Interviews

1. The reason he came to the United States (Japanese)

2. First taiko performance in the United States (Japanese)

3. Differences in taiko style (Japanese)

4. Originality of each taiko group (Japanese)

5. Benefits of living in the United States (Japanese)

6. Promoting group identity through taiko contests (Japanese)

7. Taiko's sounds as Japanese cultural tradition (Japanese)

Etsuo Hongo

(1949 - 2019) Taiko player. Founded five taiko groups in Southern California

Benefits of living in the United States (Japanese)

(Japanese) By living here rather than in Japan, I am able to play the taiko. To me, I can have more of my dream than being over there. I feel like I can do this only by living here. I guess you call it the “American Dream.” You know, it seems to me that the more you put in the more you get out. It makes it all worth trying hard.

Come to think of it, if I were in Japan, I would probably not be beating on a taiko at this age. I would probably have quit a long time ago. You know, your parents and siblings would probably criticize you and might say, “You are still beating on a taiko, like a fool.” There are so many critics and I would probably have given up a long time ago. But over here, this thing creates its own meaning. I have been able to come this far because people seem to get enjoyment out of my doing this.

drum taiko

Date: April 1, 2005

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Ann Kaneko

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

Interviewee Bio

Etsuo Hongo, a shin-issei, was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. He began his taiko training there, and was exposed to the idea of taiko in the United States when he read a 1968 Japanese newspaper article about San Francisco Taiko Dojo. Almost immediately after he came to the United States in 1973, he searched out a place to play taiko. He attended the Long Beach Buddhist Temple obon, where he was given his first opportunity to play taiko in this country. Shortly thereafter, he traveled to South America, where he spent the subsequent year visiting various Nikkei communities and continuing to play taiko in local festivals.

After his travels in South America, Mr. Hongo decided to return to the United States where he started his gardening business. In 1977, he established Los Angeles Matsuri Taiko. He now has five groups—totaling some 100 students. The other four groups are L.A. Mugen Taiko (est. 1988), Venice Koshin Taiko (est. 1992), L.A. Taiko Okida Gumi (est. 1996), and El Marino Rainbow Taiko, an elementary school program for 2nd through 5th graders. He passed away on October 28, 2019 at age 70. (June 2021)

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