Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/435/

Collaborating with non-taiko groups

I’ve done things a lot with jazz artists. When Bobby McFerrin was here, he had me come up on stage, and we just did an impromptu thing. He started singing, and I was playing drums. Then I started doing vocalizations that we do and then handed him my sticks, and we started playing. And then, we were doing stuff back and forth. So, that was just totally impromptu.

Then stuff with Honolulu Symphony. Taiko and orchestra, a piece written by Takeo Kudo. Actually about the experience of Japanese Americans in World War II in the camps is what the theme was. But it had a more universal theme of people yearning to be free. And that featured me as a soloist. Sam Wong, who’s the musical director here, also has a concurrent position in Hong Kong. So he brought me out there to do that work with the Hong Kong Philharmonic. And just next month, we’re going to do a new piece with the Honolulu Symphony called “Concerto for Taiko and Timpani,” which will feature myself and Stuart Chafetz as the head timpani player from Honolulu Symphony. So, that’s just a few of the things. I do stuff with theatre groups, with dance groups, with other things.


drum taiko

Date: March 11, 2005

Location: Hawai`i, US

Interviewer: Sojin Kim, Arnoldo Hiura

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

Interviewee Bio

Kenny Endo, internationally renowned master drummer and artistic director of the Taiko Center of the Pacific (Oahu, HI), was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. His earliest musical experiences involved playing western drums and percussion in jazz, fusion, and rock and roll bands. After his introduction to kumidaiko in 1975, he studied and performed with Kinnara Taiko of Los Angeles and San Francisco Taiko Dojo.

In 1980, he traveled to Japan, where he spent ten years studying with masters in Sukeroku, Suwa, Gojinjo, and Chichibu drumming styles. He was the first non-Japanese national to ever receive a 'natori' (stage name) in Hogaku Hayashi (Japanese classical drumming). He continues to teach and perform internationally, working with musicians in various genres. (March 11, 2005)

Tanaka,Seiichi

Happi coats in taiko

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

Tanaka,Seiichi

Tire Dojo

(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

Dedicated to the frontier spirits

(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.

Kodani,Mas

Changing the taiko rhythm from Japanese to Afro-Cuban

Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.

Kodani,Mas

Friction between Sensei and Kinnara in defining taiko

Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.

Kodani,Mas

American influences on Japanese taiko

Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.

Kodani,Mas

Appreciating Kinnara Taiko's approach to taiko

Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.

Kodani,Mas

A Japanese American gardening dance

Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.

Kodani,Mas

Taiko is a reflection of where you live

Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.

Kodani,Mas

Playing traditional gagaku while creating an identity

Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.

Hirabayashi,PJ

Feeling empowered by taiko

Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko