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San Jose Taiko celebrates 30 years of drumming with an all-star concert Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. in the Center for Performing Arts. Not seen together since 1974, San Jose Taiko will be joined by San Francisco Taiko Dojo and Los Angeles-based Kinnara Taiko in a historic concert marking the Japanese drumming group's anniversary as well as the connections of all three groups to the only remaining Japantowns in the United States.
San Jose, San Francisco and Los Angeles are home to the only three Japantowns marked for cultural preservation by the state of California.
Japanese immigrants in the early 20th century created communities filled with the familiar sights and smells of their homeland. They celebrated annual festivals, often including a single taiko played by an elder to accompany the music and dancing common during the Buddhist temples' annual summer festival called "Obon."
Although San Jose Taiko's music is inspired by traditional Japanese drumming, members of the group draw from world music rhythms including African, Balinese, Brazilian, Latin and jazz percussion when writing and arranging their original music. Performances also include traditional and contemporary dance. The anniversary concert features performances by all three groups who will join together on stage for a grand finale.
Call San Jose Taiko at 408.293.9344 or go to www.taiko.org for more information. Tickets are $21$40.
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