Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatsu Aoki.
Tsukasa Taiko & Taiko Legacy programs began as Tsukasa Daiko and was founded in 1996 by Hide Yoshihashi in conjunction with Japanese classical dance grandmaster Wakayagi Shiyu. Yoshihashi then expanded the organization in collaboration with Asian Improv aRts Midwest’s executive director Tatsu Aoki. The organization has evolved from a small private group to a not for profit art’s organization. In 2004, the group established itself as a resident arts program of the Japanese American Service Committee (JASC). Tsukasa Taiko has since become the leading and one of the largest community taiko ensembles in the Chicago area as well as the Midwest. Performing at over 50 public and private events a year, Tsukasa Taiko consistently embraces the authentic Japanese aesthetic and its contemporary applications.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Funding has always been a struggle for our business. We realize that the authentic aesthetic can be less popular, and may not appeal to a large demographic. Our challenge is to merge the traditional aesthetic with a sense of pride and more informed acknowledgment of the pure content that is being presented, without the nuisance of popularity. The unintentional interpretation is that the amount of popularity defines the value and authenticity of the content, and we demand to differ.
Please tell us about Tsukasa Taiko.
Tsukasa Taiko, is a community program of Asian Improv aRts Midwest. It is one of the largest taiko groups in the Midwest, and offers taiko drum instruction, education, and performances. Its mission is to preserve, develop, and pass on the traditional concepts of genuine Japanese art as a cultural legacy, and to utilize these authentic concepts in expanding and evolving the taiko art form. Dedicated to understanding and strengthening of Japanese American, Asian American, and Japanese identity, it strives to respect tradition and develop artistic excellence and connoisseurship. As an active performing group, Tsukasa presents over fifty shows a year, both locally and internationally. Tsukasa Taiko offers training, workshops, lectures, and demonstrations designed to teach how to play taiko, as well as to advance the understanding of how the cultural arts are a reflection of a community’s heritage and legacy.
The performances consist of taiko drumming and Japanese classical dance. Our specialty is that we can do the festival drumming as well as theatrical presentations with Japanese classical dance which is rooted in the kabuki theater tradition. We are able to present our traditional, theatrically rooted performances due to our distinct staff.
What sets us apart: Our director, teachers, and administrative staff are dedicated and qualified professionals, which are trained and/or certified in Japan. This is how we ensure that the content we present is authentic.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Born and raised in Japan, I had a unique upbringing. My family is an artisan family, otherwise known as a Geisha house. I often went with my grandmother to see the Kabuki theater and performed traditional music with my peers. But I particularly remember when I received a regular 8 movie camera as a gift, and ran around filming and pretending to be a movie director.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.taikolegacy.com
- Email: tsukasataiko@gmail.com
- Instagram: #tsukasataiko
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Taikolegacy
Image Credit:
Ken Carl
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