NEW: Video of Live Concert w/ San Diego Women of Taiko
see VIDEO OF live concert
tHREE pOWERFUL pIECES
Bill Teague, Web Editor
UPDATE: Courtesy of Diana Wu of Naruwan Taiko, we can share a video of the live performance that followed the showing of Finding Her Beat, the documentary presented as part of the Spring Showcase of the San Diego Asian Film Festival. Wu appears in the documentary and, for the screening in San Diego, brought together women from all eight taiko groups in San Diego. This inludes BTSD’s own Chelsey Koga.
Chelsey, shown here in candid snaps from the live performance at the Ultrastar on April 22, leads Buddhist Temple of San Diego Taiko with husband Robert. As you can tell from the smile on her face, there was a lot of joy among performers and audience alike for this first-ever concert of San Diego women in taiko.
About the Pieces Performed: Three separate pieces are featured. Click on the name of the piece for jump links (may trigger more ads) or advance the time stamp as shown:
“Eleven,” by Kaoly Asano. 00:00.
“Release,” by Diana Wu. 07:49.
“Ei Ja Nai Ka,” by P.J. Hirabayashi. 11:37.
All three composers were featured performers in Finding Her Beat.
Kaoly Asano, KaDON, Japan
Diana Wu, Naruwan Taiko, San Diego
P.J. Hirabayashi., Peace Taiko, San Jose
Source: The three photos above are courtesy of KaDON, Naruwan Taiko, and Peace Taiko, respectively
Taiko Troupes in San Diego: The video includes representatives from Naruwan Taiko, San Diego Taiko, La Jolla Taiko, UCSD Asayake Taiko, Buddhist Temple of San Diego Taiko, Genbu Daiko, Ohana Taiko of TACC, and Shokenji Taiko (of Vista Buddhist Temple).
Learn more about the documentary itself, from the website for Finding Her Beat
BTSD’s earlier announcement appears below.
SATURDAY, APRIL 22 @ 3 P.M.
MISSION VALLEY ULTRASTAR
DON’T MISS Finding Her Beat, a special presentation of the San Diego Asian Film Festival’s Spring Showcase. The film screens at the Mission Valley Ultrastar on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 3 p.m.
This 2022 documentary celebrates the challenges and successes of women in taiko from Japan to the United States, leading to an all-star women-centered concert exploding with energy.
BTSD Applauds Women in Taiko
The Temple’s taiko troupe comprises mostly women, so we are predisposed to support this film, just like we support our troupe! San Diego has an especially strong taiko culture, thanks in part to BTSD, which created one of the earliest troupes to be formed in San Diego County.
International in Scope, Local Connection
With footage from Japan and the U.S., the film includes local artist Diana Wu of Naruwan Taiko, who will be performing with representatives from all local groups, following the showing of the movie. Our own Chelsey Koga will represent BTSD.
Leadership and Identity
A key focus of the film is on the artist Jennifer Weir. Weir was a Korean adoptee raised in North Dakota away from Asian-Americans and Asian culture. It was through travelling to Minnesota and joining Theater Mu that Weir discovered community with other Asian-American artists and — in an event that changed her life — discovered taiko. Today she is Executive Director of Taiko Arts Midwest, based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Weir was the creative spark who assembled the international concert of women in taiko that centers the documentary.
Learn More
Here is the SDAFF page with information on Finding Her Beat. The documentary has an 89-minute running time.
Note: An earlier version of this updated article misspelled Diana Wu’s first name. The editor apologizes for the error.