Re: Thank you

Hi Kuni-san,

Thanks you again for writing. Wow, you must be great on Yoko-bue after 20 years! We are hoping to come to Japan in the next year or so. The performance group and Sensei Tanaka will be touring Japan this summer. I know of two dates, the first is June 24 in Kijima, and the second is June 25 in Tatsuno, but I don't think I will be coming with them this year. I am still not good enough to play in Japan.

I have been playing Taiko only a little over 2 years now. I have played western style drums since I was 10 years old, (I will be 40 in May) mostly Rock and Jazz/fusion. My main musical focus now is Taiko. San Francisco Taiko Dojo is very fortunate to have Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka as our Sensei. I don't think there is a better teacher in all of America. He teaches in a very strict Japanese style. When we train, as I am doing now, to become a member of the performace group, he is a demon. We run about 4 miles before class, then warm up with some tie-chi and about 300 push ups and sit-ups. I am proud to say that I am in the best physical shape of my life right now.

We have several groups in our Dojo. We have classes for kids under 18, and a group of kids called the Rising Stars Dream TEAM, who are the best of the kids. They have been playing together for about 10 years, some of them since they were about 6 years old. I am in three different groups. On Tues. I help teach the children's beginning and adult begining classes, on Thursday I am in the Adult intermediate class, and on Sat. I practice with the Adult Dream Team. Adult Dream Team is the group that backs up our Performance (professional) group, then I have to practice on Sun. Some times I think I do TOO much taiko. Do you think playing 4 days a week is too much? I think I would play more if I had the time.

Hey, what do you do for a living? I work at a company called Genentech. We are a genetic reasearch company and make drugs for cancer patients stuff like that. I am Laboratory Computer Systems Engineer. I think this is one of the best jobs in the world! One of the best things is it is only about two miles from Dojo, and another is my boss likes taiko, so he always lets me off work when I have a chance to play or travel with the performane group.

Are you married?
I will send you one of our CD's this week-end. I will send some photos too if you would like to see us.

I am looking forward to hearing from you,

Rik

Re: Re: Thank you

Dear Rik.(but, how is your first name pronunciation?)

Thank you for your third letter. Have you ever been to Japan? I have never been to U.S. Our club had chance to go there before because one organization tried to invite us to Rose Festival last year.

But we didn't have enough budget. I think we, or Japanese people are not well-established volunteer spirit yet. Of course, we have played in a facility for handicapped person and elder people several times voluntary. How about your club? What do you think about this?

By the way, I am surprised at how much time you train. I'm sure playing Taiko need a capital which builds our bodies. I had played KARATE for several years when I was twenties. By grace of it, I developed my muscles and I can play Taiko now. I will be fifty this year.

I earn a living by repairing and maintenance cars. I am working at ease so that my company is an independent shop. I have two sons, and they are college students. They don't play Taiko, however, I think the choice is not bad because they decide to do by themselves.
Do you have any sons or daughters? I am glad to have a friend in U.S.

If you like, please send your CD and photos. I will show my fellows in our club them .I am waiting. Thank you. See you.

Kuni