Togen Daiko continues to perform 2025!

Togen Daiko 20th Anniversary Concert

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OUR GUESTS

AZUMA KOTOBUKI KAI

KINNARA TAIKO

In 1969 and naming themselves after the celestial musicians of Buddhist mythology, Kinnara became the first Japanese American Buddhist taiko group. Originating the use of wine barrels to make their own taiko, the group began composing pieces combining traditional Japanese rhythms with their own musical influences, spurring the growth of an Asian American genre that has since proliferated throughout the country. As a Buddhist group, emphasis is placed on participation, self-awareness, and discovering the joy in “just” playing. Kinnara has performed throughout the United States and influenced the formation of numerous groups across the country. Besides drums of various sizes, other instruments include bamboo flutes, conch shells and a variety of percussion instruments. Their home base is Senshin Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles, California.

ICHIMI DAIKO

Ichimi Daiko was started by members of the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Temple in the Fall of 1992. With help from Vista Buddhist temple, the group quickly grew to 14 members and performed at local events on the Central Coast as well as the annual Obon Festival. Several years later, a children’s group was formed with the Dharma school students and were led by members of the original group. Over the years, participation had waned but the group was revitalized in 2005 through efforts by Ruth Vines and Tetsuo Uyeda who performed and trained with Nen Daiko located in Fairfax, Virginia. The group currently has 12 performing members with the youngest being 13.

Azuma Kotobuki Kai is a branch of the Azuma Ryu School of dance led by Sumako Azuma and Kikusue Azuma, both credentialed instructors of the Azuma headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. There are over 60 students, from Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties. While the instructors teach many traditional classical dances, they are also innovators by using modern music to help reach the younger generations. The goal of the Azuma Kotobuki Kai is to preserve and promote Japanese culture in the United States through the art of Nihon Buyo.

Throughout its long history, Kinnara's influence has touched many groups stretching from California, Colorado, Utah, Hawaii as well as groups in Chicago, New York, Minneapolis and Seattle.

OUR SPONSORS:

SILVER

PREMIER DIAGNOSTICS SLEEP DISORDERS CENTER, VENTURA (Dr. George Yu, Medical Director)

CAGAMI RAMEN

O-SABI RESTAURANT

ANSHINDO AMERICAN CORPORATION

MOMOYO CHIKASAWA AND FAMILY

CHIYOKO NISHIMORI

JASE PIERSON

The group has performed widely in the United States at schools and universities, multi-cultural folk festivals, Buddhist Temples and for Japanese American and Asian Pacific Islander American organizations. Performances in the past have included, The Olympic Arts Festival, Los Angeles, Memphis in May, Memphis, TN, Obon Festival in Charlotte, NC and a Japanese Festival Celebration at the Morikami Museum in Delray Beach, FL and for Delta Airlines in Atlanta, GA. At the end of 2011, Kinnara went on a benefit fundraising tour to Hiroshima, Kure and Nara. The tour raised money for the Buddhist Temples in the earthquake/tsunami stricken Tohoku region of Japan.