Beginning by myself, and the big reaction. So that make us feel so good. Then especially Issei, first generation—ladies and gentlemen, jichan, bachan, ojisan, obasan ne—they’re very happy when we play drum. So I thought play taiko make them happy. Maybe doing taiko may be [a] good thing—not only just enjoy myself, but I can contribute something to the community. That come to my mind. Then personal…more personally, drumming, I like the drumming. But if I do American drum in this country, so many masters. So Japanese taiko dattara (if I play Japanese taiko) I can contribute. That time, not too many people were doing. And public performance, I don’t think nobody did it, such as parade. So I went back to Ono Sensei to make a taiko ensemble—more different drum—so we can make music instead of just noise.
Date: January 27, 2005
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Art Hansen, Sojin Kim
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum.
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