8.13.02
Promotional video completed and mailed to presenters. Much props to videographer/editor extraordinaire Mark Eby, who led the video shooting team and did all of the editing for the video. Simulataneous props to photographic diva Jan Seeger, who captured some great still shots that you can check out on the photos page.

7.1-12.02
First major 2-week residency completed, with successful photo and video shoots and extensive progress made on the creative development of the production. The focus of this residency was to develop two of the main taiko pieces, "Behind the Odaiko," a satirical take on Kodo's classic "Odaiko," and "Expanding the Vocabulary," the opening piece for the production. In addition, each cast member wrote and developed a taiko-based monologue with director John Miyasaki, on topics ranging from their first experiences with taiko to living tributes to their teachers and inspirations in taiko.

6.29.02
Maz, Shoji, and Michelle performed in a double-bill (Shasta Taiko and the ON Ensemble) on Saturday, June 29 in Los Angeles, at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre. They are awarded the first-ever "Duane Ebata Memorial Award for Emerging Artists." Rock on, ON!

6.22.02
Bryan gives the keynote speech at the Pacific Northwest Regional Taiko Gathering in Vancouver, Canada, followed by performances of various TAIKOPROJECT ensemble members in their groups, the ON Ensemble and Tsunami Taiko.

6.5.02
Drum shipment arrives from Asano Taiko, Co.! Drums are now being stored at Higashi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and the Aratani/Japan America Theatre.

5.31.02
Byron premieres a new work for percussion at the Seattle Composers' Salon, hosted by the Seattle Symphony Music Discovery Center

5.25.02
John and Bryan finish hereandnow's spring 2002 tour, having performed in Minnesota, Detroit, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Colorado, and Northern California. Showing the true essence of their artistic partnership, they performed as Speed Racer and Racer X across the country.

5.10-19.02
Byron co-creates "Woman, Monkey and Kabuki Joe", a new music-dance-puppetry-theater work for the Nippon Kan, a hall built by Japanese immigrants to Seattle in 1909. Funded by the Ford Foundation, Seattle Arts Commission, and the King County Arts Commission, the performance also features Kelsey Furuta on taiko.

5.16-20.02
Bryan visits Seattle for a mini-residency with Byron, Kelsey, and Tiffany.

5.11.02
Tiffany is crowned the Greater Seattle Japanese Community Cherry Blossom Queen after a 2-month competition period. She reigns until May, 2003, at which point she will rejoin the commoners in the TAIKOPROJECT and prepare for the tour

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