Okage sama de (thanks to your honorable shadow) was translated as “I am who I am because of you” by the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii when they crafted an exhibit to recognize the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. At the 2017 North American Taiko Conference, Okage sama de was the theme of a presentation about the history and evolution of taiko in North America. From its roots in Japanese community festivals and celebrations, through a Pacific crossing, to its emergence from a tragic war and onto a global stage, we will look at how North American taiko was born, evolved and flourished. It is a story about rediscovering and expanding cultural connections through more than 50 years of experimentation, collaboration and appreciation. For the North American taiko community, it’s the beginning of an answer to the questions “How did we get here and where are we going?”
Register here to receive the meeting link via email 24 hours before the session.
TWO DATES:
August 17 at 2:00pm Hawaii | 5:00pm Pacific | 8pm Eastern
August 28 at 9:00am Hawaii |12:00pm Pacific | 3pm Eastern