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Seattle Kokon Taiko is a North American taiko ensemble based in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle Kokon Taiko (SKT) was founded from two separate taiko groups, Seattle Taiko Group and Kokon Taiko Ensemble in 1992 and continues to perform as an active member of the Seattle taiko and arts scene.

Mission Statement
"Through taiko, we hope to contribute to the development of a uniquely Japanese American art form --Japanese in origin, American in expression-- that weaves threads of continuity between generations and builds bridges of understanding among people of all nationalities and walks of life."

History
In April 1980, Ondekoza, a famed Japanese taiko group, was on an international tour and stopped to play at the Seattle Cherry Blossom Festival. Seattle Japanese-Americans William Satake, Jeff Hanata, and Masaye Nakagawa watched the performance and were inspired to begin their own taiko group in the Seattle area. From this initial experience, Satake, Hanata, Nakagawa, and several of their friends began Seattle Taiko Group later in April 1980.

In the first six months of their existence, there were perhaps 60 different people that would come play with the core group. By the end of the first six months, Seattle Taiko Group consisted of 8-10 people who would practice taiko on used car tires in their spare time. One member had previously played with Denver Taiko and taught the other members Renshu Taiko as a starting point. Not long after, local merchants in the Seattle International District donated a lion dance drum to the group for their furthered practice. In the early summer of 1981, former Artistic Director of Seattle Kokon Taiko and current Director of Kaze Daiko, Stan Shikuma, moved to Seattle and went to a Seattle Taiko Group workshop, where he promptly fell in love with the art form and joined the group. It was around this time that the group had their first performance in July 1981.

Several years later, from 1985-1986, Stan Shikuma, Bill Baluvelt, and Michio Teshima left the group to form Kokon Taiko Ensemble because of artistic differences. For about a year, the group did not participate in any taiko groups, but in 1987, they formed Kokon Taiko Ensemble. The core group recruited a few other members to join the group and they began formal practices.

Unfortunately, Michio Teshima passed away from stomach cancer in 1990 and KTE dwindled down to five members. Meanwhile, STF had dwindled from 15/16 members to 4/5, much like KTE. Because of these membership issues, but the group joined together again less than five years later because of dwindling membership. Stan described the two groups as a "diverging stream that reconnects." Today, Seattle Kokon Taiko remains one group who practices regularly to perform for the Seattle community and beyond.

Seattle Kokon Taiko Today
Today, Seattle Kokon Taiko has evolved into a massively important part of the Seattle community. Like San Jose Taiko, it is a community-based group without a sensei. They are directed by a five-member board of directors, with about nine more performing members. Previously, there were distinct roles filled by the members (Artistic Director, Performance Director, etc.), but now most of the roles are shared by group members, with the exception of Treasurer and Booking Coordinator.

Performance Style
Stan Shikuma describes the group's kata as a stylistic variation of the kata taught by Seiichi Tanaka at San Francisco Taiko Dojo. However, Seattle Kokon Taiko does have repertoire that are Oedo Sukeroku naname, or slant, style, upright beta style, and Yodan style.

Influences
Seattle Kokon Taiko list many different taiko artists and groups as early and later influences. Their early influences include Seiichi Tanaka and San Francisco Taiko Dojo, San Jose Taiko, Kinnara Taiko, and Katari Taiko. Their later influences include Uzume Taiko, Kenny Endo, and Kodo.

Seattle Kokon Taiko has maintained relationships especially with Uzume Taiko because of their geographical proximity.

Discography

 * Quiet No More, 1997.