Taiko Jam
Sunday, August 31st
7:30PM
Taiko Jam Team
Production Manager- Sarah Ayako
Concert Director- Nicole Stansbury
Technical Director- David Cheetham
Venue Liaison- Ava Kovlakas
PERFORMING GROUPS
Makoto Taiko strives to connect and empower people of all backgrounds by advancing the practice of taiko with intention and sincerity.
Exodus
Composed by Patrick Cruz
Performed by Makoto Taiko Youth Ensemble
"Exodus" is a symbolic piece that represents the idea of leaving your home, struggling through your journey, and eventually succeeding in finding your new home.
Sandou 山道
Composed by Hunter Loyd
Performed by Hunter Loyd and Patrick Cruz
Sandou which translates as "mountain road" or "the way of the mountain," evokes a journey down a steep mountain path.
Kanpai!
Composed by Isaac Caldas
Performed by Makoto Taiko Performance Group
Kanpai! is a celebration of a job well done. The song depicts a lively gathering of dear friends and follows them through a day of music making, storytelling, and sharing in the joy of taiko.
Memories 思い出
Composed by Patrick Cruz
Performed by Makoto Taiko Performance Group
Based on Cruz's Taikai-winning original composition "Letter to my Childhood," this ensemble rendition narrates key moments of each soloist's journey as a taiko performer--from their first exposure to where they are now
Makoto Taiko
Fushicho Daiko is Arizona's premier and longest running professional performing Taiko group. Through performances, workshops, residencies, and regularly scheduled classes, Taiko is alive and well in the Southwest. We pride ourselves on inclusion and diversity; our mission is to share the passionate energy and unique harmony of Taiko drumming to all who wish to be inspired by this dynamic and powerful art form.
“Ranbu” 乱舞, written by Fukushima, Ranbu is a staple of the Fushicho Daiko repertoire. A great introduction to all the different sounds of the Taiko and auxiliary instruments. It is a fun and interactive song that engages all ranges of audiences, from the very young, first learning about Taiko, to the seasoned veterans of Taiko who can appreciate a good comedic battle.
"Fuchi Confusion", written by Marsha Robb
Taiko conveys the full life expression of the physical, mentally, spiritual and emotional journey of a person. Fuchi Confusion expresses the antithesis, the opposite. When you experience the sharp contrast of the lifelessness of this song, it brings into keener focus the importance of what makes Taiko truly dynamic and powerful.
“Hono Daiko”, indigenous song from Hiroshima, taught to Fushicho Daiko by Munakata Osamu Sensei of Hiroshima Taiko Hozonkai.
Dating back over a thousand years, this song originated as a prayer to the guardian deities, performed by hermit priests in small mountain shrines. It is played now at festivals and any happy occasion. Of all the pieces, it is the one which best displays the rhythmic synchronization of the group – six or more taiko players in perfect harmony, led by the deep mellow tones of the horagai/conch shell and driven by the bright sounds of the chappa.
“Kachidoki”, written by Hatanaka Kenzo in 1979.
Originally trained in western music and brass bands, Hatanaka was commissioned by the city of Matsuyama to write a cycle of songs celebrating the founding of Matsuyama City. His 5 song set honors the Navy of the Kono clan, a feudal family that began as pirates but evolved into a kind of coast guard of the region, playing crucial roles in protecting and regulating the Seto Inland Sea and specifically the Matsuyama/Iyo area. “Kachidoki”, Victory celebrates the power and success of the Iyo no Kuni Suigun Navy in protecting their strongholds. Using old Japanese language to call all together, the song uses some of the indigenous rhythms that were included in sacred celebrations of Matsuyama.
Special Guest: Karen Falkenstrom and Odaiko Sonora of Tucson
Fushicho Daiko Dojo
Ken Koshio is a Japanese-born musician, taiko drummer, and cultural ambassador based in Phoenix, Arizona. Originally from Nagoya, Japan, he began his career as a singer-songwriter and folk-rock performer before moving to the U.S. in the late 1990s. His journey led him to discover taiko drumming, which became the heart of his artistic expression.
Through his performances, Ken blends traditional Japanese culture with global influences, creating powerful experiences that emphasize peace, unity, and connection. He founded his Wa-Konkan Dojo, a cultural center in Phoenix, where he teaches taiko, origami, calligraphy, and other Japanese arts to share heritage with future generations.
Koshio Gumi is a Phoenix-based intergenerational taiko drumming ensemble founded and led by Ken Koshio. The group brings together individuals from diverse cultural, professional, and geographic backgrounds, united by the powerful rhythms of traditional Japanese taiko drumming. More than a performance ensemble, Koshio Gumi serves as a cultural community dedicated to fostering peace and connection through music.
“Kokoroiki” (心意気) is an original piece composed by Ken Koshio. Kokoro (心) means “spirit” or “heart,” while iki (意気) means “determination” or “willpower.” This signature piece for Ken Koshio and Koshio Gumi embodies the spirit of each performer and creates powerful rhythmic unity.
“Hiroshima Nicho Daiko” (広島二丁太鼓) is one of the traditional jidaiko (indigenous taiko drum) pieces preserved by the Hiroshima Taiko Preservation Society (Hiroshima Taiko Hozon Kai), founded in 1964 to safeguard centuries-old rhythms from Hiroshima Prefecture. Passed down to us by our sensei, Itsuki Munakata—a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing—this piece embodies both resilience and renewal, honoring the past while beating for peace today.
Koshio Gumi
The All Souls Procession Finale is a collaborative piece that unites taiko, dance, and circus arts to express the ferocity and joy of life in the desert — from the thunderous monsoon rains to the darting flight of birds, the yipping coyotes to the people who are the heart of our community. As the name suggests, this piece was designed as the finale performance of the 2024 All Souls Procession, an annual public ceremony in which hundreds of thousands of people gather to walk together and grieve those they have lost through art, music, and movement.
Pulling Down Clouds - by Karen Falkenstrom
Vermillion - by Nicole Stansbury
Mochizuki - by Aki Takahashi
All Souls Procession Finale
San Jose Taiko creates innovative performances and comprehensive educational programs, empowering diverse voices and educating across cultures to build a more accepting and ENGAGed world.
1. Home Coming Home by Alex Hudson, 2016
5th and Jackson; one stop before Machida station on the Odakyu line; past the Ice Palace at the Aloha Stadium exit; a nearby pond that sings with ducks and frogs before running to the Willamette. Our real, true home, our heart, the people who lift us up and make us better. The home we know we’ll return to someday, and the home we carry with us always.
2. Wagamama by Yurika Chiba, 2016
“Wagamama” is usually translated as “willful or naughty child". This song plays on the composer’s confusion growing up Japanese Canadian, as to when to blend in or disappear and when to stand out. Other themes addressed are formality/informality and “honne”/"tatemae" (honesty/facade). Special thanks to Kelli Wing, Craig Wong, and Byron Yamanaka, who contributed childhood secrets for the formulation of rhythmic patterns in the piece.
3. Chikara by Janet Koike, 1995, arranged with poetry by Franco Imperial, 2023
“Although I am imprisoned, My heart and mind are free.” This poem, written by Shiro Fujioka during internment in Heart Mountain camp, inspires Chikara, an internal strength that keeps the human spirit alive. The poetry read aloud comes from the “Tachibana Ginsha” (Standing Flower Poetry Group), a collective of Issei individuals confined at Heart Mountain, with the composer’s grandfather being one of its members. Special thanks to Janet Koike for generously sharing this collection with us.
4. Tales of a Balloon by Mitchell Fukumoto, 2012, arranged 2024
A little red balloon floats blissfully away in the distance. Where did it come from and who set it free? “Tales” recalls the whimsical and carefree nature of one’s childhood. Awaken your inner child and relive those careless days once again. What tales would your balloon tell? “Tales” is a rearrangement of a piece originally composed for Stanford Taiko.
5. Beyond by Geoff Noone, 2023
Celebrating 50 years of rhythm and community, “Beyond” honors San Jose Taiko’s legacy of contemporary taiko music, while propelling its voice forward. With an energetic drive towards new horizons, “Beyond” invites audiences to share in a hopeful vision of the future.
San Jose Taiko
