Interviews
Originality of each taiko group (Japanese)
(Japanese) I believe every taiko group ought to have its own unique style and originality. It should be based upon its locale. It should be indigenous. For instance, I have played the taiko in Los Angeles. The people who come to me are mostly Nikkei folks. They were born here, eat American foods, breath the air here, and grew up listening to American music. Those elements form the basis and are integral part of these folks.
When I started a Japanese taiko group here, I thought I needed to establish an authentic Japanese base and let the Sanseis build on this. They have their own rhythm and sound that ought to be incorporated to make it indigenous to the locale, I think.
Date: April 1, 2005
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Ann Kaneko
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum.
Explore More Videos
Understanding Sansei taiko (Japanese)
(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.
Soukou Bayashi: Dedicated to the Issei (Japanese)
(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.
Handmade taiko (Japanese)
(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.
Taiko philosophy (Japanese)
(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.
Rediscovery of Japanese culture through taiko (Japanese)
Shishimai (Lion dance) and Taiko player with San Francisco Taiko Dojo.
Differences between Kinnara and San Francisco Taiko Dojo
(b.1952) Master drummer, artistic director of the Taiko Center of the Pacific
Being free of the tradition
(b.1952) Master drummer, artistic director of the Taiko Center of the Pacific
Collaborating with non-taiko groups
(b.1952) Master drummer, artistic director of the Taiko Center of the Pacific
Lack of taiko at Cherry Blossom Festival
(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.
Reasons for starting taiko in America
(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.
Meeting Kinnara Taiko
(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.
Happi coats in taiko
(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.
Tire Dojo
(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.
Traditional taiko style
(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.
Dedicated to the frontier spirits
(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.