The Persistence of Japanese American Community: The Spirit of San Jose Taiko
Check out San Jose Taiko Performance & Guest Lecture tomorrow hosted by AAADS 122
November 21, 2013 (Thursday):
“The Persistence of Japanese American Community: The Spirit of San Jose Taiko”
3:3:0 PM – 5:00 PM, Cesar E. Chavez Student Center, Room 242
National Endowment for the Arts 2011 National Heritage Fellows Roy and PJ Hirabayashi are the founding directors of San Jose Taiko. Since 1973, San Jose Taiko (SJT) has been dedicated to the advancement of the taiko art form through the development of its internationally recognized Performing Ensemble and Conservatory – the first of its kind in the U.S.
Inspired by traditional Japanese drumming, SJT performers strive to create new dimensions in Asian American movement and music through taiko. SJT has broadened this historical art form which originated in Japan into a style that joins the traditional rhythms of Japanese drumming with other world rhythms, including African, Brazilian, Filipino, Latin, and jazz, bridging many styles, while still resonating with the “Asian soul” in America.
Since 1987, when SJT became one of the first American taiko ensembles 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 from other disciplines, including the Bangerz, 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, Hiroshima, Jon Jang, Keith Terry and Crosspulse, Anthony Brown, Marco Lienhard, Qi-Chao Liu, PressGang, and Michael Sasaki.
SJT has been recognized for its artistic and managerial excellence by the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, the “Meet The Composer” International Creative Collaborations, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Knight Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the Chevron Award for Excellence. In 1994, SJT was honored by the Arts Council of Santa Clara County with a commendation for community leadership for its efforts to foster cultural and ethnic diversity in the arts.