Today we’d like to introduce you to Tomomi Hongo.
LA Mugen Taiko was established in 2014 under the direction of Tomomi Hongo and we strive to share the art of taiko with communities across Los Angeles. Some members of the group began playing taiko at El Marino Language School in Culver City with their taiko group, El Marino Rainbow Taiko created by Etsuo Hongo. Tomomi became the lead taiko instructor for El Marino Rainbow Taiko in 2007 so that her father could pursue his dreams of teaching taiko in South America. Tomomi continues teaching taiko to students from ages 6 to 14 at El Marino. Etsuo Hongo Sensei passed away in the Fall of 2019 and as a way to continue his legacy, we have changed our name to Los Angeles Mugen Taiko (夢元太鼓) to honor Hongo Sensei’s life work of taiko. Our dream is not only to continue his legacy but to also blend in the styles of the next generation of taiko players. Tomomi Hongo began playing taiko at the age of eight at El Marino Language School in Culver City.
Both her mother and father played taiko, and through taiko, they met and established a family in Los Angeles. Her father, Etsuo Hongo, is a renowned taiko artist who established several taiko groups including Los Angeles Matsuri Taiko, San Fernando Mugen Taiko, Venice Koshin Taiko, and El Marino Rainbow Taiko. Her father and mother met through the taiko classes he taught, and Tomomi is fortunate to be exposed to taiko at a very young age. She watched her father put on various concerts with groups from Los Angeles as well as Japan. Tomomi’s father was her very first teacher. She joined El Marino Rainbow Taiko at the age of eight, then joined Venice Koshin Taiko in the early 2000s. In 2007, Tomomi ventured on her own and joined TAIKOPROJECT where she became a performing member as well as an instructor for both their youth and adult classes. Tomomi toured in the U.K., Mexico, and states across the U.S. with TAIKOPROJECT. She also became the lead taiko instructor for El Marino Rainbow Taiko in 2007 where she teaches taiko to students from ages 6 to 14.
Tomomi also joined UC Irvine Jodaiko in 2010 and was involved in the collegiate taiko community for two years. In 2013, she traveled to Japan to study under Yuu Ishizuka and Taro Kobayashi where she was able to study the basics and fundamentals of taiko playing. Tomomi has also led naname or slant style drumming workshops at the World Taiko Gathering in 2014 as well as the North American Taiko Conference in 2019. Tomomi also taught with Taiko Together, a program designed for parents and children to learn taiko together led by Yeeman Mui. Tomomi currently works as an Early Childhood Educator in Pacific Palisades and has been working with children ranging from 2 and a half to 5 years of age. She has led summer taiko camps at Methodist Preschool with children from ages 3 to 5.Tomomi wishes to continue her parents’ taiko legacy as well as establishing herself as a taiko artist. Her goal is to always share and spread the art form in a respectful manner.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the hardest challenges was separating from my father’s group at the age of 18 to pursue taiko with a new group, TAIKOPROJECT in Little Tokyo. Being brought up with my father’s teachings and taiko philosophy did put a strain on our relationship doing things on my own but it was the best decision I made not only as a taiko player but as a person. Being a new group taught me so many life lessons through traveling and what it takes to prep for a show or a concert. I had the opportunity to meet so many different people and taiko groups across the United States and around the world and for that, I am forever grateful. As of now, I am a full-time early childhood educator as well as part-time taiko instructor. Being in the field of education has helped me shape what I value in teaching and has helped me become a better taiko instructor. I feel very fortunate to work with the youth population, both inside the classroom and with taiko. One of the greatest qualities that L.A. Mugen Taiko has is that we have all worked and played together starting at a very young age, roughly around eight, until they graduate high school. That is a decade of playing taiko together! I also love that our group is very diverse, with members from different racial backgrounds and ethnicities. It was a tough start to my adult taiko career but I am enjoying the current road I am partaking in with Mugen Taiko.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
It is hard, I don’t really consider myself very creative. I am, however, very detail-oriented and passionate about a strong foundation and taiko basics. I learned from my dad the value of basics in taiko and how that can really help you stand out as a taiko player. I traveled to Tokyo in 2013 to study under two taiko artists, Yuu Ishizuka and Taro Kobayashi. Under these two teachers they helped me with all of my taiko techniques and how to utilize my body efficiently when playing taiko. Learning and practicing the basic taiko techniques is not the most fun to some, but I love it! The smallest tweak can make the biggest difference in how your body looks and the type of sound you can produce on the drum.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We are always open to collaboration! They can reach us on Instagram (lamugentaiko) or visit our website (lamugentaiko.com) to see the types of performances we partake in. Our goal is to do more community engagement and participate in more community-oriented events. We performed in BIPOC Voices, led by the youth in Culver City in the wake of the Black Lives Movement. We would love to do more work in social justice in supporting the BIPOC community.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: lamugentaiko.com
- Instagram: lamugentaiko
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lamugentaiko
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0SIO_K_w8KY_sk0C_AnuuA/videos
