Celebrating Alameda’s Lost Japantown through the Performing Arts
The Island City Waterways® Japantown Art Walk honors Alameda’s Japanese American community with traditional Japanese folk arts, contemporary dance, traditional taiko and world music in Alameda’s historic Japantown district. The Japantown Art Walk brings back the memory of Alameda’s Japantown that was lost during WWII.
Each performance reflects a different aspect of Alameda’s Japanese American community in conjunction with the City of Alameda’s Tonarigumi historic marker project.
Beginning at the Alameda Free Library, ODC/Dance– San Francisco’s premier contemporary dance company – presents “May’s Letters” an original work by ODC choreographer Kimi Okada, with Brenda Way, inspired by letters written by her mother while in Tule Lake internment camp.
Performances at the Buddhist Temple of Alameda reflect traditional cultural celebrations: Ensohza Minyoshu presents traditional Japanese folk dance and music evoking the festival spirit and character of Japan’s diverse rural communities; PJ Hirabayashi, taiko artist & founder of TaikoPeace, invites the community to participate in “Ei Ja Nai Ka,” a dance, rhythm, song, and chant in celebration, gratitude and commemoration of our immigrant ancestors; Jane Suiei Naito will create a contemporary art installation using a traditional form of ikebana (flower arranging).
At Buena Vista United Methodist Church, embracing the contemporary and progressive, Maze Daiko performs original music that combines taiko with world rhythms and melodies creating a unique sound that is influenced by the cultural diversity of the Bay Area.
The Japantown Art Walk is a collaboration between Rhythmix Cultural Works, the Buddhist Temple of Alameda, Buena Vista United Methodist Church, the City of Alameda Free Library and Economic Development and Community Services Department.
Rhythmix Island City Waterways Japantown Art Walk is presented in conjunction with Tonarigumi – Alameda’s Historic Japantown Neighborhood, a partnership between the City of Alameda, Buena Vista United Methodist Church and The Buddhist Temple of Alameda to raise awareness and reclaim the memories of the past, to remember the Issei elders and all they endured, and to be uplifted by the strength and resilience of a community. Four markers are being created to share a forgotten history of Alameda’s Japantown and impart a lesson from the past, to embrace diversity and advocate civil liberties for all people.
JAPANTOWN HISTORIC SITE MAP AND PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
1 – Alameda Japantown
Alameda Marketplace, 1650 Oak Street
NO PERFORMANCE
2 – Tonarigumi (Neighborhood)
Alameda Free Library, 1550 Oak Street, 5:00-5:30pm
Rhythmix Welcome
Introduction to Japantown Historic Markers by Michael Yoshii
ODC/Dance “May’s Letters” Choreography: Kimi Okada with Brenda Way
3 – Buddhist Temple of Alameda
2325 Pacific Ave, 6:00-6:45pm
Ensohza Minyoshu and TaikoPeace
Ikebana Installation by Jane Suiei Naito
4 – Buena Vista United Methodist Church
2311 Buena Vista Ave, 7:00– 7:45pm
Maze Daiko
ARTIST BIOS
Founded in 1971 by Artistic Director Brenda Way, ODC/Dance was one of the first American companies to incorporate a post-modern sensibility into a virtuosic contemporary dance technique and to commit to interdisciplinary collaboration and musical commissions for the repertory. ODC/Dance Company’s ten outstanding dancers perform its imaginative repertory for more than 50,000 people annually. Past highlights include numerous appearances at the Joyce Theater in New York and sold out performances at the Kennedy Center.
Ensohza Minyoshu is a Japanese folk performing ensemble based in the San Francisco Bay Area. They perform music and dance that evokes the festival spirit and character of Japan’s diverse rural communities.
PJ Hirabayashi is a taiko practitioner, teacher, collaborator, composer and community organizer. She is the Artistic Director Emeritus of San Jose Taiko and founder of TaikoPeace (Partnerships, Empathy, and Creative Empowerment) to spread the transformational power of Japanese taiko drumming for positive social change and a peaceful world. Roy and PJ Hirabayashi have been awarded NEA’s National Heritage Fellowship.
In Japanese, the word mazeru means “to mix,” and daiko is the word for drum. Maze Daiko combines an exciting mix of world music instrumentation and global rhythms with the physical elegance and power of taiko. Their innovative sound continues to evolve by blending traditional Japanese taiko with West African drums, marimba, and European violin.
Island City Waterways
The Japantown Art Walk is part of the Island City Waterways project that celebrates Alameda’s rich cultural past and present.
On May 20-22, 2022, Rhythmix will present “Island City Waterways” (ICW) at the site of the former Naval Air Station on Alameda Point. The theme “uprooted,” refers to the young draftees, military families, and workers who pulled up roots to follow the war industry, as well as those of Japanese ancestry who were forcibly removed to WWII internment camps.
Five additional ICW Art Walks will expand the project’s community impact throughout 2021 and 2022 on Alameda’s historic main streets and new development sites on Alameda Point. The Art Walks will celebrate and honor the community’s inhabitants, past and present, with music, art and stories, creating opportunities for social engagement and a positive outlook for the future.
The site-responsive performances evolve out of the story of the land where it is staged, asking: “What happened here? How did the NAS, Gateway to the Pacific” through four wars, shape Alameda? How does the theme of “Uprooted” resonate with you and your family?
This event is made possible with support from:
Arts Angel
Impressarios
Visionaries
Innovators
Partners
Community Partners
Please note that the venues and performers request that all audience members wear a mask. There may be times when performers are unmasked.