Apr 13, 2015 8 Questions with: Yuta Kato
On Saint Patrick’s Day, my friend and I decided to go to Taco Sinaloa in Torrance to get some late night grub after our show. While waiting in line we met Yuta Kato who was standing right behind us with his friends and we instantly struck up a conversation regarding our shared passion for music. Yuta teaches taiko, a broad range of Japanese percussion instruments typically associated with historical folklore, and kindly offered to give us a free lesson. Of course we said yes and made a trip down to the Los Angeles Taiko Institute a few days later where he gave us a tour and taught us a few of the taiko basics. The staff was very friendly and overall it was a great experience. Check out the 8 Questions interview to catch a small glimpse into his life.
How and why did you get involved with taiko?
I grew up with my parents speaking Japanese, and my father was involved in a group of alike folks that came together once a year to pound sweet rice (mochi). The group eventually started getting hired to perform for weddings and such, and decided to add more elements of entertainment. Naturally they decided to add taiko, and as a child I was always fooling around with the instrument. At age 11, with my father’s recommendation, I joined San Francisco Taiko Dojo’s children’s group to get serious training.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Weekday –
Morning: Practice alone or teach taiko class
12pm eat lunch
Afternoon: Teach taiko class or administrative work
6-8pm Teach taiko Class
8-10pm Teach taiko Class
10:30pm Back home to cook for the next day
What is the best part of your job?
Students having “aha” moments, and sparkling with sweat and smiles after a satisfactory performance of a piece that they struggled to learn.
What are you currently working on?
Our teaching staff decided to create a performance group (called Unit 1) to be able to perform for gig requests here and there. Recently we got invited to perform in some of most prestigious taiko concerts in the US (North American Taiko Conference, Taiko Jam), and in Japan (Extasia). Though it’s hard to find times where we can all meet, we’re doing our best to practice hard for these two concerts.
What is the most challenging part when playing taiko?
Trying to be honest with myself and not getting caught up in technique or “looking good”. People want to see human beings performing, not robots. I tend to be a very logical person, a technician of a sort, so I have a hard time letting go and allowing myself to be in the moment.
Currently listening to?
Postal Service, and want to listen to more from Eric Bird.
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up?
An astronaut, a sushi chef (I became one!), and then a singer.
If you could give some advice to your teenage self, what would it be?
Let yourself create more. Read, write, and compose.