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WTC 2020

Taiko Community Video Forum

Sharing Taiko Stories from Around the World!

Topic 1
【Taiko as a Performing Art】

Taiko as an Expression on Stage: Its Development and Future

Topic 1

“BONTEN”

Bonten was formed in 1999 and started performing on stage in 2000. While focusing on taiko drumming, Bonten has pursued their own musicality and released many original compositions. Bonten has been providing music for overseas teams for many years, and has had a wide range of exchange through taiko drumming in the United States, Europe and Asia. Another characteristic of Bonten is powerful and supple performances by female players, centered on Momo Kobayashi, the daughter of the team founder Masataka Kobayashi.

 

BONTEN (Kanagawa, Japan)

Official Email:info@bonten-taiko.com

Official website: http://www.bonten-taiko.com/

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“Taiko Lecco”

Meet Taiko Lecco from Italy! The number of performances, various projects, international collaborations, school work, etc… is admirable! Their sub-group Sanbiki no Taikouchi involves three performers, who share a further passion for taiko.  Hurray for taiko in Italy!

Grazie to Taiko Lecco and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

Taiko Lecco(Lombardia, Italy)

Official Email:taikolecco@gmail.com

Official website: http://taikolecco.wixsite.com/taikolecco

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“Tengu Taiko Drummers”

Watch Tengu Taiko Drummers perform “Raku” composed by former Shidara, Awa (aka Chabo-san).  This was a piece learned from the help of the Taiko Source website, and performed at the UK Taiko Festival in 2019!

Thank you to Tengu Taiko Drummers and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

Tengu Taiko Drummers (North Yorkshire, UK)

Official Email:tengutaiko@hotmail.com

Official website: http://www.tengutaiko.com/

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“Dounen Daiko”

Meet Dounen Daiko! A teen taiko group of Nen Daiko from Reston, Virginia! They started practicing virtually in March, and just returned to in-person practices 2 times per month. This is their song called Anthem written by Brant Horio & Emily Ihara. It's about being your own person while also being a member of a group. Dounen Daiko made this video by combining videos that they each took this summer.

Thank you to Dounen Daiko and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

Dounen Daiko  (Virginia, USA)

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“TaikoMac”

Re-skinning taiko in a basement in Philly….?  Meet Mac Evans, a East-Coast-Based taiko performer, instructor, and drum handy man.  This video showcases looking to the future, as Mac prepares drums to be re-headed and performed in the future.

Thank you to Mac Evans and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

TaikoMac (Pennsylvania, U.S.A)

Official website: https://www.taikomac.com/

https://www.casualfifth.com/fringe2020 

“Hoh Daiko”

Hoh Daiko accen-chu-ated the positive by hosting a drive-thru obon this year as well as a virtual obon program. Here are clips from their virtual obon!

Thank you to Hoh Daiko and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

Hoh Daiko (New Jersey, U.S.A)

“Kenny Endo ”

Based in Hawaii, Kenny celebrated his 40th anniversary of taiko in 2015, showcasing his concert as his submission! This year would definitely be his 45th anniversary of taiko, so congratulations Kenny! WTC loves the fusion and musicality that Kenny shared with the taiko community.  

Mahalo to Kenny Endo and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

*Kenny Endo will be featured in the Live Talk sessions. Be sure to check it out!

Kenny Endo (Hawaii, U.S.A)

Official Website:  https://www.kennyendo.com/

https://taikoarts.com/

“Soh Daiko”

Meet Soh Daiko, the first taiko group established on the east coast of the U.S., in 1979.  The New York based group celebrated their 40th anniversary last year, and showcased their version of Miyake in this fantastic video!

Thank you to Soh Daiko and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

*One of the founding members of Soh Daiko, Alan Okada, is one of our speakers for WTC Premium TALKS, shared prior to the event.  Go check that out also!

Soh Daiko (New York, U.S.A)

Official Website:  http://www.sohdaiko.org/

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“Taiko Center of the Pacific ”

Taiko Center of the Pacific is based off of the popular Oahu island in Honolulu.  This particular piece is called “Araumi” Stormy Seas by Kirstin Pauka. Originally from Germany, Kirstin has been a member of Taiko Center of the Pacific (TCP) longer than anyone (since 1991)! This performance was a collaboration between TCP and the University of Hawaii Dance Department in 2013.

*Kenny Endo and Yeeman Mui (ManMan) (in the video as a performing member of TCP) will be featured in the Live Talk sessions. Be sure to check it out!

Taiko Center of the Pacific (Hawaii, U.S.A)

Official Website:https://taikoarts.com/

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Topic 3

【TAIKO and COMMUNITY】

The Value of Taiko in Multicultural Societies

“Mike Gonhata (Manoa Taiko) & Sho‘on Shibata (Taiko Center of the Pacific) ”

Meet Mike and Sho’on!  Watch them play to Yagi Bushi Bon Taiko at the beautiful beach in Honolulu!   Music by Isaku Kageyama & Friends  Taiko by Mike Gonhata & Sho‘on Shibata

Mahalo to Mike Gonhata, Sho’on Shibata, and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

Mike Gonhata (Manoa Taiko) & Sho‘on Shibata (Taiko Center of the Pacific) (Hawaii, U.S.A)

Official Website:  http://manoataiko.com/

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“Puna Taiko”

Making the best out of the year 2020! A virtual collaboration AND beautiful outside scenery? Great job performing with social distance, Puna Taiko and friends!

Mahalo to Puna Taiko and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

Puna Taiko (Hawaii, U.S.A)

Official Website:http://www.punataiko.com/

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“St. Louis Osuwa Taiko”

St. Louis Osuwa Taiko shares their difficulties and success they’ve had during the pandemic.  I’m sure a lot of you have experienced similar troubles to play together on Zoom (oh the lag!) , but who else felt a little better seeing themselves “play together” with a little bit of creativity and technology magic?  Latter half, you’ll see the members of St. Louis Osuwa Taiko being able to perform again, with awareness of distancing themselves for self care. 

Thank you to St. Louis Osuwa Taiko and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

St. Louis Osuwa Taiko (Missouri, U.S.A)

Official Website:http://www.stltaiko.com/

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“Taiko with Toni”

Toni Yagami from Denver, Colorado, shared her experiences of the two performances her and her group had during the pandemic.  The first piece, Kisha, was performed with a lot of distance with the audience members, and the second is a short clip of a drive-by event.  Watch the video and chuckle with us with Toni’s silliness in her story telling!

Thank you Toni and everyone from Taiko with Toni, and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

Taiko with Toni (Colorado, U.S.A)

Official Website:https://taikowithtoni.com/

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"Ranbu" by Fushicho Daiko

Presenting you with Fushicho Daiko from Phoenix, Arizona! This song, Ranbu, written by Fukushima san, embodies the joy of playing together, smiling through their masks to encourage and challenge one another. 

Thank you Fushicho Daiko and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

Fushicho Daiko (Arizona, U.S.A)

Official Website:https://fushichodaiko.com/

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"Uzushio" by Fushicho Daiko

Another expressive taiko performance from Fushicho Daiko in Phoenix, Arizona! They are performing Uzushio (Whirlpool) by Kenzo Hatanaka, expressing the struggles and obstacles of a battle.  But through music, the struggles are beautiful.  Working together and weaving rhythms and themes together, creates a strong base from which to succeed together.

Thank you Fushicho Daiko and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

Fushicho Daiko (Arizona, U.S.A)

Official Website:https://fushichodaiko.com/

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 "Las Vegas Kaminari Taiko”

Las Vegas Kaminari Taiko shared with us a small bit from their hard work putting on their local Aki Matsuri-virtual festival.  So much effort and great work put into these videos! Congratulations for a successful virtual Aki Matsuri, LVKT!  What an epic set of performance videos!

Thank you Las Vegas Kaminari Taiko and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

Las Vegas Kaminari Taiko (Nevada, U.S.A)

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 "Stanford Taiko”

Stanford Taiko is from...you guessed it! Stanford University!  Along with the many collegiate taiko groups in California and now to the rest of the U.S., Stanford Taiko represents their university, and playing together as part of their college experience.  Here is a clip of Stanford Taiko members playing on their 25th anniversary, along with some alumni and members talking about the art of taiko.

Thank you Stanford Taiko and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

*Wisa Uemura, one of the alumni talking in the video, will be featured in the Live Talk sessions. Be sure to check it out!

Stanford Taiko (California, U.S.A)

Official Website:  http://taiko.stanford.edu/

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 "San Jose Taiko”

San Jose Obon is one of the largest obon festivals in the U.S., with over one thousand dancers coming together each year!  Unfortunately, this mega event became virtual this year, but ofcourse, San Jose Taiko made it fun for everyone tuning in! In this video, San Jose Taiko performed a special "at-home" version of Free Spirit composed by Roy Hirabayashi, that was presented earlier at obon-at-home.

Thank you San Jose Taiko and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

*San Jose Taiko directors, Wisa and Franco, along with co-founder of the ensemble, Roy, will be featured in the Live Talk sessions. Be sure to check it out!

San Jose Taiko (California, U.S.A)

Official Website:  https://taiko.org/

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 "Taiko SOBA”

Meet Taiko SOBA based in Palo Alto, near Silicon Valley in California!  They are a group of friends, who mostly played with collegiate taiko groups.  Enjoy watching their piece, Intrepid, composed by Kiyoshi Shikuma, where interlocking rhythms create a changing landscape in the music and movements.

Thank you Taiko SOBA and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

*Taiko SOBA member, Sydney Shiroyama, will be featured in the Live Talk sessions. Be sure to check it out!

Taiko SOBA  (California, U.S.A)

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 "Tatsumaki” by Jun Daiko  and Ai Matsuda.

Now that you know enough about Jun Daiko, let’s watch a performance by them! This is from their obon in 2019 at their home temple, Mountain View Buddhist Temple.  The piece performed is called Tatsumaki (whirlwind), written by one of the members, Hiroshi Tanaka, who wrote the piece while playing with Stanford Taiko.  Now, various arrangements are performed today by several taiko groups in North America.  This performance features a special guest, Ai Matsuda. 

Thank you Jun Daiko and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

Jun Daiko  (California, U.S.A)

​Official Website: https://jundaiko.com/

 "Makoto Taiko"

Makoto Taiko, from Pasadena, California!  Watch their younger members play the piece, “Turtle Sparrow”, and their older members play “Ready, Set, kaDON”, both of which were practiced remotely this year.  Their annual concert was unfortunately cancelled, but they turned it into a Zoom talent show instead!

Thank you Makoto Taiko and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

Makoto Taiko  (California, U.S.A)

​Official Website:  http://www.makototaiko.org/

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 "FushuTaiko"

Here’s Fushu Daiko from South Florida Taiko Dojo! They share with us their 4-2-1 Timing Exercise that helps them improve their skills!

Thank you Makoto Taiko and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

FushuTaiko  (Florida, U.S.A)

​Official Website:  http://www.fushudaiko.org/

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 "Dondoko Taiko"

Watch and meet the members of Dondoko Taiko from Fort Worth, Texas! They had a lot of fun playing Yukyu Bayashi taught by Yukyu Taiko in Nagaoka, Japan, all with cosplay!

Thank you Dondoko Taiko and TCA for letting WTC share this video that was initially submitted to Taikothon 2020!

Dondoko Taiko  (Texas, U.S.A)

​Official Website:  https://dondokotaiko.com/

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 "4 Loco LadiesTalk Taiko"