Denver Taiko is the fourth

taiko are a broad range of Japanese percussion instruments. In Japanese, the term refers to any kind of drum, but outside Japan, it is used specifically to refer to any of the various Japanese drums called and to the form of ensemble drumming m ...

group founded in

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

and the first taiko ensemble outside of

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. The group has a close partnership with the Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple and performs throughout Colorado and neighboring states. In 2001, Denver Taiko received the Excellence in the Arts Award from Denver Mayor

Wellington Webb Wellington E. Webb (born February 17, 1941) is an American politician. He served in the Colorado House of Representatives and was the first African American mayor of Denver, Colorado, serving from 1991 to 2003. Early life and career The Webb fam ...

. Today, Denver Taiko is an ensemble of third, fourth, and fifth generation

Japanese Americans are Americans of Japanese ancestry. Japanese Americans were among the three largest Asian American ethnic communities during the 20th century; but, according to the 2000 census, they have declined in number to constitute the sixth largest Asi ...

with a shared interest in honoring their Japanese American cultural heritage. "Denver Taiko , Taiko Groups , Discover Nikkei." DiscoverNikkei.org. Web. 21 Feb. 2012. .*"Denver Taiko." Denver Colorado Insights, News, Reviews & Specials. 23 Apr. 2011. Web. 21 Feb. 2012. .

Early history

Denver Taiko was the fourth seminal taiko group in North America. Many of the original members were

University of Colorado Boulder The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder, CU, or Colorado) is a public research university in Boulder, Colorado. Founded in 1876, five months before Colorado became a state, it is the flagship university of the University of Colorado syst ...

alumni, and most of the group's original founders worked with the Community Action Research Program (CARP) in Denver. One of CARP's members,

Mark Miyoshi Mark Miyoshi is a Japanese-American taiko maker. He is the owner and principal craftsman at Miyoshi Daiko, based in Mt. Shasta, California. Early life Mark Miyoshi was born and raised in Greeley, Colorado. He attended the University of Colorado at ...

had met with San Jose Taiko, the third taiko group founded in North America, and was impressed with San Jose Taiko's presentation of taiko. The members of San Jose Taiko taught Mark Miyoshi a fundamental taiko piece written by Seiichi Tanaka Sensei titled "Renshu," and gave him instructions or building taiko drums. In the fall of 1975,

met with six friends to learn Renshu and to try taiko drumming for the first time. The original members of Denver Taiko included Joyce Masunaga,

, Naomi Nakano, Joyce Nakata, Nancy Ozaki, Elaine Takahashi, and Sue Taoka. In January 1976
Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple
a member of the

Buddhist Churches of America The Buddhist Churches of America (abbreviated as BCA in English, ' or ''Beikoku Bukkyōdan'' in Japanese) is the United States branch of the Nishi Honganji subsect of Jōdo Shinshū ("True Pure Land School") Buddhism. The BCA headquarters is at 17 ...

, welcomed the taiko group to its current location. In May 1976, the

San Francisco Taiko Dojo 'San Francisco Taiko Dojo'', founded in 1968 by Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka, was the first taiko group in North America, and has been seen as the primary link between the Japanese and North American branches of the art form. Additionally, Tanaka's b ...

accompanied a Koto performing group at a concert in Denver. The local taiko members asked Seiichi Tanaka Sensei to give the Denver members a workshop that included his philosophy of taiko, aspects of respect, the importance of ki (centering and spirit) and

kata ''Kata'' is a Japanese word ( 型 or 形) meaning "form". It refers to a detailed choreographed pattern of martial arts movements made to be practised alone. It can also be reviewed within groups and in unison when training. It is practised ...

(technique). Additionally, he taught the group Matsuri Taiko and encouraged the group to compose their own songs and to perform in public. Three months later in August 1976, members of

Kinnara Taiko ''Kinnara Taiko'' is a Japanese American drumming ensemble (playing taiko) based out of Senshin Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles, USA. They began playing taiko in 1969 when a few third-generation Japanese Americans gathered after an Obon festival ...

from

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

led another workshop for Denver Taiko. Reverend Masao Kodani, Kinnara's founder, led a seminar that emphasized the

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

perspective of taiko. In July 1976, the group performed in their first

Obon festival or just is fusion of the ancient Japanese belief in ancestral spirits and a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist–Confucian custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people retu ...

. By that time, the group made four more drums and made their first set of

happi A is a traditional tube-sleeved Japanese Coat (clothing), coat, usually worn only during Japanese festivals, festivals. typically feature symbols and/or text on the lapels, with a larger design on the back of the coat, typically the name or ...

obi #REDIRECT Obi {{redirect category shell, {{R from other capitalisation{{R from ambiguous title ...

, and

hachimaki A is a Japanese headband, usually made of red or white cloth, typically featuring a design of kanji at the front. It is worn as a symbol of effort or courage by the wearer, especially by those in the military, or to simply keep sweat off one's ...

. As they performed their two-song repertoire, they were introducing a traditional art form that had been missing from the Denver Obon for decades. In the subsequent years, the group continued to develop their technique and repertoire. Members went to visit other taiko groups and performers such as San Jose Taiko and

Roy Hirabayashi Roy Hirabayashi (born 1951) is a leader in North American Taiko. He is a composer, performer, teacher and activist. He is co-founder of one of the seminal taiko groups in North America, San Jose Taiko, the group's former Artistic and Executive ...

to bring back new ideas for performing and rehearsing. The group has also hosted taiko groups and solo performers such as Oedo Sukeroku, On Ensemble, TaikoProject and

Kenny Endo Kenny Endo (born April 2, 1953) is an American musician and taiko master. He is the leader of several taiko ensembles and regularly tours, performing traditional and contemporary taiko music. Endo is also the first non-Japanese national to recei ...

Equipment

, one of Denver Taiko's founders, led the process for the group's first homemade drum. The group has also received drums as gifts from

Osuwa Daiko is a Japanese percussion group credited as the earliest groups to develop and perform the ensemble-style of taiko called ''kumi-daiko''. Formed in Okaya, Japan in 1951 and founded by Daihachi Oguchi, Osuwa Daiko created a style of performanc ...

and the Ogden Taiko Group.

Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple

Denver Taiko has had a strong relationship with the Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple since the group relocated to the temple in 1976. In the first years of the group, nearly 80% of the group's musicians were also members of the Denver Buddhist Temple. The temple provided storage and practice facilities for the ensemble and Denver Taiko served as an effective method for spreading interest in the Denver Buddhist Temple, Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, and

Japanese American are Americans of Japanese ancestry. Japanese Americans were among the three largest Asian American ethnic communities during the 20th century; but, according to the 2000 census, they have declined in number to constitute the sixth largest Asi ...

culture.

Organization and Rehearsals

Denver Taiko uses a consensus-based system, and members select two practice leaders who lead rehearsals for one month at a time before turning over the responsibility to another pair of members. Joyce Kim served as the group's primary leader starting in 1976, and Aiko Kimura took over Kim's role in 1986. In 2011, Denver Taiko became a

501(c)(3) A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 50 ...

non-profit organization. Today, the group has a board of non-taiko members and appointed Denver Taiko members officers that help with team logistics such as maintaining equipment, tracking finances, and arranging performances.

Influences

In 1978,

Seiichi Tanaka is the first Japan-trained teacher of kumidaiko, or taiko, in the United States and is largely regarded as the father of the art form in North America. Early life Tanaka was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1943 and immigrated to the United States in 19 ...

, of

, came to Denver to offer the group a workshop on form and stance.

from

has taught Denver Taiko a piece and shared the Buddhist philosophy in respect to taiko. San Jose Taiko was instrumental in the group's organization and code of ethics. On Ensemble, Yoshikazu Fujimoto and Yoko Fujimoto of

Kodo __NOTOC__ Kodo may refer to: Japan * ''Kōdō'' (香道), ceremonial appreciation of incense * Nippon Kodo (日本香堂), an incense company * Kodō (taiko group) (鼓童), a ''taiko'' drumming group * Kodo-kai (弘道会), a yakuza criminal orga ...

have been influential in the group's musical development. Still, Denver Taiko prided itself on being a largely self-taught group. Today, a third of the pieces that Denver Taiko performs regularly are adapted from pieces that other groups play. The remaining two thirds, are original compositions. In 1984 Denver Taiko went on a two-week tour to

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

to visit a number of ensembles including

, Gojingo, Tenri; and Oedo Sukeroku. This was an opportunity to not only meed and learn from a few of the prominent taiko groups in

, but for most Denver Taiko members, it was the first visit to their ancestral homeland. During the summer of 2003, the Consulate General of Japan in Denver sponsored a three-week workshop to celebrate 150 years of US-Japan relations. Denver Taiko and the Consulate invited Sensei Yoichi Watanabe, the leader of Amanojaku, and his student protégé, Isaku Kageyama, to lead a series of community outreach events at local elementary schools before leading a four-day workshop for Denver Taiko.

Performances

Denver Taiko primarily performs in the greater Metropolitan Denver area and surrounding cities. Most of the nearly 40 performances a year are for festivals and schools. During the 1980s the group performed several times at Japanese festivals in Albuquerque, New Mexico and St. Louis, Missouri. In 2000, Denver Taiko performed at

Red Rocks Amphitheatre Red Rocks Amphitheatre (also colloquially as simply Red Rocks) is an open-air amphitheatre built into a rock structure in the Western United States, western United States, near Morrison, Colorado, west of Denver. There is a large, tilted, flyi ...

Morrison, Colorado The Town of Morrison is a Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality, home rule municipality in Jefferson County, Colorado, Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. The population was 428 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. Red R ...

before the opening of the film

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'' is a 2000 wuxia film directed by Ang Lee and written for the screen by Wang Hui-ling, James Schamus, and Tsai Kuo-jung . The film features a cast of actors of Chinese people, Chinese ethnicity, including Ch ...

. In 2005, Denver Taiko was invited to perform at the funeral for the American journalist and author,

Hunter S Thompson Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and author who founded the gonzo journalism movement. He rose to prominence with the publication of '' Hell's Angels'' (1967), a book for which he s ...

. The group performs full concerts every two or three years, and they host a special anniversary concert every five years.

Japan Relief

Shortly after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in norther

, Denver Taiko, along with two other local groups, Mirai Daiko and Taiko With Toni, organized a benefit concert to help with the relief efforts in

. Over 900 people attended the concert that included performances from three local taiko groups, Koto Colorado, and the Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple Minyo Dancers. This collaborative event made over $20,000 of which 100% of the proceeds were donated to the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.

Discography

*1999: Ichi Go Ichi E *2011: Tabi: released to commemorate the group's 35th anniversary Approximately two thirds of the songs that Denver Taiko performs on a regular basis are original compositions.

Outreach

Denver Taiko sends representatives to the North American Taiko Conference every two years. The group also hopes to coordinate a workshop for taiko groups in

Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...

. Denver Taiko has also organized an apprenticeship program since 2008.

Junior Taiko

Denver Taiko also runs a youth ensemble called Junior Taiko for young students to learn taiko. Two former Denver Taiko members Toni Yagami and Nancy Ozaki Tsuchimoto started the youth development group in 1985. Since 1985, the Junior Taiko has grown to over 30 members. The members of Junior Taiko range from third grade students to high school students. The group has weekly rehearsals in the Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple on Sundays. Junior Taiko members do not perform as often as the adult Denver Taiko group, but they do perform on stage occasionally and in festivals such as Sakura Matsuri.

Notes

{{Reflist

External links

Official website of Denver Taiko

References

*"Frequently Asked Questions." Denver Taiko FAQs. Web. 21 Feb. 2012. . *"Interview with Aiko Kimura." Telephone interview. 13 Feb. 2012. *"Interview with Ian Berve." Personal interview. 9 Feb. 2012. *"Interview with Joyce Nakata-Kim." Telephone interview. 19 Feb. 2012. *"Interview with Toni Yagami." Telephone interview. 14 Feb. 2012. *Asakawa, Gil. "NIKKEI VIEW: The Asian American Blog." Colorado Taiko Groups Drumming up Support for Japan Relief Efforts with a "Give What You Want" Concert Sat. March 26. 21 Mar. 2011. Web. 21 Feb. 2012. . Japanese rock music groups Percussion ensembles Japanese-American culture in Colorado Taiko groups