Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/559/

A “principally-based” taiko group in England creating a global taiko community

Having the experience of going to England in December, last year, and seeing one of our—he was not a performing member, he was only a training member in 1996 to ’97. Jonathan Kirby was just so taken by the Taiko experience, learning with San Jose Taiko, that he was inspired to need to start a Taiko group in England once he went back. He realized that he could never be culturally-based because he’s not Japanese, not Japanese American. None of his members are Japanese or Asian. And yet he said, “We exist because we are principally-based.” And he’s taken San Jose Taiko principles as the basis of why they play Taiko. Because we feel that we are empowered by our experiences in the culture of which we grew up with, he felt that that’s a perfect way for him to take the drum and also start to learn about his own English background and infuse with his creativity through composing music that really became very English inspired. But he’s there using the rudiments of principle, of philosophy of how he works as a group, how he is able to operate his organization. That’s part of the global community.


arts California communities drum England Jonathan Kirby music San Jose San Jose Taiko taiko United Kingdom United States

Date: January 26, 2005

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Art Hansen, Sojin Kim

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

Interviewee Bio

Patti Jo “PJ” Hirabayashi is among the most prominent women taiko players in the United States. Born and raised in Northern California, she attended Cal State Hayward where she became involved in Asian American movement activities before transferring to UC Berkeley. After graduation, she spent a year living in Japan before returning to San Jose where she was a graduate student in Urban and Regional Planning at San Jose State University. While there, she became acting director of the school’s Asian American Studies Center. She wrote her master’s thesis about the future of San Jose’s Japantown.

Hirabayashi joined San Jose Taiko in January 1974 as a charter member of the group. She is now the creative director of the ensemble, and she draws inspiration from the Asian American civil rights movement. She performs, trains, teaches, develops repertoire, tours, holds public workshops and conducts school outreach programs.(January 26, 2005)

Hirabayashi,Roy

Introducing Taiko in Vancouver

(b.1951) Co-founder and managing director of San Jose Taiko.

Hirabayashi,Roy

The philosophy of playing Taiko

(b.1951) Co-founder and managing director of San Jose Taiko.

(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Never sang Enka outside the family

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

Kansuma,Fujima

Both Japanese and American identities though Japanese dance

(1918-2023) Nisei Japanese kabuki dancer

Kansuma,Fujima

Do my best as a professional dancer

(1918-2023) Nisei Japanese kabuki dancer

(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Trying to convey the meaning of the songs

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

Endo,Kenny

Being free of the tradition

(b.1952) Master drummer, artistic director of the Taiko Center of the Pacific

Tanaka,Seiichi

Reasons for starting taiko in America

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

Sogi,Francis Y.

The Kona Island community

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

Tanaka,Seiichi

Tire Dojo

(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.

Sumida,Alice

Blue-eyed doll

(1914-2018) Founder of the largest gladiolus bulb farm in the United States.