Women playing taiko

Decision between becoming a minister or musician Starting Japanese American taiko their own way Buddhist philosophy in taiko Japanese American taiko is not Japanese taiko Women playing taiko Parents didn't accept me playing taiko in the beginning Performing in the first Asian American play, "The Monkey Play" Performing the koto and taiko drum together, in Japan Taiko considered "Jazz" in the Philippines Thoughts on the term, "Nikkei"

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The women thing with Kinnara has never been an issue in terms of… It just so happens a bunch of us guys got together and started playing, but there was no thing about women couldn’t play. In Japan, very, very significant difference of a male group and a women’s group. And up until maybe about ten years ago, it was totally separate. But in the United States, since we always began—even Tanaka Sensei’s group has always been integrated with women also, too. Kinnara, always, from the very beginning, men and women always participated in it.

Date: October 15, 2004
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Art Hansen, Sojin Kim
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

arts gender music taiko