Press Release
PJ and Roy Hirabayashi Join 2nd Conference Faculty
2nd Taiko-Awakening the Spirit Conference dates set for July 27-29, 2007.
While a member of the Shumei Taiko Ensemble, Koji Nakamura was inspired at a sacred music festival in Cape Town, South Africa. The Dahlai Lama was attending also, and really impressed upon Koji the importance of music as a universal language. Musicians intuitively know this, but the Dahlai
Lama was able to form the idea in an active sense that reveals the power to overcome differences in
religion, culture, and language. This is one of the seeds that leads to the Second Annual Taiko-Awakening the Spirit Conference.
“Taiko can teach us many things spiritually, “ Koji says. For many years, he was the leader of the Shumei Taiko Ensemble. They traveled the world to perform their spirit based music at places such as the UN, the Parliament of Religions, and many others. “There is, of course, the physical aspect of this demanding art. But, spiritual development is the key for the taiko drummer.”
Taiko has been played in Japan for many thousands of years. It is used in planting and harvest festivals. It was used to call the troops on the battlefields. It has deep ritual and ceremonial meaning in Shinto and Buddhism. Koji will be teaching a Mikoto Nori class of ritual drumming at the conference.
“My feeling, is that taiko performing styles are changing, “ he says. “Many people are enjoying drumming. This is very fine. But, I like to hear the original meaning of taiko. That is the main purpose of the conference. We will explore the spiritual meaning.”
Koji has been able to watch the taiko phenomenon grow world wide since his first involvement
with Ondekoza in 1982. Ondekoza is a very strict hard playing group. They were one of the first international touring groups. They also spawned the most famous taiko group, Kodo. He learned
the humble way. He learned to not only enjoy taiko, but also, to build good character and personality. This is a life long journey.
To help get started on that journey, PJ and Roy Hirabayashi of San Jose Taiko are the featured Master Teachers on the faculty this year at the Second Taiko-Awakening the Spirit Conference. The Shumei International Institute will again be the site for the conference on July 27-29, 2007. Returning teachers include Steven Tokunaga of Makoto Taiko and resident Shumei teacher Koji Nakamura. Award-winning recording and performing artist Madi Sato will be a new faculty member. As part of the Shumei mission to envelope our world with beautiful art, the conference will explore the spiritual through the art of the Japanese drum, taiko.
“Last year, we had a significant number of beginners who accepted the challenge of taking up taiko. Many were from the Crestone area,” Koji Nakamura said. “We are instituting a beginner’s track to keep the frustration levels down. And, we are making sure that they are able to experience classes with all of our teachers, including PJ and Roy.”
For more than 30 years, the husband and wife team of PJ and Roy have been nurturing, grafting and growing San Jose Taiko. Inspired by the traditional Japanese drumming, San Jose Taiko also incorporates sounds found in the Japanese/American experience such as African,Brazilian, Latin and jazz. While they are considered true pioneers in the North American Taiko scene, they are also down to earth people and are eager to champion this year’s conference.
Madi Sato is a multi-talented artist who met Koji at the Crestone Music Festival several years ago. She wanted to explore her Japanese side and Koji wanted to collaborate with a Western musician. Since their meeting, they have been writing and performing throughout the Southwest. Ms. Sato will teach a voice class.
Steven Tokunaga is leader of Makoto Taiko from Pasadena, CA. A returning faculty member, last year he taught Hachijyo style drumming. This year he will concentrate on beginning classes.
The conference logo was created by Tokiko Jinta, a graphic artist who works with the Rodale Institute.
The conference web site is www.taikospirit.org.
Since 1973, San Jose Taiko (SJT) has been mesmerizing audiences with the powerful, spellbinding and propulsive sounds of the taiko drums. Inspired by traditional Japanese drumming, SJT performers express the beauty and harmony of the human spirit through the voice of the taiko as they strive to create new dimensions in Asian American movement and music.
Under the artistic direction of Roy & PJ Hirabayashi, performance and expression are predicated upon a profound respect for each member of the group. The spirit and essence of both rehearsal and performance require physical endurance, with running and exercise required of all members during practice sessions. All compositions performed by San Jose Taiko are written or arranged by members of the group. Composing, choreographing, designing and producing costumes, and handcrafting of the drums are part of the holistic process in which all members participate. Through this singleness of mind and spirit, harmony is achieved and the music rings with unity and clarity.
San Jose Taiko has broadened and embellished the historical art form into a style that joins the traditional rhythms of Japanese drumming with the beat of world rhythms including African, Balinese, Brazilian, Latin and jazz percussion. The resulting sounds are contemporary, exciting, new and innovative, bridging many styles, while still resonant of the Asian soul in America. Company members also study both traditional and contemporary dance with leading choreographers, producing performances that are fully choreographed and theatrically lit extravaganzas of musical sound.
Since 1987, when San Jose Taiko became one of the first American taiko troupes invited to tour Japan, the company has collaborated in joint concerts with internationally renowned Asian performing artists including Kodo, Ondekoza, Eitetsu Hayashi, Michiko Akao, Oedo Sukeroku, Osuwa Taiko and Miyarabi Taiko. SJT has also collaborated with artists and companies from other disciplines, including Brenda Wong Aoki, Mark Izu, Kenny Endo, Eth-Noh-Tec, American Conservatory Theater, George Coates Performance Works, San Jose Repertory Theatre, The San Jose Museum of Art, Abhinaya Dance Company, Jon Jang, Keith Terry and Crosspulse and most recently with Anthony Brown, Marco Lienhard, Qi-Chao Liu, PressGang, and Michael Sasaki. Their web site is www.taiko.org.
Madi Sato is Japanese/American and grew up in the rural South. She’s a country girl at heart. She’s been writing and singing songs since she was a little girl in the woods of Tennessee. Music for her then, was a way to deal with the death of her father, the challenges of looking Asian in a pre-dominantly white culture, the struggle of being in poverty and the gypsy lifestyle her family lived. The songs she writes and sings tell of her personal experiences.
“Ever since I was a little girl splashing barefoot in the creek, I've used my voice and the written word to help deal with the sometimes overpowering emotions and inner struggles,” Madi says. “I was very shy and self conscious and tried my best to fit in but never quite did. I used to hang out underneath a willow tree where I would compose the songs from my soul and sing the songs in my heart. It was a place of comfort and solace. I heard melodies in the wind and the rhythm of the creek; I heard lyrics in the silence. I consider the rhythms in nature and the silence within to be my truest inspiration to become a singer and composer of songs.”
“Currently, I am questioning all of my belief systems. Especially about the labels that Americans feel they must put on a man's soul. Music for me is a way of healing my soul and others, it's about being authentic and standing up for me and how I feel, and it's a way to communicate with all on the same level regardless of race, economic status or age,” Ms Sato says. “I've explored the few genres of American music and even recorded an album of my favorite jazz, blues and country songs but am now inspired and interested in traditional music of the ancient cultures. Life is all about exploration and music gives me life.” www.madisato.com
The purpose of Makoto Taiko is to elevate spiritual sentiment in the audience through the drumming sound of a traditional Japanese percussion instrument known as "Taiko". “Our drumming serves as a bridge among different cultures for global understanding beyond language and words,” says Steven Tokunaga. “Through drumming the taiko, we are also able to enhance our own spiritual growth.” Tokunaga founded Makoto Taiko, originally known as Shumei America Taiko Group.
He had intensive taiko training at the international headquarters of the spiritual mother organization, Shinji Shumeikai, in Japan under the supervision of the advanced members of the Shumei Taiko Ensemble. The Makoto Taiko group was organized at the National Center in Pasadena in July 1998 Makoto means 'Sincerity and Truth' or 'Pure Sound', and these words emulate the basic foundation of our drumming. www.makoto-taiko.org
