Interviews
The Birth of Kinnara
I think probably everybody has a different version. I just remember we were putting away the drum. Every year, only one drum was here at the temple, and that was the one that was used for obon. Inoue Sensei, one the nihon-gakko senseis here, played that taiko for the ondo—for the pacing or beat for the dancers. He had a very distinct style.
This is right about the birth… When Mas is here—and he’s beginning to talk about studying chanting and Buddhist music and things like that—some of us began to take an interest in that type of Taiko, that type of drumming for the dancers. So some of us were beginning to learn how Inoue Sensei was playing these rhythms. But we were putting away the drum, and we just started kind of jamming on it. I think we played for a couple of hours. I don’t think it was all night or anything like that. I do remember my hands getting bloody, blisters breaking and just feeling tremendous—this energized kind of feeling from playing that drum. I think that was the birth for us.
Date: December 10, 2004
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Art Hansen, Sojin Kim
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
Unique Identity from Having Multiple Backgrounds
(b. 1938) Philipines-born hikiagesha who later migrated to the United States.
Growing up Japanese in Hawaii
(b. 1952) Former banking executive, born in Hawaii
Parents identification as Peruvian Okinawan
Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.
Okinawan cultural appreciation
Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.
Prejudice against Okinawans from mainland folks
Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.
American values she aligns with
Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.
Working together in Okinawa using three languages
Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.
Expressing herself through poetry
(b. 1923) Japanese American poet, activist
About Escobar (Spanish)
(b. 1962) Nisei Japanese Argentinian, currently residing in Japan
Her definition of Nikkei
(b.1974) Japanese Colombian who currently resides in the United States
Impact of Coming Out on Her Family
(b. 1957) Jusice of the Supreme Court of Hawaii.