I got to know other musicians up in the Bay Area—Russel Baba and other people who were involved with Tanaka Sensei. And as a result, I ended up getting to know Tanaka Sensei, too. Actually, when he came to LA for a little gig, he would call me up, and I would go play fue with him. There was a closeness in that community, especially early when there weren’t that many players around. Yeah. Very close connection between the communities in Los Angeles—New York actually—and Los Angeles and San Francisco that I always had a place to stay somewhere in San Francisco. Or if I went to New York, somebody would open up their apartment or home on very short notice as a kind of sharing.
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Interviewee Bio
George Abe (b. 1944), renowned taiko and flute performer, was born at Manzanar concentration camp. He was one year old when his family relocated to Los Angeles, California. His mother was kibei, born in the city of Orange, California, moved to Japan when she was about nine years old, and returned to Los Angeles at about 26 years of age. His father was an Issei.
George grew up among artists and musicians, often attending biwa (lute) recitals with his mother. He played multiple instruments in his school band, including the clarinet, saxophone and oboe. As an adult, George remained fascinated with music, and learned to play the shakuhachi and fue, traditional Japanese flute-like instruments.
George was a founding member of Kinnara Taiko, a taiko group based at Senshin Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles, and remains associated with them today. Kinnara Taiko was one of the first taiko groups to form in North America, second only to Sensei Seichi Tanaka’s San Francisco Taiko Dojo. George believes in the influential power of art and the energizing effects of taiko. He uses his art to bring cultural, spiritual and community awareness to others. (December 10, 2004)
