Recap for the 2023 North American Taiko Conference Regional, Hilo

Group photo from NATC-R Hilo by Tung Nguyen

This newsletter article was published in the July 2023 Edition of the TCA Beat.

A full, public report of the conference can be found here.

Earlier this month, we hosted our first ever North American Taiko Conference Regional (NATC-R) at Keaʻau High School on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, representing the TCA’s first conference in the region. These regional productions focus on bringing the experience “taiko conference” to communities across North America, allowing greater participation by those to whom travel may pose an obstacle. At the same time, they are collaborative projects that bring regional leaders together to shape the conference and highlight their communities.  

In total, we had 214 registered participants and 32 registered observers from the United States, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and Italy, representing at least 74 different taiko groups. About half of the attendees were from the islands of Hawaiʻi (52% aggregate of participants, observers, and chaperones). We had 13 workshop leaders who collectively taught 30 two-hour workshops on Saturday, 8 six-hour intensives on Sunday, and 6 three-hour workshops on Sunday. As part of the host committee’s guidance, each of the instructors had some connection to the islands via personal histories of growing up, studying taiko, or teaching in Hawaiʻi.

On Friday, as people gathered and checked in for the conference, the campus was open to the public, and our attendees and guests could take open workshops in beginning taiko, taiko drills, song learning, Bon dancing, making taiko video games, and more. Chizuko Endo also led a special workshop for members of the local Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. We had a plenary session with Kumu James Awai, Rev. Ron Miyamura, Alan Okada, and Rev. Shuji Komagata that considered our living connections with each other, the tradition of Obon, the history of North American taiko and the taiko conference, and a tribute to Faye Komagata and her impact on taiko in Hawaiʻi. Our first-ever TaikoGO! (太鼓語) concert featured Taishoji Taiko, Ame no Ato, Portland Taiko, Taiko Center of the Pacific Youth Group, Maui Taiko, and Hawaii Matsuri Taiko and Friends (a recording is on the TCA’s YouTube). 

On Saturday, we had an opening performance by Takumi Kato and family, currently traveling the United States with the goal of 1,000 performances and performances in each state. After a day of workshops, participants had the option to take a shuttle and participate in Puna Hongwangi’s Obon, which included a Bon drumming open mic, where taiko players could accompany the dancing. There was a collaborated performance by Puna Taiko and Maui Taiko that included instructors Kay Fukumoto, Michael Gonhata, and Puna Taiko alum Fred Visaya Jr.

On Sunday, participants could either take a track with two three-hour workshops or a single six-hour workshop. We concluded the conference with a “share session” - a new format where each of the classes has a chance to present to everyone else what their workshop covered in a casual environment, with the idea that everyone could benefit from knowing a bit about what the other intensives covered. After the conference ended, some participants made their way to the Palace Theater, where we partnered with Finding Her Beat for a special showing that included Q&A and performances by Tiffany Tamaribuchi and Chizuko Endo.

We are thankful to our over 50 volunteers from the Medical Reserve Corps, local Key Club, TCA Board, Hawaii Matsuri Taiko and Somei Taiko, and other individuals who helped make this event possible. We would also like to recognize the many groups and individuals who provided drums for the conference, including Puna Taiko, Taishoji Taiko, Kona Daifukuji Taiko, Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Taiko, Pahala Hongwanji Taiko, Kamana Senior Center Taiko, Hui Okinawa Kobudo Taiko, Kona Hongwanji Taiko, Hilo High Taiko, Warabi Ashibi Children’s Day Camp, Michael Gonhata, and Trina Nahm-Miho.

Thank you to our host committee! The host committee included: Paul Sakamoto (Puna Taiko, TCA), Kay Fukumoto (Maui Taiko), Lei Kaniumoe (Taishoji Taiko), Nolan Miyahara (Ryugen Taiko), Chad Nakagawa (Taikoshoji Taiko), Akemi Iwamoto (Kona Daifukuji Taiko), Raenette Hernando (Puna Taiko), Kristina McGaha (TCA), and Gregory Wada (TCA).

This conference also has the special place of being our first in-person conference since 2019. Moving forward, we will be looking to produce a conference every year, and at this moment we have host cities lined up through 2026. Starting in 2025, we will bring back the larger NATC, which will then alternate with NATC-R every other year. Our next NATC-R will be in Seattle in August of 2024, with a date to be released soon. Towards the end of the year we will announce the 2025 NATC location. If you are interested in hosting a conference, please reach out about the RFP process. We hope to see you at a conference soon!

As we all go back to our lives after NATC-R Hilo, I hope we can keep the memory of our time together and the generosity of the aloha spirit alive in our hearts. Through the many ways in which our lives are intertwined through taiko, I hope people will cherish their new friends and stay in community with each other.

Sincerely, 

Gregory Wada, TCA Conference Manager