Basic Information

Leadership Structure		artistic co-directors with input from other 2 touring members
Primary Purpose of Group		Professional performing group

Background Information

Group's Mission and Motivation

One of Fubuki Daiko's main goals is to bring the art of taiko to audiences who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience Japanese culture.

Structure and Philosophy
Describe the ensemble's organizational structure and philosophy, including leadership structure, membership policy, and instructional process.

The group is legally incorporated with Hiroshi Koshiyama and Naomi Guilbert as the Co-Directors and only shareholders. Most business decisions and the day to day business of the group are the responsibility of Koshiyama and Guilbert. Most artistic decisions are made in consultation with the other two full time performing members: Bruce Robertson and Kimi Guilbert. Koshiyama and Guilbert originally trained with the San Francisco Taiko Dojo and wanted to continue Tanaka Sensei's spirit and philosophy of taiko in Winnipeg. In addition to touring professionally as a taiko ensemble, the group also teaches beginner, intermediate, and advanced students as well as teaching in school residency programs with students ranging in age from kindergarten to University/ college level. The teaching of these classes, as well as performing group rehearsals, are shared by Koshiyama, Guilbert, and Robertson (who also trained with the SFTD). We accept all students interested in taiko drumming regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation. We train our students in the similar traditional style as the SFTD (ie bowing upon entering the practice space, saying "ohayoo gozaimasu", sempai/ kohai hierarchy, etc).

Group History
Describe how, where, and why the ensemble was founded. What was its inspiration?

The group was founded in Winnipeg in March of 1995 by Koshiyama, Guilbert, and Phoebe Man (who has since left the group to pursue other interests). Both Guilbert and Man were former members of another Winnipeg Taiko group, Hinode Taiko. Man left Hinode Taiko to pursue other interests (one of which was Fubuki Daiko), Guilbert was kicked out and went to San Francisco where she met Koshiyama while training with the SFTD. They married, returned to Winnipeg, and formed Fubuki Daiko with Man. They started off performing a few pieces from the Taiko Dojo repertoire but also worked on creating their own original pieces. The first few pieces were songs inspired by Tanaka's music but the group soon developed their own style as well. Bruce Robertson moved to Winnipeg from San Francisco to join Fubuki Daiko not long after the group was formed. Man was replaced by Kimi Guilbert in 1999.

List of Founding Members

Hiroshi Koshiyama
Naomi Guilbert
Phoebe Man

List of Current Members

Hiroshi Koshiyama
Naomi Guilbert
Bruce Robertson
Kimi Guilbert

Student members
Lynn Lai
David Johnson
Rex McTavish

Membership Composition
(i.e. ethnicity, generation, average years of experience, musical backgrounds, and motivation for playing)

One Nissei, two bi-racial (French Canadian and Japanese Canadian), one caucasian

Between 10-15 ears of taiko experieince each. All started drumming in their twenties

Comunidad
Description of the group's community - regional, ethnic, social, etc.

The group practices in an Anglican (Episcopalian) Church near Downtown Winnipeg, though none of the group members are Anglican. Winnipeg is a fairly multicultural city considering it is in the middle of nowhere and is surrounded by a fairly white farming midwestern population.

Biggest Changes
Describe two of the biggest changes that have characterized the group's development since its founding

The biggest change occurred when a fire nearly destroyed the apartment block that three of the four members live in.

Working with the Northern Plains Ballet to create a full length ballet.

Performances, Recordings, Publications

Performances
List a selection of your regular performance venues (for example, Denver Sakura Matsuri, Seabrook obon, business conventions, Manzanar Pilgrimage, Maui Marathon, etc.)

Marathons, Dragon Boat Race Festivals, school performances across Canada and the U.S., Children's Festivals, Concert Series across Canada and the U.S., Corporate Events, Private Parties/Functions (weddings, bar mitzvahs), Various Music and other Festivals (Folk, New Music, Punk, Fringe Theatre, Buskers, Summer Fairs, Rodeos). Fubuki Daiko performs an average of 100 dates per year throughout Canada and the US.

Instructors, Teachers & Mentors
List the instructors, teachers and mentors who have worked with the ensemble.

Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka
Kenny Endo
Tiffany Tamaribuchi
Jimi Nakagawa

Taiko Collaborators
List a selection of taiko players or groups that have collaborated with the ensemble.

Mu Daiko

Non-Taiko Collaborators
List a selection of non-taiko players or groups that have collaborated with the ensemble.

Northern Plains Ballet Company
Michael Stecky
Debashis Sinha
Sid Robinovitch and the Winnipeg Singers
The Acromaniacs

Audio & Video Recordings
List a selection of publicly accessible audio and/or video recordings featuring the ensemble.

CD's - "Fubuki" and "Zanshin"

Publications
List a selection of articles, master's theses, dissertations, or other publications written about the ensemble.

Variety of newspaper articles

Musical & Performance Styles
Describe the ensemble's musical and performance styles.

Traditional Japanese movement and spirit inspired by Tanaka Sensei with North American rhythms. Mainly Sukeroku and Osuwa style of drumming.

Signature Works
Please include title, composer, date of composition, special reason(s) for composition, and what the work represents to the group.

The group has a repertoire of over 20 original composition by Koshiyama, Guilbert, Robertson and guest composers, none of which we would single out over another for any particular reason.