.
Slides in this album |
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Tuning up my pipesBeginning as a fascination in high school, the art of playing the great highland bagpipe has become not only a valued hobby of mine, but a very spiritual and rewarding activity. Since high school, I have joined a pipes and drums band called the Pasadena Scottish Pipes and Drums (or …
Tuning up my pipes |
celticdragon04
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Me and John AllanAs soon as I joined the Pasadena Scots, I simultaneously began taking private lessons from a Scottish-born bagpipe instructor and performer named John Allan. He is extremely well-known in the Scottish arts community and inspired me not only to excell in the band, but also to pursue competing in solo …
John Allan and I |
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John Allan & CaitlinAn ancient Scottish tradition is the highland dancer performing with bagpipe accompaniment. At a dinner event, instructor John Allan performes a strathspey, a slower type of Scottish dance music, for highland dancer Caitlin. Caitlin is the daughter of a Shin-Issei, Japanese mother and a Scottish-American father and practices highland dancing …
Caitlin & John Allan |
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Caitlin competing solo at the San Diego Highland GamesTo perform her highland dancing, Caitlin comes with the band to various highland games to compete in highland dancing solo competitions.
Caitlin competing in the solo highland dancing competition |
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Logan competing solo at the San Diego Highland GamesCaitlin's younger brother, Logan, is also involved in the Scottish Arts and competes solo in the Scottish side-drumming events. In this solo drumming event, Logan accompanies an exhibition piper. He is shown here standing on his drum case in order to reach the drum itself.
Logan competing in solo Side-drumming |
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Caitlin and Logan's FamilyCaitlin and Logan's parents are very supportive of their childrens' involvement in the Scottish arts. They initially got involved because of their father's Scottish heritage and have been practicing their respective crafts since a young age. The dynamic of a Shin-Issei mother and an American father fosters values of discipline …
Caitlin, Logan, and parents |
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Brad at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, ScotlandAfter competing with the band at a few highland games, I met Brad. He is also a mixed-race, Japanese-American involved in the Scottish arts community who plays the Scottish side-drum. Being involved in Scottish drumming for several years, Brad had proved himself as an excellent drummer and instrucor and leads …
Brad competing with The Misty Isle Pipe Band in Glasgow, Scotland |
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Brad competing with his band at the Queen Mary Highland GamesBrad in action as he leads the drum section of his band into competition.
Brad playing Scottish side drum with The Misty Isle Pipe Band |
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Me and Kiyoko at the Pomona Highland GamesImmediately after joining Pasadena Scots, I befriended the only other Asian bagpiper, Kiyoko. She is a Shin-Issei who is a very successful solo competitor. Because we share a cultural similarity, Kiyoko and I toss around Japanese phrases and banter and both get strange glances from patrons at the games because …
Kiyoko and I |
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Setting up the band tent and banner at the Monterey Highland GamesWhen first arriving at any of the highland games, the band sets up its tent and displays its banner to advertize its name. I always arrive to the games in uniform with a sense of pride and setting up camp for the band only intesifies the feeling of comradery and …
Erecting the Pasadena Scots banner |
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Massed pipes and drums at the Monterey Highland GamesAs a prelude to any highland games is an opening ceremony complete with a massed pipes and drums performance. All the pipe bands in attendance come together and march into the main stage area playing the nostalgic tunes that arouse the highland spirit. This is always a great opportunity to …
Massed pipes and drums at the Monterey Highland Games opening ceremonies |
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Tuning and preparation for band competitionA full hour before the band marches into the competition circle is devoted purely to tuning and warming up the pipes. Since they are made of an extremely dense wood and operate by double-reeds, they are sensitive to moisture, heat, cold, and humidity. Warming them up as a band early …
Prepartory band tuning |
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Marching into competition at the Monterey Highland GamesThe actual competition performance is the climax of the entire morning and always gets everyone's adrenaline pumping. We practice for three hours, one evening per week, just to prepare for these competitions and to be a part of a collaborative, musical effort of this kind is extremely rewarding.
Entering the competition circle |
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Exiting the competition circle at the San Diego Highland GamesSo what is it about the culture of Scotland and the war-like timbre of the pipes and drums that would attract Japanese-Americans? Among Japanese-Americans in the Scottish arts, is a sense of proving one's ability to assimilate and to develop an identity that is not purely Asian-American. The underlying roots …
Leaving the competition circle |
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Me and Kiyoko relaxing at the Pleasanton Highland GamesKiyoko and I were talking once about the similarities between Scottish culture and Japanese culture and came up with a surprising correlation. During the Highland Clearances, the Scots were being invaded by the English and were banned from practicing their culture, which included wearing kilts and playing the bagpipes. This …
Kiyoko and I relaxing at the Pleasanton Highland Games |
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The band preparing to begin the closing ceremonies paradeWhen all the different bands line up, each band displaying its own unique tartan/uniform, having its own unique name, and all under the command of one individual, it reminds me of the clan system that ruled Scotland before British rule. Each kinship, family, or group of individuals who identified with …
Preparing for a parade |
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Legendary Canadian bagpiper, Jack Lee and IThis past year, our band had the privilege of being coached by Jack Lee, a legendary bagpiper from Canada. For me, it was one of the most inspirational experiences not only because I was in the presence of such a renowned artist, but also because I had the chance to …
Piping legend Jack Lee and I |
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Caitlin displaying her awards at the San Diego Highland GamesAs you can see, Caitlin is a very successful dancer and attributes her success to her sense of discipline and attention to detail. She consistently studies highland dancing weekly and almost always places at the games.
Caitlin displaying her awards |
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The resultsAfter months of preparation with John Allan and hours of practice, the day of my first solo competition arrived. Although I was nervous, I remebered every detail and played with confidence. To my surprise, I managed to place first! Anyone who knows me knows that I do not hesitate …
Posted solo bagpiping results |
Japanese-Americans in the Scottish Arts
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