Wednesday, June 23, 2021
The Meaning Behind Nebraska’s Kokyo Taiko Performances Each Night During Trials Medal Ceremonies
During each medal ceremony last week at Wave II of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming, the rhythm of the Taiko thunders and vibrates throughout the arena as it once did in Japan to speak to warriors during battle.
In Omaha, the battle takes place in the pool, but the rhythmic intent remains the same.
According to Maureen Brase-Houchin, founder and organizer of Kokyo Taiko out of Lincoln, Neb., Nebraska’s only Taiko Group, the five female drummers (Sunday, the final night of Trials, there will be six) feel the historical and cultural context of their performance as the U.S. Olympic team is chosen to compete in Japan.
“The Omaha Sports Commission reached out to us (to perform) and we saw it as a great opportunity to share our heritage and connection to the Tokyo Olympics,” Brase-Houchin said.
In Japanese, the term Taiko refers to any kind of drum, but outside of Japan, it is used specifically to refer to any of the various Japanese drums called wadaiko and to the form of ensemble taiko drumming more specifically called kumi-daiko.
The piece they play at each medal ceremony, and they wear earpieces so they can hear instructions as to when to begin and stop, how long they should play, etc., as each ceremony varies in time.
In addition to Trials, Kokyo Taiko has played at Lauritzen Gardens, Joslyn Art Museum and other public arenas, each time telling the story of Brase-Houchin’s mother’s Japanese heritage.
Her mother immigrated to the United States when she was in her early 20s, and even though Brase-Houchin grew up in Yutan, Neb., she eventually made it to her mother’s homeland to teach as part of the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program) for two years.
While she learned many practices from her family heritage – flower arranging, the traditional Japanese tea ceremony – while living in Nagasaki Prefecture in Omura, Japan, it was back in the states where she learned about Taiko.
She formed Kokyo Taiko while living in Lincoln, Neb., and has grown the group to roughly 10 performers.
“I’ve never been to Trials before, and it’s an honor getting to see the athletes perform,” she said. “Everyone who performs Taiko truly has a passion for it just as the athletes who swim at Trials have a passion for swimming.”
In Omaha, the battle takes place in the pool, but the rhythmic intent remains the same.
According to Maureen Brase-Houchin, founder and organizer of Kokyo Taiko out of Lincoln, Neb., Nebraska’s only Taiko Group, the five female drummers (Sunday, the final night of Trials, there will be six) feel the historical and cultural context of their performance as the U.S. Olympic team is chosen to compete in Japan.
“The Omaha Sports Commission reached out to us (to perform) and we saw it as a great opportunity to share our heritage and connection to the Tokyo Olympics,” Brase-Houchin said.
In Japanese, the term Taiko refers to any kind of drum, but outside of Japan, it is used specifically to refer to any of the various Japanese drums called wadaiko and to the form of ensemble taiko drumming more specifically called kumi-daiko.
The piece they play at each medal ceremony, and they wear earpieces so they can hear instructions as to when to begin and stop, how long they should play, etc., as each ceremony varies in time.
In addition to Trials, Kokyo Taiko has played at Lauritzen Gardens, Joslyn Art Museum and other public arenas, each time telling the story of Brase-Houchin’s mother’s Japanese heritage.
Her mother immigrated to the United States when she was in her early 20s, and even though Brase-Houchin grew up in Yutan, Neb., she eventually made it to her mother’s homeland to teach as part of the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program) for two years.
While she learned many practices from her family heritage – flower arranging, the traditional Japanese tea ceremony – while living in Nagasaki Prefecture in Omura, Japan, it was back in the states where she learned about Taiko.
She formed Kokyo Taiko while living in Lincoln, Neb., and has grown the group to roughly 10 performers.
“I’ve never been to Trials before, and it’s an honor getting to see the athletes perform,” she said. “Everyone who performs Taiko truly has a passion for it just as the athletes who swim at Trials have a passion for swimming.”