Taiko and Japanese-Brazilians: sounds of a hyphenated identity

Abstract

Taiko groups, percussive ensembles formed by the ancient Japanese drums, became popular in Brazil from the 2000s onwards and established themselves in various Japanese-Brazilian communities, stimulating the formation of musical communities that share symbols and experiences associated with the idea of Japaneseness. This article aims to investigate the formation of a hyphenated identity through the practice of taiko, observing some of its developments and social impacts. The investigation is based on bibliographic research and the construction of an ethnography with participant observation, based on the author's three-year experience (2020-2023) with the Kawasuji Seiryu Daiko group from Atibaia, in São Paulo, Brazil, which houses a relevant community of Japanese immigrants and descendants, and on interviews conducted with community players. Based on the experienced and collected field reports, it was possible to raise hypotheses about the construction of a locality and identity through the practice of taiko through the engagement of its participants and the sharing of cultural aspects and mutual experiences. Thus, it is possible to advocate for taiko as a fundamental factor in the formation of a hyphenated identity, the Japanese-Brazilian, which has ties of belonging in constant flux, simultaneously relating to two nations. In addition, questions are raised about the formation of a Japanese-Brazilian individual without hereditary ties to the Japanese archipelago, discussing the process of assimilation through practice and individual choices.