NATC 2025 Phoenix

Leaders in our taiko community need to consider the future and how succession planning is important to help ensure that their taiko group is on stable ground. Roy and PJ Hirabayashi will lead this discussion as they share their leadership transition out of San Jose Taiko and the steps they took to continue their own taiko careers. The session will allow participants to ask questions and share their experiences or challenges.

Learn about the physics of Taiko! How do vibrations relate to sound? How does a Taiko go “Don”? Join us as we explore the beautiful world of energy, vibrations, and resonance using various exercises, demonstrations, and simulations. By connecting what we hear and play with physics, we will uncover how every drum has a unique soul that can be heard and felt... but only if you're listening!

Learn about the physics of Taiko! How do vibrations relate to sound? How does a Taiko go “Don”? Join us as we explore the beautiful world of energy, vibrations, and resonance using various exercises, demonstrations, and simulations. By connecting what we hear and play with physics, we will uncover how every drum has a unique soul that can be heard and felt... but only if you're listening!

Did you want the highest pitch/ the most bounce/ for the lightest weight bachi?
The tenor sound that doesn't make ears wince indoors? Or the thick heavy skin that can handle 'Ushi-Goroshi' ( cow-killer ) bachi?

When do we hope it will sound great?(1 year, 3 years, 6 top 10?)
Is the goal a looser or softer skin(auditory kindness indoors)? How loose is too loose ? - for skin #1? - for skin #2?
How soon would you like it? How many extra steps are we willing to add? Can we sacrifice the longevity of the skin to get there sooner? Can we add weight to the skin and give it deeper tone?
What factors can we bring to the table? What extra steps? What risky techniques?

Taiko and ethnic studies has a long and enduring relationship in the context of North America. It is imperative, given the current climate of political precarity, to understand not only the ways in which racial dynamics operate within taiko spaces, but to understand taiko and race through relational lenses. From 'Racist Love' to techno-Orientalism, taiko remains a critical site of analysis for reckoning with the intimacies of race, gender, and other axes of power. My work situates taiko within foundational ethnic studies concepts such as Orientalism and intersectionality to build an understanding of the political opportunities and limitations that taiko makes possible. The discussion portion following the lecture provides a space for community members to ask questions and to participate in conversations at the forefront of ethnic studies and how it continues to shape the legacies and futures of taiko in the United States.

Prerequisite/What to bring: There is no prerequisite knowledge or personal equipment required for this discussion.