Nibei Foundation’s Japan Study Club Lecture Series
May 19, 2009
Matsuri: Japan Festival
Presenter: Mr. Eiji Shishido of the Fukuoka Taiko Club “Kogenkai”
Audience: 70
On May 19, the Japan Study Club proudly hosted “Matsuri:Japan Festival.” Mr. Eiji Shishido, “Shisho” chief instructor of the Fukuoka Taiko Club “Kogenkai”was the presenter.
This taiko group is the only group outside of Japan to succeed in producing the authentic taiko music of Kokura Gion Festival’s in Kita-Kyushu city with a long 400-year history. This summer festival is one of three famous Gion Festival in Fukuoka prefecture: Hakata Gion Yamakasa (July 1-5), Tobata Gion Yamakasa (July 24-26); and Kokura Gion Taiko (July 17-18)
“Kogenkai” was established in 2006 as part of the Nanka Fukuoka Kenjinkai (The Southern California Fukuoka People Association). Its mission is to impart its long Japanese culture and traditions to the young and old in the U.S. It is also actively involved in various community events such as the New Years celebration in Little Tokyo and other fundraising events for the mentally challenged.
Mr. Shishido’s presentation began by showing the audiences pictures of him when he started to play taiko at the Kokura Gion Matsuri in 1955. His enthusiasm and love for the taiko could already be seen at the tender age of two.
Taiko has been a part of his life from then on. After his graduation from college, he worked for a Japanese company in in Japan, the U.S. and Germany as an international representative. He even taught taiko in Frankfurt, Germany to the local people to keep alive the festive atmosphere of the Kokura Gion Matsuri within his heart.
In 2003, he and his family settled in California where he joined the Southern California Fukuoka People Association and then established the “Kogenkai” Taiko club within this organization.
“Ko” means drum; “gen” means string; and “kai” means club. It was wonderful to also see that he has passed down this love of taiko to his son Tatsuro. Tatsuro was even able to participate in Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival last year.
Mr. Shishido then went to the historical background of the Kokura Gion Taiko.
He explained how in ancient Japan where rice-growing was of paramount importance, the people feared the sprit “Susanou.”
The people feared natural disasters which may harm their harvest production. It was through this fear and hope to appease the anger of the spirit “Susanou,” that as early as 800 A.D. during the Heian Period, Yasaka Shrine in the then capital of Kyoto, was built to worship him.
It was then and there that festivities were held in a lively ambience with taiko music to calm Susanou’s anger. Beautiful costumes and dances accompanied this festival which was the origin of the very first Japanese festival of this kind called the “Gion Festival” in Kyoto.
Around the year 1600, at the beginning of the Edo period, as many as 7,800 Gion shrines were built all over Japan.
In the modern days, these festivals played a vital role in the “chonai,” or community.
These castle towns like Kokura were structured by a small community where the people of the same occupation lived in specific and designated areas based on occupation.
For example, Mr. Shishido was born in a town called “Kawaraguchi,” which means a checkpoint. In days past this was known for as the entryway to a castle town. The “chonai” community also served as a base were young, old and women could gather socially and therefore played a vital role in the community.
Today over two million people gather in early summer in Kyoto to witness the Gion Festival in this most beautiful and traditional town.
There are three major Fukuoka Gion Matsuri each summer; Hakata Gion Yamakasa; Kokura Gion Taiko; and Tobata Gion Yamakasa.
After a most interesting historical and cultural talk, Mr. Shishido, his son Tatsuro, and the rest of the “Kogenkai” Taiko Club (Teruko Ishikawa, Keiko Osada, Akiyoshi Otani and Yoko Matsuoka) performed the traditional Kokura Gion Festival music.
The dynamic sound, accompanied by lively dance steps to each taiko drum beat entertained and kept the audience spell-bound. There were definitely none who needed their hearing-aids for this performance!
After this program, members of the audience had the pleasurable opportunity to try their hand at the taiko. The audiences were most happy to have this opportunity to see and hear what it feels like to actually play the taiko first hand.
After the performance, there was a wonderful display of “wagakki” which are traditional Japanese musical instruments. These included the “shime-taiko”; “kane” bell; “shinobue” flute; and “tsutsumi” taiko.
As part of Nanka Fukuoka Kenjinkai 100th year celebration of 2008, “Kogenkai” Taiko group treated the audiences of guests to a most stimulating performance about the Kokura Gion Festival at a hotel in Little Tokyo. This celebration was made extra special as Mr. Shishido felt especially honored by the presence of Dr. and Mrs. Paul Terasaki as Dr. Terasaki also has his family roots traced to Fukuoka prefecture, Japan.
[This summary was prepared by Cultural News.]
May 19, 2009, Japan Study Club
Dinner: 6:30PM
Presentation: 7:30PM
Matsuri – Japanese Festival
By Eiji Shishido with Fukuoka Taiko Club “Kogenkai”
From Historical Background with Live Music
What is Kokura Gion Festival and Music?
Eiji Shishido was born and raised at Kokura, Kitakyushu-city, Fukuoka,
Japan
Shishido started to perform Taiko in Kokura Gion Festival at the age of 3,
and Taiko became a part of his life since then.
After he graduated from a university in Japan, he had worked at a Japanese
logistics company in Japan, and in the U.S. and Germany as an
international representative for over 25 years.
During his overseas assignment in Frankfurt, Shishido could not afford to
go back to Kokura to beat Taiko in the festival, instead he taught Taiko
techniques to local people to recreate the festivity atmosphere of Kokura
with him.
In 2003, he and his family decided to settle here in California where he
joined the Southern California Fukuoka People Association and established
the “Kogenkai” Taiko club within the association in 2006.
Kogenkai is the only Taiko club outside of Japan to inherit the authentic
Taiko music of Kokura Gion Festival. Kokura Gion Festival is a nationally
renowned summer festival of Fukuoka prefecture with a history of 400
years.
Kogenkai's mission is to convey and inherit the long tradition of native
Japanese culture to young generation in the U.S.
Kogenkai made it’s first stage debut in 2008 at the 100th year
anniversary of the Southern California Fukuoka People Association. Today,
there are 18 active members in Kogenkai and their main practice place is
located in West LA.
With a strong desire to stand as a bridge to connect Japan and America
through the sounds of Kokura Gion Taiko, Kogenkai has been deeply involved
in various community events including the New Years celebration in Little
Tokyo, and fundraising events for the mentally challenged.
May 19 performing member: Tatsuro Shishido, Akiyoshi Otani, Keiko Osada,
Teruko Ishikawa, Yoshimi Kazami, Mark Nguyen.
For RSVP, visit the Nibei's website
Cultural News, 2008 January Issue: Sounds of taiko recall festive spitits of their home in Fukuoka