Interviews
Starting Japanese American taiko their own way
There was nothing like it around. And there was no teacher. There was a group of us that got together. We’ve seen movies. We listen to records. We saw pictures, but there was no teacher. So that’s a good thing and bad thing. It took us longer to evolve and to develop. But because of that, it made us, after a long period of time, more confident and secure of what we were trying to do because what we were doing was the original. We were just making it up as we were going along, anyway. Not only were we making up the music, we were also making the instruments because we couldn’t afford our own taikos from Japan. So we were creating that particular consciousness.
Again, all this is just totally unconscious. It’s not like, “We are going to develop and make Japanese American music. We are going to make Japanese American instruments. This is what we’re going to do. We set out for this goal to do it.” We didn’t do that. We had no idea. Now I can say what I’m saying [which] is that, unconsciously, this form evolved. This is what it is. This is what it came out to be.
Date: October 15, 2004
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Art Hansen, Sojin Kim
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
Changing the taiko rhythm from Japanese to Afro-Cuban
Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.
Friction between Sensei and Kinnara in defining taiko
Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.
American influences on Japanese taiko
Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.
Appreciating Kinnara Taiko's approach to taiko
Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.
A Japanese American gardening dance
Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.
Taiko is a reflection of where you live
Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.
Playing traditional gagaku while creating an identity
Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.
Feeling empowered by taiko
Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko
Taiko as self-expression
Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko
Diverse membership in San Jose Taiko
Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko
Bringing Japanese American taiko to Japan
Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko
A “principally-based” taiko group in England creating a global taiko community
Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko
Developing an original kata
(b.1951) Co-founder and managing director of San Jose Taiko.
Introducing Taiko in Vancouver
(b.1951) Co-founder and managing director of San Jose Taiko.