Portland Taiko at Obon Fest

This year Portland Taiko will show case two groups. The first Obon performance will join Portland Taiko student classes together for a community performance. The second Obon performance is presented by Portland Taiko's principal performance drumming group. Both performances will take place outdoors.

5:30pm Portland Taiko Student Group
6:30pm Portland Taiko Performance Group

About Portland Obon Festival

Obonfest (Obon) is a summertime Japanese (and Japanese-American) festival commemorating one's ancestors. In their honor, lanterns are hung, Bon Odori (Obon dance) is performed, memorial visits are made, and food is offered at home butsudans and temples.

Oregon Buddhist Temple celebrates Obonfest annually on the first Saturday of August with hundreds of participants enjoying the festivities each year. Other Jodo Shinshu Temples related to Buddhist Churches of America celebrate in the summer months as well. In California, Washington State, and Hawaii, temples celebrate Obon, and it is often a cornerstone to a temple's fundraising efforts.

Central to Obonfest is Bon Odori (Obon dance). These joyful dances invite the community to celebrate and pay tribute to ancestors and those family members who have more recently passed. Each year experienced Bon Odori dancers lead the group, and all are encouraged to participate and follow along. Popular dances include the traditional Tankobushi, or coal miner’s dance, as well as more contemporary dances like Baseball Odori.

All are welcome families, non-Buddhist neighbors, and fun-loving food lovers. There is no entrance fee to come and enjoy.

About Portland Taiko

Portland Taiko blends the tradition of Japanese taiko drumming with a sense of Asian American identity, creativity, and empowerment. Formed in 1994 by Ann Ishimaru, Zachary Semke, and Japanese American community activists, Portland Taiko started with one homemade taiko and practice drums made from car tires. With community support, the group built and purchased new drums, presented its first full-length concert in 1997, and became a non-profit organization and toured North America in the early 2000s.

The group has headlined at arts festivals and concert halls, released three CDs, and has performed at hundreds of community events and school assemblies. Portland Taiko has commissioned and collaborated with numerous artists, including Hanayui, Shohei Kikuchi, Seiichi Tanaka, Kenny Endo, Tiffany Tamaribuchi, Subashini Ganesan, Obo Addy, Sivagami Vanka, Carla Mann, Mike Barber, and Minh Tran.

Portland Taiko performs throughout the Pacific Northwest, offers classes and workshops, and conducts team-building workshops for businesses and community groups. Portland Taiko is eager to share its artistry and educational programs throughout the greater Portland community and the country. To date, Portland Taiko has reached over 1 million audience members at over 1500 performances at theaters, schools, community events, and festivals.