Taiko Station
Goshuin
Taiko literally means “drum” in Japanese, but it is also the name for the general artform, especially outside Japan. Though the instrumentation and some forms of music that incorporate taiko are indeed very old, most taiko that you see being performed by groups is a style called kumidaiko, which dates to the 1950’s and is attributed to jazz drummer Daihachi Oguchi who arranged compositions for multiple drummers on Japanese drums. |
North American taiko traditions date to the late 1960’s and 1970’s. Following the first Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in 1968, Seiichi Tanaka, a Japanese immigrant who had met his Japanese American wife while she was studying in Japan, felt that it was missing the characteristic sound of Japanese festivals. He returned to Japan temporarily to study taiko from pioneering kumidaiko (ensemble drumming) groups and then returned to open the San Francisco Taiko Dojo later that year, though lacked drums. The first members would practice on tires.
In 1969, a group of Japanese Americans who played taiko for Obon decided to form a taiko group like the ones taking off in Japan. Rev. Masao Kodani had recently returned from ministerial school and was familiar with the growing kumidaiko scene in Japan. In order to have drums to play, these members experimented and eventually invented the wine barrel taiko that is commonly used throughout the Americas. The wine barrel drum spread to other temples and was adopted by San Francisco Taiko Dojo and other newly forming taiko groups.
The San Jose Taiko Group was first started at the San Jose Buddhist Betsuin, prompted by the spread of taiko among Buddhist communities as a temple activity. Many young, politically conscious college students were drawn to the form of music as a community-based practice that was loud and made their voices heard. They received initial training from Seiichi Tanaka and then decided that they would develop and perform an Asian American form of taiko.
In 1969, a group of Japanese Americans who played taiko for Obon decided to form a taiko group like the ones taking off in Japan. Rev. Masao Kodani had recently returned from ministerial school and was familiar with the growing kumidaiko scene in Japan. In order to have drums to play, these members experimented and eventually invented the wine barrel taiko that is commonly used throughout the Americas. The wine barrel drum spread to other temples and was adopted by San Francisco Taiko Dojo and other newly forming taiko groups.
The San Jose Taiko Group was first started at the San Jose Buddhist Betsuin, prompted by the spread of taiko among Buddhist communities as a temple activity. Many young, politically conscious college students were drawn to the form of music as a community-based practice that was loud and made their voices heard. They received initial training from Seiichi Tanaka and then decided that they would develop and perform an Asian American form of taiko.
These first three American taiko groups were formed in the three remaining Japantowns - Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose - centers of Japanese American culture and community. Japantowns in the United States were heavily impacted by the Incarceration of Japanese Americans in WWII, property loss, and subsequent economic development. The Japantown in Sacramento, for instance, was partially taken by eminent domain to make way for the current Capital Mall.
Collegiate taiko has a diverse set of originating experience, but the first groups were started by students who played taiko in community or church groups in their youth. Collegiate taiko players often interact within a greater taiko community space, where they take workshops and become exposed to and involved in the political and ritual life of Asian America.
Prior to starting this festival, members of Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan played with Tanaka sensei and the San Francisco Taiko Dojo at the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival and played with San Jose Taiko during San Jose Obon. These experiences helped shape their desire for an Asian American festival back home in Davis.
Collegiate taiko has a diverse set of originating experience, but the first groups were started by students who played taiko in community or church groups in their youth. Collegiate taiko players often interact within a greater taiko community space, where they take workshops and become exposed to and involved in the political and ritual life of Asian America.
Prior to starting this festival, members of Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan played with Tanaka sensei and the San Francisco Taiko Dojo at the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival and played with San Jose Taiko during San Jose Obon. These experiences helped shape their desire for an Asian American festival back home in Davis.