COME WATCH Film on Two U.S. Taiko Pioneers
Special documentary screening
Sunday, Jan. 11, at 12 Noon
The Buddhist Temple of San Diego is honored to show Because of You, I Am, an award-winning short documentary film (30 minutes) about PJ and Roy Hirabayashi’s 50-year journey as taiko artists and community builders, followed by an engaging discussion exploring our relationships with Buddhist and Japanese American culture, traditions and values.
Please join us on Sunday, January 11, at noon in our Annex Hall. The showing is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
San Diego Connection
Roy and PJ also have connections to the Buddhist Temple of San Diego through Rev. Kenji Akahoshi. Before coming to BTSD, Rev. Akahoshi lived in San Jose, where he was a Board member for San Jose Taiko. After retiring from BTSD, he and his wife Karen moved back to San Jose. Currently, Rev. Akahoshi is working on the release of his upcoming book: Shifting from Please to Thank You. In his final chapter, he writes:
The spirit of Shin is captured in the song and Obon dance, named Ei ja nai ka. It was created by P. J. Hirabayashi, who, along with her husband, Roy, established the San Jose Taiko (Japanese Drum) group. The movements of the dance replicate the typical labor of the Issei immigrants, as they worked in the mines, toiled in the fields, or hauled in nets from the sea. In the midst of this hard labor, they would shout out “Ei ja nai ka.” Ei ja nai ka can be translated as “Isn’t it good.” I prefer a more robust translation as “Ain’t life great!” This sentiment might be shouted out and expressed after a long hard week of labor at a gathering of family or friends. Now, a century later, young descendants of these pioneers, dancing the Obon dance, respond back in gratitude- “Ei ja nai ka!” It is the communal feeling we have at significant family gatherings. To witness the exciting experience of the dance and song, you might seek and play it on YouTube. For me, it is the liberated version of “Na Man Da Bu.” This Life-energy, Amida, is in this shout of everyday life.