Local Seattle performers highlight the taiko drum as a powerful symbol of cultural resilience, identity and unity.
SEATTLE — Local performers and community members describe taiko drumming as more than just a traditional Japanese art form, it is also a message of cultural resilience and resistance.
“Taiko is really about culture, cultural resistance and resilience,” said Stanley Shikuma.
Shikuma, a sansei, senior member of Seattle’s Cocoon Taiko and leader of the Kazi Taiko youth group, has been involved in the taiko movement since moving to Seattle in 1981. He explained that taiko is the Japanese word for “drum” and is a tradition that has been used in Japan for thousands of years.
“Taiko has been practiced in Japan for thousands of years,” he said, adding that modern taiko performance in the United States can be traced back to groups such as the San Francisco Taiko Dojo founded by Seiichi Tanaka in 1968.
In Seattle, early performances such as Onda Koza at the Sakura Festival inspired the formation of local groups, and taiko drumming evolved, he said.
Beyond performance, Shikuma said taiko represents identity and connection.
“So taiko is more than just performance. Taiko can be a personal journey of identity and an exploration of what it means to be Japanese American. It’s also a way to engage with people and connect with other communities,” he said.
Another performer, Jonathan Narita, believes taiko drums are both expressive and unifying.
“Taiko is loud. Taiko is powerful… We try to bring ourselves together with everyone who is struggling,” Narita said.
Shikuma also reflects on how historical trauma has shaped the current situation of many Japanese American families. He noted that his own family was incarcerated during World War II and relatives were sent to camps, including Tule Lake in Northern California. He said the experiences were rarely discussed among his family but left a lasting impact.
“Growing up, my family barely talked about this experience…it was actually a very traumatic experience; it was obviously a life-changing experience for everyone,” he said.
Narita has a similar family history and said relatives have also been incarcerated in Minidoka and Santa Fe. He connects this history to today’s immigration issues and enforcement actions.
Seeing families separated, he said, “breaks my heart and makes me angry because how could something like this still happen in our country?”
Shima said he sees similarities between historical policies and the current immigration debate, noting what he called “the denigration of an entire people” based on identity rather than action.
“We’re seeing in immigration policy today … a lot of the same things happening to Japanese Americans,” he said.
Both said Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month should include reflection on current challenges as well as celebration.
“What we should be focusing on is, ‘What problems and threats do we continue to face?'” Shima said. “We need to talk about all of these issues, not just the so-called good things.”
Much of their work takes place outside the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center, where Shikuma has been participating in the Voice rally since 2019. He said the sound of the taiko drum can be transmitted in a powerful way.
“We know that taiko drums can pass through prison walls,” he said.
Narita said the performance outside the detention facility was to show support for those inside the facility.
“It’s a way to let them know they’re not alone because they can hear us out there,” he said.
Shikuma added that the goal is to provide hope and connection.
“It gives them hope that they know they are not forgotten and they are not alone,” he said.
He said the work is rooted in unity and historical memory.
“Unity is all we have. All we have is each other,” Narita said, while Shikuma added, “No one came to help Japanese Americans during World War II. So we are trying to help other people.”
Despite its difficult history, Shikama says the taiko remains a source of strength.
“Taiko drumming helps me keep going during difficult times,” he said, adding that it also allows people to “express themselves and go out in public to make a statement.”
He emphasized that cultural expression remains crucial, especially in times of fear.
“It’s still important for communities to come out and celebrate their culture,” Shikuma said. “We should not be forgotten.”
- Miranda Chen
- Brandon Utke
[ Archival Photo Credits]
MOHAI, Seattle Post-Intelligent Collection, 2000.107.098.19.01, Photo by Robert H. Miller
MOHAI, Seattle Post-Intelligent Collection, 2000.107.098.19.04, Photo by Robert H. Miller
MOHAI, Kurt E. Armbruster Collection, 2014.43.2.2.MUSIC433
