Sado Apprentice Center

Hey Folks!! Blogger is not loading video and it's really frustrating! 

We've been on Sado for 3 days now. It's everything I thought it would be. We've made 30 new friends. This is Nobu - one of the co-leaders of the the 2nd year apprentices. They are all working so hard to have us here. They stay up late with us socializing then spend hours after we go to bed getting doing cooking prep for us.

There has been much crying throughout our trip. The level of generosity is staggering. We spent all day with Yoko-san in voice workshops. Singing is hard for everyone. We have to be able to challenge ourselves and not let our inhibitions hold us back. When she had everyone do final comments many of the KASA mix people opened their hearts about what it meant to try something difficult and how appreciative we were to have the challenge. Lots of tears. 6 apprentices got to be in the workshop with us (they are usually working on our behalf when we are enjoying workshops). They were asked to comment too -- Shingo one of the 1st year apprentices started crying about how there were many times he wanted to give up being an apprentice because the training was so hard - but he realized after listening to us how much our work matters. Having a chance to be with so many dedicated and passionate people makes us filled with feelings. Every night we want to stay up late talking to each other and playing. The apprentices are clearly moved when they hear our stories to saving money and planning to come here - of dedicating our personal time to learn their art form - of knowing how much taiko means to all of us. They have been busting their butts for us - for them to see 32 'foreigners' come all this way to spend time makes them feel like they have to work very hard to show us a good time - as the days continue and as they get to know us we've all relaxed. Yoko-san had us do a panel where we talked about taiko in the US and about Japanese-American identity. This lead to lunchtime discussion groups on Japanese Internment - something many of them had never heard about. Many of them wondered why 3rd generation JA's didn't know the language and wondered why so many don't know much about their culture. Talking about Japanese internment and it's effects gave them a much broader understanding of our experiences.

This is Masa - another 2nd year apprentice. Beth is learning my favorite Okinawan song Shimauta. (He knows Eisa! Several of us want to learn Eisa - and we want to have workshops at the taiko conference.) This is in the big gym where we take all our workshops and eat together. Every apprentice has an amazing story. I want to bring them all home. The 2nd year apprentices find out in January if they become Kodo jr members. If they do they will be on tour in Boston and we will get to see them again!