Arts & Culture

 This week Roy Hirabayashi was our supervisor and he took us to various arts and culture place around Japantown. On Monday we visited San Jose Taiko's practice facility in downtown to see where they practice and also to talk about the history and trouble that SJ Taiko has had with getting a place to practice. He told us that SJ Taiko has gone through many different places over the years and the previous place they had problems with noise complaints directed towards them; taiko isn't a quiet activity. He said they really got lucky when they found their current location cause it was set to be demolished by the city for the new baseball stadium that would have been for the A's if they came to San Jose. Luckily they were able to secure a lease for the whole building from the city about a week before it was going to be leveled. Roy said that they wanted the whole building so that they did not have to deal with neighbors complaining about the noise being generated by playing on the drums. Roy also talked about how eventually they would have to move and find a new place again because the city still plans to tear down the building for redevelopment in the future so they are looking into finding a new place to hopefully call home permanently.

On Tuesday Roy took us to meet Duane Takahashi and Michael Yoshihara of San Jose's Chidori Band at Kubota Restaurant. They talked to us about how Chidori Band is one of the last bands in the country that does what they do; write and play music in Japanese for the Japanese American community. They said that the busiest time for the band is during Obon season since they go around to the different temple Obons to play music for the Bon Odori since they are the last band like them in the USA. I remember seeing them each time they played at my Obon, the Mountain View Obon one and how I always thought it was interesting in how the band was so appealing even though I could not understand what they were singing about and how there was the "old school" vibe when they play.

Chirdori Band 60th Anniversary

On Wednesday we met with Rev. Gerald Sakamoto of the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin and talked to him about the involvement of the temple in the community. I thought that it was interesting how the role of the various Shin Buddhist Temples in the USA kind of played the same role while also playing different roles as well. Most temples are the focal community center for the Nikkei Community sponsoring groups like Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YBA, sports leagues, and etc. Rev. Sakamoto also talked about how the temples should try to shift from being the cultural center that they are to a Dharma center and focus more on the Dharma instead of the culture since thats what a Buddhist Temple should be doing in my opinion. But since most temples helped many of the Issei, Nisei, and Sansei, its hard to see that shift happen since the temples are rooted deeply in the community with all the groups that they sponsor.

Later in the day we walked down to Empire7Studios to meet with co-owner Juan Carlos to talk to him about why he set up shop in Japantown and the importance of the art scene in Japantown. He told us that the murals that he does helps make the area look more vibrant but also sends a message of what is going on. I know for sure I like the mural that is on Santo Market's wall as well as the other ones on the electrical boxes around Japantown.

On Thursday we went to the Mexican Heritage Plaza and met with Tamra, the Executive Director over there. She talked to us about how the Plaza had a trouble some start and that her agency was able to revitalize it within four years. We learned of the importance of having a cultural center and that the Plaza wasn't just for Mexican Heritage but for other cultures to use and be on display. Later that day we met with Wisa and Franco from San Jose Taiko to talk about SJ Taiko and how they fit into the leadership and direction of the future of this ancient art form.

Alec Matsumoto 7/6/15