Dedicated to the frontier spirits

Understanding Sansei taiko (Japanese) Soukou Bayashi: Dedicated to the Issei (Japanese) Handmade taiko (Japanese) Taiko philosophy (Japanese) Coming to America Differences between American-born Japanese and Japanese from Japan Lack of taiko at Cherry Blossom Festival Reasons for starting taiko in America Meeting Kinnara Taiko Drafted for Vietnam War Happi coats in taiko Tire Dojo Traditional taiko style Dedicated to the frontier spirits Japanese musical education Differences between American and Japanese taiko Dream of "taiko" in the English dictionary

Transcripts available in the following languages:

I’m not exactly thinking we are representing San Francisco. And Sokobayashi dedicated to Issei, Nisei people. But this is not only for Japanese Issei and Nisei. This is an immigrant country—come from all over. So we have integrated student—German, Russian, Israel, Philippine, Korea, China, South America. So the Sokobayashi is the frontier spirit—dedicated to the frontier spirits, not only Japanese Issei, Nisei. To me, Japanese Issei and Nisei. But to my Filipino student, their frontier spirit dedicated to. So not exactly are…we are representing San Francisco, San Franciscan. But when I go to different country, listen to “I left my heart in San Francisco” That really feels good. Then I feel, “Oh, I’m a San Franciscan.” But usually they defined I’m not thinking I’m a San Franciscan.

Date: January 27, 2005
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Art Hansen, Sojin Kim
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum.

san francisco taiko taiko dojo