Biography
pj & roy“Our biggest achievement is community.”
If asked to reflect on their achievements in 50 years playing taiko, PJ & Roy Hirabayashi would likely start by taking the spotlight off themselves…
and quickly shift the conversation to how grateful they are to be a part of both the global taiko and local San Jose Japantown communities for all these years. Together, they’ve pioneered taiko as an Asian American art form through their long-standing tenure with San Jose Taiko, a renowned performing arts organization. Through their commitment to the arts, to community, and to equality of leadership, PJ & Roy have modeled the values of their ancestral Japanese American roots with unwavering humility and grace.
roy“We were trying to build an art form out of hardly anything. Having that opportunity and challenge was exciting to us and helped us move forward.”
Summary
San Jose Taiko
Co-founder, former Executive Director (Roy)
Charter member, Artistic Director Emeritus (PJ)
Performing members, 1973-2011 (PJ & Roy)
San Jose Taiko
Highlights
As performing members for 38 years they participated in 3500+ concerts, festivals, community gatherings, workshops, school shows, residencies, and speaking engagements
Taiko Community
Since 1997, North American Taiko Conference (NATC) speakers, workshop leaders
Taiko Community Alliance advisory council
Accolades, Awards
2011 National Endowment for the Arts, Heritage Fellows; United States highest honor in the arts
2012 Consul General of Japan, Hiroshi Inomata, Certificate of Commendation for Community Service
2014 JACL The Japanese American of the Biennium Award
Artistic Collaborations
Valley of the Heart by Luis Valdez (musical score)
George Coates Performance Works & American Conservatory Theatre
San Jose Repertory Theatre
Asian American Jazz Orchestra
Ondekoza
Kodo
Abhinaya Dance Company
Timeline With San Jose Taiko and Beyond
The highlights below give a glimpse into the remarkable taiko adventure that PJ & Roy have been on over the years.
What may be less apparent is the consistency, due diligence, and perseverance by which they brought taiko to life with immeasurable humility and joy.
1970’s
roy“There was no way that we would have a sensei, as in Japan, to tell us what to do, or ‘This is the way to do it’.”
pj“We had to work collectively, very collaboratively and level the playing field with everybody contributing as equally as possible.”
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1973
Seeing Kinnara Taiko in Los Angeles inspires Reverend Hiroshi Abiko, Roy Hirabayashi & Dean Miyakusu to start a taiko group for the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin YBA. They named it “San Jose Taiko Group” and it became the third taiko group in North America. Later it would be shortened for publicity to “San Jose Taiko”.
1974
Seiichi Tanaka of San Francisco Dojo invites San Jose Taiko members, including Roy and PJ, to study with his group
1975
Roy & PJ are married at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in California
1976
San Jose Taiko’s first audio cassette tape is produced by Bamboo Brew Productions
1978
First taiko workshop with San Jose Taiko and Ondekoza, renowned taiko group from Japan
1979
Performed at Powell Street Festival in Vancouver, Canada and Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California
1980’s
pj - asian week article“It was a difficult time for us. From 1979 to 1983, we moved from place to place to practice our drums. We were in community centers, churches, San Jose High School, abandoned Healds Business College, a fertilizing company, and parking lots. Most of us worked during the day and practiced at night.”
pj & roy“People [in Japan] like what we do. They recognize we’re Japanese Americans, and they’re curious about what we do.”
roy“We still had to tell ourselves, it’s okay to be loud. Even though we were taught to be a quiet culture, we let taiko be our voice.”
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1980
Co-created first training class for new members of San Jose Taiko
1981
San Jose Taiko self-produced its first concert at San Jose State’s Morris Daily Auditorium
San Jose Taiko becomes a non-profit organization with first board of directors
1982
Roy Hirabayashi & Tomiko Nozaki (Anne Katashima) traveled to Sado Island, Japan to work & study with Kodo (originally Ondekoza) on Kodo’s first United States tour
1983
Gary Tsujimoto and PJ Hirabayashi join Roy & Tomiko in Japan to study with Kodo
Performed in San Jose Taiko’s 10th Anniversary, concert at Santa Clara University’s Mayer Theatre
Roy composed “Free Spirit”
1984
Inaugurated San Jose Taiko’s first rehearsal space on King Road
Toured with San Jose Taiko’s first performance in Hawaii, US Festival in San Bernardino, Cal Expo in Sacramento & the Asian American Jazz Festival
1985
San Jose Taiko Junior Taiko classes start, PJ & Roy are instructors/mentors
Published first edition of San Jose Taiko newsletter “Odaiko”, Roy wrote most of the articles, typeset, and produced the newsletter
1987
Toured with San Jose Taiko in Japan with Ondekoza, presenting American taiko to Japanese audiences
San Jose Taiko received its first National Endowment for the Arts Expansion Arts program grant
Pj & Roy compose “Hachijo Noto” and “Miyoshi no Ki”
1988
Performed in San Jose Taiko’s 15th anniversary concert in collaboration with George Coates Performance Works
1989
Part of collaborations with San Jose Taiko, George Coates, and the American Conservatory Theatre
1990’s
roy“With Spirit of Adventure I wanted to capture the essence of our Asian American experience, living in the United States while honoring the traditions and spirit of the Japanese drum.”
reverend hiroshi abiko“Isn’t it good. Isn’t IT good. Isn’t it GOOD.”
—expounding on the meaning of Ei Ja Nai Ka, PJ’s signature piece celebrating her grandparents, immigrants from Japan
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1990
PJ & Roy compose “Bamboo Drums”
1991
Roy composes “Reflections”
Roy co-writes “Insight Through Sound” with San Jose Taiko
San Jose Taiko produces 1st CD “Insight Through Sound”
San Jose Taiko receives largest grant to date, from the National Endowment for the Arts
1992
Toured with San Jose Taiko’s first major run to 9 California cities
Roy composes “NanaShi”
PJ & Roy compose “Celebration”
1993
Roy composes “Spirit of Adventure”
Performed with San Jose Taiko & Ondekoza at Carnegie Hall
Performed in San Jose Taiko 20th Anniversary, concert includes members of Kodo
San Jose Taiko CD released: “Kodama: Echoes of the Soul”, features songs by Roy, “Free Spirit”, “NanaShi”, and “Spirit of Adventure”, and “Celebration” by PJ and Roy
1994
PJ visits Warabi-za in Akita, Japan
PJ composes “Ei Ja Nai Ka”
1995
San Jose Taiko performs at Ohlone College Performing Arts Center with emcee, Tom Hanks
1996
Managed effort to launch San Jose Taiko website www.taiko.org
San Jose Taiko CD released: “Mo Ichido: One More Time”, features “Ei Ja Nai Ka” and “Fukai Tokoro Kara” by PJ
1997
First North American Taiko Conference, Los Angeles, Little Tokyo; provided production support, led workshops, and sat on advisory board
Present Warabi-za in a concert & residency in San Jose with San Jose Taiko
Asano Taiko Extasia Festival, Kanazawa, Japan
Kodo One Earth Celebration volunteers
Roy composes “Kin Moku” with Karen Morita
1998
Celebrated San Jose Taiko’s 25th anniversary at Stanford University Memorial Auditorium with guests Motofumi Yamaguchi of Kodo and Shohei Kikuchi of Warabi-za
1999
David Benoit, San Jose Symphony and San Francisco Symphony Orchestra collaboration (PJ)
Residency with Hanayui of Kodo
PJ Hirabayashi & Yumi Ishihara lecture at the Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan
Roy composes “PJ’s Song”, jazz instrumental ballad piece, for the Michael Sasaki Band
2000’s
roy“History provides us with a foundation for understanding and awareness. Understanding history fosters our capacity for gratitude and responsibility.”
—on the eve of the 2017 Day of Remembrance (Executive Order 9066)
pj“Taiko’s presence at Day of Remembrance lends an uplifting energy of joy and hope coming out of a dark past. Taiko’s vibration stirs the heart to open. I don’t regard it as just a drum, a musical instrument. It’s a powerful tool for bringing people together.”
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2000
San Jose Taiko collaboration with Sonos Handbell Ensemble and composer Jaron Lanier for the Continental Harmony project of the NEA’s American Composer’s Forum
San Jose Taiko in J-Town Beat Celebration, Japan America Theatre in Los Angeles, other featured artists Hiroshima, Michael Paolo, Daniel Ho, Brenda Aoki & Mark Izu, Lane Nishikawa and Hear & Now
2002
San Jose Taiko performs at Hinode Taiko’s 20th anniversary concert in Winnipeg, Canada
2003
San Jose Taiko 30th Anniversary Concert, featured guest performers San Francisco Taiko Dojo and Kinnara Taiko, premiere of “Ichigo Ichie”, composed by Nobuko Miyamoto
3-Japantown concert tour at Japan America Theatre, Los Angeles and at San Francisco Taiko Dojo’s International Taiko Festival, Berkeley
2004
San Jose Taiko international performances and workshops:
Mexico, Encuentro Yoreme de Sinaloa Festival
Italy, Castelbasso Oriente e Occidente Festival
England, workshops for Kagemusha Taiko
2005
PJ, Nobuko Miyamoto, Yoko Fujimoto collaborate on the Triangle Project, first performance at New World Theatre, University of Massachusetts in Amherst
Roy and PJ receive Community Activists of the Year award from the Silicon Valley Asian Pacific American Democratic Club
Roy is selected as a judge for the 4th International Taiko Contest, Tokyo, Japan
San Jose Taiko CD released “Rhythm Journey” features songs by Roy, “Free Spirit”, “Spirit of Adventure”, and “Kin Moku” (with Karen Morita)
2006
Toured with San Jose Taiko to:
Mesa, AZ - Mesa Art Center
Albuquerque, NM - Popejoy Auditorium, University of New Mexico
Hartford, WI - Schauer Arts & Activities Center
Napa, CA - Napa Valley Opera House
St. Paul, MN - Ordway Center for the Performing Arts 2007
Performed songs (including ones they composed) on San Jose Taiko first DVD, San Jose Taiko, Celebrating 3 Decades
Multicultural Arts Leadership Institute (MALI) co-founded by Roy, Raul Lozano, and Tamara Alvarado
2008
Celebrated San Jose Taiko’s 35th anniversary concert
Featured on KQED’s Spark
Genesis of TaikoPeace (PJ)
2009
Featured on KTEH This is Us
Attended Tule Lake Pilgrimage
2010’s
pj“They finally see us, they get us now.”
—upon being honored by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Heritage Fellow
roy“When NEA gave us this award, they recognized not only were we musicians within a folk and traditional art form, but that this art form is born out of community and helps build community.”
pj“We’re not retiring, we’re RE-WIRING.”
—upon transitioning from San Jose Taiko after 38 years
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2010
PJ celebrates her 60th birthday (kanreki) and announces TaikoPeace at the Theatre on San Pedro Square, San Jose, California
Traveled to Japan with San Jose Taiko visiting Sado Island, Akita, Tokyo, Hachijo, Kyoto, and Osaka
2011
Roy & PJ receive the nation’s highest artistic honor—National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship Award for their lifelong contributions to North American taiko
Roy celebrates his 60th birthday (kanreki) at San Jose Taiko studio
Perform for 7 fundraisers to support Sendai, Japan’s earthquake and tsunami relief efforts
PJ and Roy transition their leadership roles in San Jose Taiko and conclude their 38-years as active performing members
PJ becomes Artistic Director, Emeritus of San Jose Taiko
2012
Consul General of Japan, Hiroshi Inomata, Certificate of Commendation for Community Service
2014
SVCreates Legacy Laureate Award
Invited artist at Bet Lehem Live, Palestine (PJ)
JACL The Japanese American of the Biennium Award
US/Japan Artist Fellowship (PJ)
2016
San Jose City Cornerstone Award
2017
Smithsonian Folk Life Festival performance, Washington DC
Japanese American Museum San Jose 30th Anniversary video, music soundtrack (Roy)
2019
Zenshin Daiko 20th Anniversary guest artists, Maui, Hawaii
2020’s
pj“We need “Ei Ja Nai Ka” and its creative cousins around the world to bring us out of the pandemic, to unify and re-energize our spirits.”
roy“What’s at stake is the essence and nature of taiko being diluted and lost with our next generation. I’m concerned about the perception of taiko and young people just wanting to play loud and proud.”
pj & roy“We want the next generation to think about WHY they play taiko and to play with a deep respect for the history of taiko and its Japanese roots.”
PJ and Roy continue to advocate and support progressive activities in arts and culture, taiko and their local community with deep and committed involvement.
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2020
Reimagining a New World virtual workshops for the taiko community
TaikoPeace web site launches
2021
25th anniversary of PJ’s song celebrating our immigrant ancestors, “Ei Ja Nai Ka”
Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) advisors for Taproot
2022
Calgary Taiko Gathering Stronger Together guest instructors, Calgary, Canada
2023
PJ & Roy 50-year anniversary of playing taiko
40-year anniversary of Roy’s song, “Free Spirit”
Asian American Studies reunion (1970-2023), San Jose State University
IKKAI Means Once, original music (PJ & Roy), choreography and performance (PJ)
