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HIMAWARI
(Sunflower)
A Collaboration of San Jose Taiko and Hanayui
HIMAWARI (Sunflower)
premieres the union of six women artists in a unique collaboration where cultural
boundaries and aesthetic sensibilities are shared and tested. The six women of HIMAWARI
include three members of San Jose Taiko (PJ Hirabayashi, Yumi Ishihara and Wisa
Uemura) and three members of Hanayui (Chieko Kojima, Yoko Fujimoto and Mitsue
Kinjo). The project name- -HIMAWARI (the Japanese word for sunflower) was selected
for the sunflower's strength in character for reaching and following the sun, a symbol
of power, energy, clarity, and knowledge, and a source for nurturing and sustaining
life.
San Jose Taiko brings the power
of the taiko and movement and Hanayui brings expertise of Japanese dance and song.
Over the past five years both groups have been creatively exploring their common roots
and new offshoots of their Japanese ancestry through music and dance---San Jose Taiko
coming from the Japanese American community in San Jose, California and Hanayui coming
from Kodo Village on Sado Island in Japan.
The HIMAWARI program
includes traditional folk songs and dance from Japan; contemporary taiko drumming
from America and a collaborative process that has combined all elements into something
new and different. The program will showcase original arrangements from both Hanayui
and San Jose Taiko and several new works that display the collaborative efforts of
the HIMAWARI project.
HIMAWARI is
produced by San Jose Taiko. San Jose Taiko and Hanayui would like to thank the following
organizations for all their help and assistance to put the Himawari Tour together:
Kodo, IMG, Japanese
American Cultural & Community Center, Maui Arts and
Cultural Center, Zenshin Daiko, Marco Lienhard, Teddy
Yoshikami and Soh Daiko, Kenny and Chizuko Endo, Tanaka
Travel, Sankei Travel, Daniel Rosen/KASA.
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