The 20th Tiger Taiko Tour!
2022 is both my twentieth anniversary playing taiko, and also the year of the tiger, which is the zodiac animal for my year of birth. Therefore, in the spirit of a tiger, I am going forth bravely and ambitiously! I am beyond excited to say that I’ve received grant funding from the Edmonton Arts Council for my proposed 20th anniversary taiko tour to visit groups around North America to learn about them, their history, and organization. Taiko is an artform that is enjoyed around the world, and North America as a diaspora of Japanese culture and community has unique roots as the first region to begin to grow taiko locally as it moved outside Japan. As a Japanese Canadian who found a connection to heritage through taiko, I am very curious to learn about how it has started and how it is practiced across the USA and Canada. Please follow the posts below as I embark on my tour!
Thank you to my funder, the Edmonton Arts Council Equity and Access in the Arts grant!
Orlando & Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The first stop on the 20th Tiger Taiko Tour was Florida! There I met with Matsuriza, Orlando Taiko Dojo, and Fushu Daiko. I learned about the unique Japanese American culture in the areas, and the fascinating histories of these groups. As a fellow “remote” taiko practitioner living away from the West Coast, I was very interested in how they built community and legacy. It was a pleasure to meet with the groups during their practices and performances, including the Japan building at EPCOT!
Thank you for your great hospitality and opening your doors to me!
New York City, New York
What a thrill to travel to New York for the first time! This urban paradise is home to multiple taiko groups and artists. Their concerns are very different than other places, they deal with small spaces, no elevators, noise complaints, and no one owning cars. This was a shock for a Prairie girl like me! I was lucky enough to visit while they were having their first ever social picnic in Queensbridge Park. I also enjoyed lunch with Soh Daiko pioneers Alan and Merle Okada, where I heard about the history and roots of taiko in the area. What a great opportunity to meet some of the community. Thank you everyone for having me!
Washington DC & Virginia
A quick jaunt by plane and train brought me to the Washington DC area to meet Mark H Rooney. I attended the classes offered by his school, and practiced with Miyako Taiko and Mark H Connection ensemble. My visit coincided with the school’s spring showcase, so it was great to watch their performance as well as join in with the students for Shin En. What a joy! Thanks to Mark H and Kristen for having me!
After that, I crossed state lines into Virginia to visit Nen Daiko, the taiko group affiliated with the Ekoji Buddhist Temple. Lucky for me, they were preparing the site for their Obon celebration. This is a major event in their year, and the first time they had returned since breaking for Covid. Having never attended an Obon, it was great to see the behind-the-scenes of setting it up, and meeting the Nen Daiko members. They also showed me how to tighten the ropes on shime daiko. Thanks for Carla for hosting me as a fellow Canadian abroad!
Toronto, Ontario & Montreal, Quebec
Time for some CanCon! I was happy to attend the 2022 Toronto Taiko Festival, hosted by RAW (Raging Asian Womxn). Volunteering for the event allowed me to learn from the organizers, namely coordinator Lee Stone. The weekend’s concert provided the opportunity for me to see RAW perform for the first time, featuring emotional pieces with a message, and physically inspiring pieces such as Yataibayashi and Miyake.
While in Toronto, I visited Kiyoshi Nagata and his group, Nagata Shachu. As the first Canadian to be accepted as a Kodo apprentice, Mr. Nagata is an icon of Canadian taiko and an outstanding professional artist. I was honoured to see practice and rehearsal in their space, and their performance at the University of Guelph.
While in the centre of our fair nation, I also dropped in to Montreal. There I visited Mikio Owaki in the Arashi Daiko space. This historic group is the third oldest in Canada! It was great to visit the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre of Montreal and see the Arashi drums and equipment. Thank you to Mr. Owaki for entertaining me and discussing taiko history and leadership.
I also hung out with Ame no Ato, an up-and-coming taiko duo. I met these vibrant performers recently in Alberta, and it was great to have more time with them. As a new artist myself, having the support of others as I grow as an individual artist and create mission and vision is very enriching.
Tucson & Phoenix Arizona
What a treat to visit Arizona not in summer time! It’s home to a hidden gem of a taiko community, with roots going back to early 90’s. Coincidentally, I was able to enjoy two anniversary concerts, with Odaiko Sonora celebrating their 20th on the first weekend, and Fushicho Daiko celebrating their 30th on the next! I felt a connection to these groups as a “remote” taiko community, and was interested to learn how they acquired and maintained Japanese cultural aspects in their practice. The diversity in how taiko is delivered to communities, and the enthusiasm and support given to the groups was very inspiring. I was also honoured to get dinner with the founder of Arizona taiko, Esther Vandecar, and ask her about her experiences.
Arizona, thank you for having me, and congratulations on your anniversaries! Here’s to many decades more for all of us!
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
I’ve included a map on the side so everyone can see where the Yukon is! What a special experience to travel to the Arctic and meet a taiko group. Whitehorse in Winter was a not completely unexpected experience for an Albertan like me, but I still found the area beautiful and fascinating. Yukon Taiko is a younger group who, after COVID, are just starting out on the mission to bring taiko to their community. I was honoured to provide public workshops that the group can then adapt so they can offer them, and developmental workshops for Yukon Taiko as well. I so appreciate the space they made for me, and their acceptance of my voice, and I’m very excited for them in their taiko journey!
Winnipeg, Manitoba
We have come to the final destination city on the Tiger Tour! Hinode Taiko in Winnipeg, MB is Canada’s second oldest group, and they were celebrating their 40th anniversary. How special to get to be present for this great milestone. I attended “Hikari”, their anniversary concert, and volunteered for the set up day. I was amazed that this content featured all new songs written within the last few years by their Artistic Director. That Hinode Taiko has sustained and flourished on the Canadian prairies and is a pillar of our taiko community is amazing. Congratulations to them, and here’s to 40 more years!
Groups
Hinode Taiko