About me
Kay Fukumoto has performed “Fukushima Ondo” at Maui obon festivals for over fifty years, the first female child to perform on the taiko at obon in Hawai’i. The song came to Maui with Fukushima descendants who worked at the sugar plantations. The over hundred-year tradition continued through three generations in her family before her involvement. She founded Maui Taiko twenty-nine years ago to ensure that “Fukushima Ondo” continues for future generations. Kumidaiko skills and repertoire were included, along with constructing fourteen taiko, with the newly formed group. Sixteen annual evenings of obon are part of the fifty yearly performances. Kay has taught the song to ten groups in the US to bring a “live obon song” to their festivals. She has also co-chaired the Maui Matsuri Festival for the last twenty years furthering her commitment to share Japanese traditions and culture with the community. Maui Taiko was featured in the “Great Grandfather’s Drum” film that shares the history of Japanese Americans in Hawai’i which film shared obon traditions. The group has traveled back to Fukushima to perform the song at the Fukushima Expo, Fukushima Taiko Festivals, and in communities affected by the triple disasters.
