Interview: Yuta Kato talks Suzuki sensei, Saburo sensei, Hachijo, and Yodan Uchi

I had a fun time talking with Yuta Kato about his experiences in Japan. There were a lot of different topics we could have covered in this interview but I primarily wanted to hear about Yuta’s studies with the two very important teachers we have in common: Kyosuke Suzuki sensei and Saburo Mochizuki sensei. This discussion brought up many ideas we find important such as artistic integrity, teaching skills, the value of studying in Japan, and the different points of view on Sukeroku Daiko’s iconic piece Yodan Uchi. I also asked Yuta to share his story about becoming a passionate advocate for Hachijo Island, its taiko style, and the culture of the people there. This topic prompted us to converse about concepts like the importance of ryuha and iemoto (school and its leader) in traditional arts, striving for honesty in our soloing, efforts to connect people by removing barriers, and the valuable lessons that kumidaiko players can acquire from traditional Japanese music.

The impetus for this interview came in part from my recent discussion with Yuta and Masa Miyano about the upcoming event DONference at Asano Taiko US. In addition to covering the details and logistics, I felt like we touched upon some important concepts which could be covered in greater depth. If you haven’t checked that out, I would recommend it as a good supplement to this interview. I would like to thank Yuta for taking valuable time out of his schedule to talk with me. I think we were able to go beyond the surface and talk genuinely about some very meaningful things in music and life.

Yuta and Masa interview
https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/blog/interview-yuta-and-masa-talk-about-donference

DONference website
https://www.solatidon.com

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Yuta Kato was born and raised in California to a Japanese-only speaking family. Introduced to taiko by Kagami-Kai, a local rice-pounding group, he decided to further his studies with San Francisco Taiko Dojo at the age of 10. Since then he has been a part of UCLA Kyodo Taiko, Nihon Taiko Dojo, Getsuyoukai, and professional groups: TAIKOPROJECT, ON Ensemble, and Portland Taiko. From Fall 2007 until Winter 2011, he resided in Japan to study under masters of various traditional Japanese music. Upon returning to the US in 2011, he served successfully as Coordinator for the 2011 North American Taiko Conference, one of the largest gatherings of taiko players from around the globe.

Kato is also a sought after taiko instructor and has been invited to teach throughout the world. He currently resides in California serving as the principal and instructor for LATI (Los Angeles Taiko Institute) housed at Asano Taiko US, which opened in 2013. He performs as a member of UnitOne (Torrance, CA).

Los Angeles Taiko Institute
https://taiko.la

Asano Taiko US
http://asano.us

Interview: Yuta Kato and Masa Miyano talk about DONference

I had a fun and informative conversation with Yuta Kato and Masa Miyano about the upcoming taiko conference at Asano Taiko US called DONference. We touched on topics such as:

- how to pronounce DONference
- why this conference is happening
- the details such as schedule, registration, and concept
- workshops, student recital, and concert lineup
- Eien’s workshop & 30 Days of Taiko Skills video project
- other fun activities
- how to learn more about this event

Registration is open starting today and you can find more information at:
https://www.solatidon.com

I am teaching workshops at DONference and am currently running a fundraiser called 30 Days of Taiko Skills to help support this event. You can see my videos and make a donation here:
https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/30-days-of-taiko-skills

Thank you to Yuta and Masa for making time to talk about this conference. I am also grateful to Asano Taiko US and Los Angeles Taiko Institute for hosting this event and asking me to be part of it.

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Yuta Kato was born and raised in California to a Japanese-only speaking family.  Introduced to taiko by Kagami-Kai, a local rice-pounding group, he decided to further his studies with San Francisco Taiko Dojo at the age of 10. Since then he has been a part of UCLA Kyodo Taiko, Nihon Taiko Dojo, Getsuyoukai, and professional groups: TAIKOPROJECT, ON Ensemble, and Portland Taiko. From Fall 2007 until Winter 2011, he resided in Japan to study under masters of various traditional Japanese music. Upon returning to the US in 2011, he served successfully as Coordinator for the 2011 North American Taiko Conference, one of the largest gatherings of taiko players from around the globe.

Kato is also a sought after taiko instructor and has been invited to teach throughout the world.  He currently resides in California serving as the principal and instructor for LATI (Los Angeles Taiko Institute) housed at  Asano Taiko US, which opened in 2013.  He performs as a member of UnitOne (Torrance, CA).

Masa Miyano began his taiko career with UC Irvine's Jodaiko in 2008. After graduating in 2012, he became a member of the performing ensemble, Prota. He is also currently a member of UnitOne, the ensemble in residence at Asano Taiko US, and is an instructor/coach at LATI (Los Angeles Taiko Institute).

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Audio Recording Part 2: A More In-Depth Talk with Isaku Kageyama

This is Part 2 of my conversation series with Isaku Kageyama about audio recording gear and how to use it effectively in your home studio. In Part 1 we covered some basic information to get started, and you can find it here:

https://www.eienhunterishikawa.com/blog/isaku-home-studio-recording-gear

This time, we go further in depth and address some topics which had been requested over the past few weeks. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback and engaged with us through email and social media. I’m also very appreciative of Isaku’s willingness to sit down with me and spend so much time sharing his knowledge and experiences. Largely due to his help, I have been able to substantially improve my own audio recordings and gain a deeper understanding of important concepts and terminology over the past two months.

Isaku and I talked for quite a long time and I have split the audio into four downloadable parts. We readily admit that the sound quality of Part 1 was subpar, especially considering our conversation topic (the unfortunate result of a built-in recorder of a video call software with a name that does not start with z and rhymes with gripe). The Part 2 audio is much, much better.

If you would like to see a Part 3 in the future, please let us know. Feel free to send in topic requests or any questions you would like answered.

Links for the topics we discuss:

Isaku’s taiko mic comparison video
http://isakukageyama.com/best-mic-for-taiko-drums/

UnitOne virtual concert
https://youtu.be/uL2Fdsx_nO0

Isaku’s youtube channel - Garageband Basics, Fue EQ, Parallel Compression, Mixing, and More
https://www.youtube.com/c/IsakuKageyama/videos

Isaku’s directed study program
http://isakukageyama.com/directed-study-program-learn-taiko-music-production-and-more/

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1. Taiko microphone test, audio samples, UnitOne concert audio

2. Tempo changes, mixing, midi keyboard and drum pads, recording fue, reverb, room importance

3. Potential income from recording, livestream concerts, click tracks, simplifying our playing

4. Isaku’s directed study online lessons, importance of feedback for effective learning

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Isaku Kageyama is a taiko artist, well versed both in live performance and in the studio. His resume includes performances at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, networks such as NBC, VH1 and BET, tours with the Japan Foundation, and residencies with The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage. He’s also an overall nice guy. :D:D:D

On stage and in the classroom, Isaku brings a breadth of experience performing and teaching both traditional and contemporary styles. A versatile collaborator in the studio, Isaku contributes to projects by bringing his extensive knowledge of composing, recording, and mixing to the table. When none of that is needed, his job is to make sure there is cold water in the fridge for everyone.

Isaku currently works as an instructor at Los Angeles Taiko Institute, performs with Asano Taiko US UnitOne, and records for virtual reality creators Rhythm of the Universe, and video game composers Materia Collective.

Formerly a principal drummer of Amanojaku, he holds a Bachelor of Music from the Berklee College of Music and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Longy School of Music of Bard College.

He is also a two-time National Odaiko Champion, becoming the youngest person to win highest honors at the Mt. Fuji Odaiko Contest in 2000, and Hokkaido in 2003.

From 2011-2014, Isaku was the resident instructor at Wellesley University and the University of Connecticut, and has held clinics at Berklee College of Music, Brown University, Rochester Institute of Technology, North American Taiko Conference, East Coast Taiko Conference, and Intercollegiate Taiko Invitationals.

A Discussion with Isaku Kageyama about Home Studio Recording Gear

Last week I had a great time talking with Isaku Kageyama about recording gear for home studios. Isaku has a lot of experience as a performing musician, instructor, composer, and producer. He is one of my go-to resources for information about recording music. You can learn more about his interesting background by checking out the interview we recorded previously.

Interview: Isaku Kageyama talks taiko, music school, and teaching

This conversation covers the basic needs for starting out with home recording. I am grateful for Isaku’s willingness to spend time answering my questions and providing very valuable advice based on his years of experience in the music industry. This is how we normally talk while hanging out and exchanging ideas about our work and life. Whether you are a complete beginner or have some experience with modern recording gear and methods, I think there is a lot of valuable information offered here.

I have separated the conversation into six broad topics. The audio files below are downloadable. We are planning a part 2 of this topic where we talk more in-depth about recording. If you have any questions or topics for us to address in a future discussion, please let us know.

Send a question or topic for Part 2

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1. Audio Interface

2. Microphones

3. Headphones & Monitor Speakers

4. Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

5. Accessories

6. Used Gear, Mic Placement, & Bachi Selection

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Isaku Kageyama is an eclectic music composer and producer. His music has been broadcast in countries such as the United States, UK, Italy, South Korea, and Norway. Isaku is the co-founder of Los Angeles-based music production company Audio Music Productions. His knowledge of composition, production, and Japanese music have led to a resume that includes brands such as BET, VH1, NBC, Microsoft, and the world’s largest taiko manufacturer Asano Taiko. In 2015, Isaku was commissioned by Asano Taiko US to compose a piece for the professional taiko ensemble UnitOne. The composition premiered at North American Taiko Conference, the largest taiko event in the US. As a producer, Isaku’s resume includes projects such as Microsoft video game Phoenix Force, O2O Theatre in Greece, and Kuma Outdoor Gear in Japan. He is currently the rehearsal director of Bataré, a production that combines taiko with progressive metal. He holds a holds a degree in Contemporary Writing and Production with a minor in Writing for TV and New Media from Berklee College of Music, as well as a Master of Arts from Longy School of Music of Bard College.

Isaku’s website
http://isakukageyama.com

Isaku’s youtube
https://www.youtube.com/c/IsakuKageyama/featured

Interview: Masayoshi Ishikawa talks Mujo Suite, Fukushima, and blending taiko with jazz

Composer and pianist Masayoshi Ishikawa

Last summer Masa contacted me about the possibility of collaborating on a performance of his composition for taiko and 18-piece jazz orchestra. I quickly said yes because it sounded like an intriguing and unusual project with an underlining special significance. Originally from Fukushima Prefecture, Masa wrote Mujo Suite to commemorate the victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster of northeastern Japan. After a half year of planning, we performed Mujo Suite at the University of Iowa on February 22. I also conducted lectures and workshops for a variety of classes during my residency, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Iowa City. I am very grateful to Masa and everyone involved in this project for the warm welcome and wonderful hospitality provided. Thank you also to Soten Taiko for kindly providing the taiko for this residency - it was immensely helpful. The photos and concert video are included at the bottom of this page.

I had a great time talking with Masa for this interview. We covered a lot of topics including the details about Mujo Suite, his background in Japan and the US, composing for Japanese instruments, my University of Iowa residency, his recent visit to Fukushima, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Eitetsu Hayashi, his teaching philosophy, and much more. Masa writes beautiful music and is a fantastic jazz pianist, and he speaks with much thoughtfulness, humility, and gratitude. The interview also features several samples from his album Dialogue which is linked below along with his facebook page.

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Originally from Fukushima Japan, Masayoshi Ishikawa grew up in a city called Aizu Wakamatsu. Throughout his primary and secondary school years, Masa actively participated in several choirs. He came to the United States in 2003 to begin his formal musical training in Seattle Washington, where he first found his passion for piano and the art of jazz.
As a pianist, Masa has performed at many jazz festivals and concerts in Italy, China, Japan and the United States. He was chosen to perform as one of the five finalists for 2016 Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition. Masa enjoys interacting and cultivating meaningful relationships with listeners and other musicians through performing music.
Masa is also passionate about crafting music with various instrumentations. His composition, Hotaru (firefly), was selected as the winner of 2014 Downbeat Student Music Awards in Graduate Original Composition for Small Ensemble. In 2019, Masa released his first jazz studio album titled Dialogue, which consists of ten original compositions written for vibraphone, piano/keyboards, acoustic bass/electric bass and drums. Several of his compositions have been published from UNC Jazz Press.

In addition to his latest project (Mujo Suite) with Eien Hunter-Ishikawa, Masa wrote and premiered another jazz orchestra multi-movement work titled Suite for the Forgotten in 2015. The suite is dedicated to people who are currently living in Fukushima under the uncertain health impact to the radiation exposure from The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants meltdown in 2011. In this composition, Masa employed a string quartet as well as French horn into the traditional jazz big band instrumentation.

As a sincere respect to Stevie Wonder, one of his musical heroes, Masa presented Stevie Wonder Recomposition Project in 2013. In this project, he selected multiple Wonder compositions to recompose for chamber jazz ensembles with various instrumentations.

He holds two Master of Music Degrees-one in jazz composition from the University of South Florida and one in jazz piano performance from the University of Northern Colorado. He received Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Composition from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2015. In 2016-19, Masa served as a Visiting part-time Assistant Professor of Music at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. Currently he serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Iowa.

Masa’s Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/MasaIshikawaMusic/

Dialogue
https://music.apple.com/us/album/dialogue/1467830569

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University of Iowa Residency Photos and Mujo Suite Video

Mujo Suite - Three Movements for Jazz Orchestra, Taiko Drums and Shinobue I. Foreword/Finale (0:00 - 16:26) II. Prayer (16:26 - 25:47) III. Prologue (25:47 -...

Mujo Suite I. Finale

Mujo Suite III. Prologue

Rehearsal with the Mujo Suite band

Jamming with Giauna during the jazz seminar class

Teaching Edo Bayashi rhythms to the percussion seminar class

Practicing taiko patterns in the music therapy class

Lecture on the history and evolution of taiko for the world music class

Photo with Masa after the concert

Poster for the Mujo Suite performance