March 7 Readers’ letters to the Editor in the San Jose Mercury News from Hiroshi Inomata, Consul General of Japan in San Francisco
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Thank you, California, for helping us in Japan
One year ago on March 11, 2011, Japan was struck by one of the most powerful earthquakes in modern history. The earthquake and accompanying tsunami claimed thousands of lives and, coupled with the nuclear accident, presented one of the gravest challenges Japan has ever faced.
Yet in the darkest hour, Californians from communities large and small, global and local, offered us unbounded compassion, comfort and hope. Please accept our deepest appreciation for every condolence, every show of support and every demonstration of our common humanity.
Japan’s reconstruction has advanced greatly with your help and friendship, but there is still much to do in the days ahead.
Our country is dedicated to working with you to share lessons from the earthquake, build disaster-resistant societies and promote human security and economic stability. We will continue to keep you updated on Japan’s recovery and development. Thank you once again for everything you have done for us.
Hiroshi Inomata
Consul General of Japan in San Francisco
San Jose Taiko: Rhythm Spirit 2011 Concerts - Celebrating the Festival
San Jose Taiko performers share their own perspectives on the Japanese-American festival and how the company’s participation in them connects with the reasons why they play taiko in the first place. This year’s Rhythm Spirit Concerts explore the festival; taking glimpses of the matsuri (festival) experience and sharing them with theater audiences in a stylized way.
San Jose Taiko has performed at various obon throughout California since its inception, making their first obon performance at the San Jose Japantown Obon in 1974. Here are some links for friends and fans of SJT who want to learn more about the cultural context of obon, and its importance both to us and the greater community.
What is obon? Obon or “Festival of the Dead” is celebrated in Japanese-American communities all over the country in the middle of July or August. In America, obon has become a key event for both the Buddhist temples and the local community, as well as a celebration of the rich Japanese-American cultural heritage. Obon features bon odori folk dancing, live music and taiko, games, and lots of food.
Perspectives on obon Thoughts and reflections on obon by members in the taiko and Japantown community.
Second in a series of mini-features about San Jose Taiko’s festival season. SJT performing members Byron Yamanaka and Dylan Solomon share their thoughts.
Festival Season for San Jose Taiko - part 1
Festival season is here and this year we’re presenting a number of mini-features on YouTube that share SJT performer perspectives on festivals and why there’s such a part of who we are as an organization.
We picked veteran performing member Stewart Kume to kick things off. We hope you enjoy it and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you can be the first to view new mini-features as they’re posted.
SJT projects blog
SJT adds a Tumblr blog to the array of social media we try to keep updated in order to keep our audiences informed. This blog will start as a way to give background on projects we’re working on. Like what you see? Let us know.
August 19, 2010 - On this day The Bangerz release their highly anticipated single “Robot Remains” from their forthcoming album to the masses. Now available on iTunes the song the world famous Jabbawockeez made known is ready to destroy your speakers. A few months ago the Bangerz did something truly unique and historic in San Jose, they performed with the prestigious San Jose Taiko troupe live onstage at the yearly subZERO Festival. Edited by my man Charles Yi of The Mighty Fifty and filmed by some of San Jose’s finest photographers, this footage showcases why I love living in the 408. I’ll stop talking and you start listening!
San Jose Taiko x Bangerz: Interview w/Franco Imperial
Interview with SJT Associate Artistic Director Franco Imperial about recent collaboration with San Jose-native, world renowned DJ crew The Bangerz:
AM: Hi, Franco. Thank you for taking time out to talk with us. Recently, I attended the SubZERO Festival in San Jose’s South of First Arts district (SofA), and I experienced an exciting union of taiko and hip hop/electronica with San Jose Taiko and The Bangerz. Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but call me a convert! The energy (ki) onstage was absolutely electric. We can tell you guys were having a good time up there, judging by all the smiles. Can you share a little bit of what that was like, jamming on stage with The Bangerz in front of a lively, animated crowd – is it different from playing for your typical taiko audience? FI: Our “typical” taiko audience in San Jose experiences us either at the outdoor Japanese summer festivals or in the theatre for our annual Rhythm Spirit concert series. They are die-hard fans, and we love the energy they give back to us time and time again. The SubZERO crowd was another animal altogether – most, of course, were there to see The Bangerz do their thing, which alone is amazing to watch. We heard later that many people didn’t understand what they were about to see … what does a collaboration between SJT and The Bangerz look like? A lot of folks thought we were opening for them or they were opening for us. DJ Cutso’s tweet clarified that we’d be playing together with The Bangerz. Once we played our second song with them (Robot Remains), it seemed to click with the audience what this was all about, and they went absolutely nuts. Cherri Lakey of Anno Domini gallery. told me that even though the taiko players’ demeanor was supposed to be serious, when the crowd erupted, I cracked a small grin. I couldn’t help it. It was simply overwhelming.
AM: Aren’t the Bangerz known for their work with JabbaWockeeZ?
FI: Their history together actually goes further back than ABDC (America’s Best Dance Crew), to friendships growing up in San Jose, but we’ll save that story for their interview. Needless to say, The Bangerz’ association with JabbaWockeeZ made it exciting to work with them. We have so much respect for what they do. It really inspired us to step up our game, come showtime.
AM: These two genres (taiko and hip hop/electronica) are not normally associated with each other, but the audience really seemed to dig the sights and sounds. Do you think you’ve hit on an untapped creative combination?
FI: Even though taiko and hip hop/electronica have been explored before by other taiko groups, I’d say what we created with the Bangerz on First Street that night was truly unique. The fantastic energy of the hometown crowd supporting the newly formed artistic bond between us and the Bangerz was unforgettable. The taiko art form has many flavors, and I think The Bangerz bring out a side of our drumming and choreography that conveys our joy and celebration with a distinct San Jose attitude.
AM: Are there any similarities between taiko and hip hop/electronica?
FI: San Jose Taiko’s brand of taiko was born out of the 70’s, when movements like civil rights, Asian American identity, and social justice were embraced by the original members. Because SJT members weren’t all born and raised in Japan, they wanted to represent a hybrid that reflected both Japanese and American influences. Because of this, SJT was heavily inspired by the music of the day, such as rock, R&B, and jazz.
Hip hop was born out of the same era and drew from different influences in order to create its own identity. American taiko and hip hop seemed to flourish in large part because people were looking for a voice to properly express themselves in a way that wasn’t the norm, since the “norm” wasn’t properly representing them at the time.
Fast forward to present day: I think both art forms continue to re-invent themselves to express what is meaningful to them. They recognize that in order to continue on this path, it takes respect and vision, enabling younger generations to carry the torch forward. SJT and The Bangerz recognized those things in each other, and I think it laid the foundation for a beautiful collaboration. It was these types of conversations I had with Brian and Paolo, sitting at Roy’s Station Coffee House in Japantown, that made us realize we could create something special.
AM: What was the genesis of the collaboration between the two groups, and how did you guys know it was going to work? Can you talk about your relationship with Paolo “Cutso” Bello, Dominic “Goldenchyld” Cueto, and the other members of The Bangerz? Do you see another collaboration in the works with The Bangerz?
FI: Brian Eder of Anno Domini had the vision to talk SJT up to The Bangerz and vice versa. At the same time, it was my desire to explore what our downtown arts community was all about and if San Jose Taiko could contribute/be involved in some way. Roy and PJ have always taught us the importance of our Japantown community, so having that positive experience of being part of a nurturing cultural epicenter gave us the confidence to reach out. With that motivation and with Brian’s help, I was able to meet with Paolo, who sold me on the idea that together we would create a “crater on First Street where minds would be blown.” Our first meeting was very much like what I would imagine a blind date to be like – I really wanted it to go well but prepared myself in case it may not be a match. Fortunately, we connected on things that went beyond the technical aspects our respective art forms: our pride for San Jose and Japantown, the respect for Brian and Cherri and what they’ve been doing downtown, as well as respect for what Roy and PJ have done for SJT. Once we got into rehearsals, things just started to flow. What started out as a 1- or 2-song set turned into a 4-song block. Paolo, Dominic, Aaron, and Germel were amazing and so amped at what we were doing that it really fed the process. On the SJT side, we had a lot of fun experimenting. For Robot Remains, I actually tested one of the main lines of choreography on some of my Junior Taiko students (who loved it). For Stuck, I brought in SJT members Dylan Solomon, Rylan Sekiguchi, and Alex Hudson to improvise over the tracks, which generated a lot of ideas. Inferno came together in a similar way with Rylan, Alex, and I bouncing ideas off each other. Meg Suzuki, Stew Kume, and Adam Weiner came in later and learned the parts in a very short amount of time. The rest is history. We’re looking forward to seeing what other dimensions of our styles can surface from working together, and we’ve agreed that there will be more SJT+Bangerz collaborations in the future.
AM: One of my favorite SJT pieces has always been Pandala, but to hear it in this context that night was really cool – the synthesis of the world instruments (kulintang from the Philippines, taiko from Japan, and the didgeridoo from Australia) and electronica. How did you all select the songs on which to collaborate, and can you share the creative process with us?
FI: From the beginning, Paolo envisioned us playing Robot Remains and Stuck with them as the last two songs in their set. The other two songs, Pandala and Inferno, were choices that came out of our late-night rehearsals at Anno Domini. Initially, Brian was very interested in having us play Pandala separately. I explained that my kulintang teacher, Danny Kalanduyan, took pride in the fact that this music has survived colonial domination of the islands through the centuries. The idea of an art form, of all things, being unconquerable resonated with him. During one of the rehearsals, I brought my kulintang and started playing the song. We got Danny’s blessing to explore what could be done together and came up with an arrangement on the spot. It all seemed to flow.
It was this type of magic that permeated the entire collaborative process. Inferno came together in a similar way. Paolo thought it would be a good closer to the set and sent me the track. Together, with Alex and Rylan, the ideas just flowed. I remember Dominic being psyched about the ending and imagining how floored the audience would be after it was all over. I think I have it on video somewhere. The enthusiasm was so infectious, that coupled with the technical artistry of what Aaron, Germel, Dominic, and Paolo were doing, it just made the experience so inspirational.
AM: Yeah, Robot Remains (written by The Bangerz) was tight. The beats and the visual presentation really worked! And as for Inferno (also written by The Bangerz), I loved how The Bangerz picked up the percussion and started totally jamming with you guys downstage – agogo bells, samba whistle, tamborine … fun times!
FI: In Cutso-speak, if Robot Remains was the initial explosion, then Inferno was the mushroom cloud. During rehearsals, by the time we put the final touches on the arrangements, it was honestly just one big love-fest. “You guys are awesome!” “No, you guys are awesome!” Sobbing, bowing, so much fun.
AM: What would you say to the taiko purists out there who might question whether or not this is taiko?
FI: Roy (our executive director and one of the founding members of SJT) often asks us this question, and it wasn’t until this collaboration that the context of the question became clearer for me. I would consider this question with every composition and solo that I played and think, “I’m not playing enough like a taiko player, this needs to be reigned in and sound more like taiko.” I realize now, after learning so much from Roy and PJ, that it’s actually a good thing if that taiko/non-taiko line is a little blurry. It’s healthy to be pushing that line, while having respect for the roots, of course! Things evolve or they die. SJT has thrived for nearly four decades because of their ability to be flexible, creative, exploratory, open to new ideas without barriers, and adjusting when needed. This is part of their artistic and organizational legacy.
AM: Thank you, Franco. We look forward to hearing more interesting things from San Jose Taiko in the future.
FI: Thank you.
Press Release: San Jose Taiko x The Bangerz (originally posted 5/4/10)
Press release from May 20, 2010: A little more background on The Bangerz x SJT collaboration before it hit the streets of San Jose.
San Jose Taiko and The Bangerz to Perform at SubZero FestivalTwo native San Jose groups collaborate in a one-of-a-kind performance
SJT’s Associate Artistic Director Franco Imperial says, “It’s such an honor, working with The Bangerz to celebrate the great music and art coming out of the SoFA district. We’re proud of our roots in the San Jose Japantown community, and The Bangerz feel that same pride about their San Jose origins, which gives us common ground as we begin this collaboration. Brian Eder of Anno Domini has been instrumental in bringing us together. We can’t thank him enough for this opportunity and for all the opportunities he and partner Cherri Lakey create for artists in San Jose and around the world.”
“Truly inspiring.” says Brian Eder. “It’s the epitome of why Cherri and I started doing any of this back in 2000. We wanted to surround ourselves with like-minded individuals who were open to the possibilities.”
DJ Cutso: “The Bangerz, San Jose Taiko, and Anno Domini have such a deeply-rooted history in San Jose. This historic, revolutionary collaboration with San Jose Taiko is such a huge honor for The Bangerz. With our collective creativity and originality, we promise nothing less than armageddon for this event. This performance will be one for the history books.”
The SubZERO Festival will take place in the SoFA district in downtown San Jose (on South First Street, between San Carlos and Reed Streets). In addition to the South First Fridays monthly art walk, there will be artists, performers, and musicians celebrating the indie creative spirit on the streets from 6:00PM to midnight. SJT and The Bangerz will take the outdoor stage at 11:00PM. Admission is free.
ABOUT SAN JOSE TAIKO: SJT was founded in 1973 by young Asian Americans searching for an outlet to convey their experiences as sansei, or third generation Japanese Americans. Looking to Japan for inspiration, they were drawn to the empowering sounds of the taiko, the Japanese drum, an instrument that embodies the spiritual essence and heartbeat of Japanese culture. Since then, SJT has become a world-class ensemble, performing extensively both nationally and internationally, giving more than 200 performances and workshops each year and reaching over 100,000 audience members annually. Weaving traditional Japanese sounds with other world rhythms, SJT presents an innovative sound that bridges diverse styles and resonates with the Asian soul in America. SJT has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, Meet The Composer International Creative Collaborations, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Knight Foundation, the Arts Council of Santa Clara County, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and was a recipient of the Chevron Award for Excellence.
ABOUT THE BANGERZ:San Jose natives The Bangerz are a 6-man unit with more than 15 years of SJ and production work under their belts. They are the official DJs/producers for the world-renowned dance innovators Jabbawockeez. Their original music has been featured in Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew, and commercials for Pepsi and McDonald’s. They have opened for Afrika Bambaata, The Clipse, ?uestlove (The Roots), Raekwon, Ghostface, Kid koala, The Rapture, Carols Mencia, and DJ Z-Trip. Offstage collaborations have included artists like Rakaa Iriscience (Dilated Peoples) and Apl D Ap (Black Eyed Peas). Their album, Vi.R.Us, debuted in 2003 and widened their fanbase all the way to Japan.
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Dedicated to the advancement of the taiko art form through the development of a world-class performing ensemble and the San Jose Taiko Conservatory. www.taiko.org
FI: Brian Eder of Anno Domini had the vision to talk SJT up to The Bangerz and vice versa. At the same time, it was my desire to explore what our downtown arts community was all about and if San Jose Taiko could contribute/be involved in some way. Roy and PJ have always taught us the importance of our Japantown community, so having that positive experience of being part of a nurturing cultural epicenter gave us the confidence to reach out. With that motivation and with Brian’s help, I was able to meet with Paolo, who sold me on the idea that together we would create a “crater on First Street where minds would be blown.” Our first meeting was very much like what I would imagine a blind date to be like – I really wanted it to go well but prepared myself in case it may not be a match. Fortunately, we connected on things that went beyond the technical aspects our respective art forms: our pride for San Jose and Japantown, the respect for Brian and Cherri and what they’ve been doing downtown, as well as respect for what Roy and PJ have done for SJT. Once we got into rehearsals, things just started to flow. What started out as a 1- or 2-song set turned into a 4-song block. Paolo, Dominic, Aaron, and Germel were amazing and so amped at what we were doing that it really fed the process. On the SJT side, we had a lot of fun experimenting. For Robot Remains, I actually tested one of the main lines of choreography on some of my Junior Taiko students (who loved it). For Stuck, I brought in SJT members Dylan Solomon, Rylan Sekiguchi, and Alex Hudson to improvise over the tracks, which generated a lot of ideas. Inferno came together in a similar way with Rylan, Alex, and I bouncing ideas off each other. Meg Suzuki, Stew Kume, and Adam Weiner came in later and learned the parts in a very short amount of time. The rest is history. We’re looking forward to seeing what other dimensions of our styles can surface from working together, and we’ve agreed that there will be more SJT+Bangerz collaborations in the future.
