Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/235/

Buying violin (Japanese)

(Japanese) In Japan, when I was 18, in Osaka, out of my 24-yen-a-month salary, I put out a whole 20 yen and bought it. On the boat, I would play it by myself—kee-ko, kee-ko. When I was just messing around, people would come around and clap. I would be playing, kee-ko, kee-ko. Gradually, I became able to play it. 

[Playing violine]


music violins

Date: October 14 & 17, 2004

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Eriko Yamamoto

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

Interviewee Bio

Kazuo Funai, 104-year-old pioneer Issei from Wakayama Prefecture in Japan, owned and operated a market on Central Avenue in Los Angeles. In 1941, prior to the outbreak of World War II, Mr. Funai had made arrangements to move to Tokyo to set up a business enterprise. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he was unable to travel to Japan and was financially ruined. In addition, he and his family were incarcerated in an American concentration camp. He survived these obstacles to later start several successful businesses.

Mr. Funai passed away on Thursday, March 3, 2005 at the age of 105. (August 16, 2005)

Tanaka,Seiichi

Soukou Bayashi: Dedicated to the Issei (Japanese)

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

Tanaka,Seiichi

Taiko philosophy (Japanese)

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

Hongo,Etsuo

First taiko performance in the United States (Japanese)

(1949 - 2019) Taiko player. Founded five taiko groups in Southern California

Hongo,Etsuo

Promoting group identity through taiko contests (Japanese)

(1949 - 2019) Taiko player. Founded five taiko groups in Southern California

Hongo,Etsuo

Taiko's sounds as Japanese cultural tradition (Japanese)

(1949 - 2019) Taiko player. Founded five taiko groups in Southern California

Tanaka,Seiichi

Reasons for starting taiko in America

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

Tanaka,Seiichi

Meeting Kinnara Taiko

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

Tanaka,Seiichi

Happi coats in taiko

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

Tanaka,Seiichi

Traditional taiko style

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

Tanaka,Seiichi

Japanese musical education

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

Tanaka,Seiichi

Differences between American and Japanese taiko

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

Tanaka,Seiichi

Dream of "taiko" in the English dictionary

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

Sumida,Alice

Blue-eyed doll

(1914-2018) Founder of the largest gladiolus bulb farm in the United States.

Shinoda,Mike

First experience writing music

(b. 1977) Musician, Producer, Artist

Shinoda,Mike

Insights from family on Japanese American internment

(b. 1977) Musician, Producer, Artist