Kinnara Taiko
First Japanese American Buddhist taiko group, founded 1969.
Kinnara Taiko, a Japanese American drumming group, formed at Los Angeles’s Senshin Buddhist Temple in 1969 after an Obon festival, making it the first Buddhist taiko ensemble of its kind in the community.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Los Angeles, USA
- Years active
- 1969–present
- Genre
- Japanese Taiko drums, percussion ensemble
Facts from the source article.
History
Kinnara Taiko officially began in 1969 at the Jodo Shinshu Senshin Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles. After playing on a drum for hours the night of an Obon festival, Rev. Masao “Mas” Kodani, who had recently studied in Japan, brought up the drum's use there. He and six other temple members decided to start a formal group based loosely on pictures and recordings of Japanese taiko players. With only one taiko drum and insufficient funds for authentic drums, members experimented with inexpensive alternatives. They first used nail keg wooden barrels with leather stretched over them, then upgraded to oak wine barrels and rawhide with greater success. The group practiced at Senshin Temple and performed at temple functions and public events, drawing crowds as one of the first taiko groups in the country. Throughout the 1970s Kinnara performed at various Buddhist temples across the United States and helped start taiko groups at many of them to attract younger generations to temple life. Performances included Palo Alto, California; the Ginza Festival in Chicago; and many other places. The group has performed widely at schools, universities, multicultural folk festivals, Buddhist temples, and for Japanese American and Asian Pacific American organizations, including the Olympic Arts Festival in Los Angeles, Memphis in May in Tennessee, an Obon Festival in Charlotte, North Carolina, a Japanese Festival Celebration at the Morikami Museum in Delray Beach, Florida, and for Delta Air Lines in Atlanta, Georgia.
Membership
Kinnara's membership consists mostly of Japanese Americans, but all who are willing to play are welcomed. Most members are affiliated with Senshin Temple or are collegiate taiko players. The original members were Rev. Masao Kodani, George Abe, Johnny Mori, Clark Nakashita, Wilbur Takashima, George Yamashita, and May Sugano. Notable former members who started other prominent taiko groups include Kenny Endo, Etsuo Hongo, Rev. Tom Kurai, and Bruce Arikawa.
Style
Kinnara's sound is based in Japanese and Japanese American festival drumming, blended with American musical influences such as rock, jazz, and R&B, reflecting the Southern California experience of its members. Early original compositions were vague copies of Japanese recordings and pictures, with additional influences from African music. Two main original pieces are Samsara, by Johnny Mori, and Ashura, by Rev. Kodani. The group has an informal practice and performance style compared to most other kumi-daiko groups, seeking to include all who wish to join regardless of age or ability. They encourage participation by anyone interested in taiko or Buddhism, keep practices informal with no organized routines or schedules, have no teacher, and encourage collaboration on original compositions. Pieces are taught by kuchi shoga.
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