Hiroyuki “Jimi” Nakagawa
The art of kumidaiko—ensemble drumming with the taiko, a traditional Japanese drum—was developed in post-World War II Japan in the 1950’s. Kumidaiko came to America in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, entering through the Japanese American communities of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose.
Hiroyuki “Jimi” Nakagawa has studied and performed kumidaiko for over 25 years. After immigrating to the United States from Tokyo, Japan, Jimi studied with Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka at the San Francisco Taiko Dojo for eight years, became a performing member and instructor to adults and children. He has returned to Japan to study taiko with masters such as Imaizumi Yutaka and Maru Kenjiro, and Kabuki music with Mochizuki Saburo. He is the founder of OH-IN Taiko in Oakland.
As a master in ACTA’s Apprenticeship Program in 2013, Jimi enhanced the mentorship with his apprentice Debra Kajiyama, focusing on kumidaiko.
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