Conferment Ceremony of Imperial Decoration for Mr. Roy Mitsuru Hirabayashi
2023/11/8
Consul General Osumi with Mr. and Mrs. Hirabayashi
Congratulatory speech by Consul General Osumi
On Saturday, November 4, Consul General Osumi presented the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays to Mr. Roy Mitsuru Hirabayashi, cofounder of San Jose Taiko, at a reception hosted in San Jose by Roy and his wife PJ Hirabayashi for "The Race for Free Spirit: A 50-Year Uprising," a concert celebrating. Roy PJ’s 50 years of playing taiko.
Mr. Hirabayashi was recognized in the 2023 Spring Conferment of Japanese Decorations for his significant contributions to the spread and development of taiko culture in the United States over the past 50 years as one of the co-founders of San Jose Taiko, and for his contributions to friendship and goodwill between Japan and the United States by opening the way for Japanese and other Asian American identities to be expressed through performing taiko.
“The Race for Free Spirit: A 50-Year Uprising" celebrated the 50th anniversary of San Jose Taiko and featured cofounder Roy, and early member PJ, reflecting on their journey of social activism and community building through story, song, and taiko drumming. Members of San Jose Japantown, San Jose Taiko, and the wider taiko community gathered to celebrate the milestones of Roy, PJ, and San Jose Taiko.
(Photo Credits: Mark Shigenaga)
Mr. Hirabayashi was recognized in the 2023 Spring Conferment of Japanese Decorations for his significant contributions to the spread and development of taiko culture in the United States over the past 50 years as one of the co-founders of San Jose Taiko, and for his contributions to friendship and goodwill between Japan and the United States by opening the way for Japanese and other Asian American identities to be expressed through performing taiko.
“The Race for Free Spirit: A 50-Year Uprising" celebrated the 50th anniversary of San Jose Taiko and featured cofounder Roy, and early member PJ, reflecting on their journey of social activism and community building through story, song, and taiko drumming. Members of San Jose Japantown, San Jose Taiko, and the wider taiko community gathered to celebrate the milestones of Roy, PJ, and San Jose Taiko.
(Photo Credits: Mark Shigenaga)
Acceptance speech by Mr. Hirabayashi
The audience dances "Ei Ja Nai Ka", created by PJ Hirabayashi
The audience dances "Ei Ja Nai Ka", created by PJ Hirabayashi
Roy and PJ Hirabayashi
