History of Sakura Minyo Doo Koo Kai
Sakura Minyo Doo Koo Kai was performing at the Crocker Art Gallery (now called Crocker Art Museum) for Japan Day back in 1983. I had just returned from my trip to Japan and my mind was still immersed in Japanese culture when I saw the group on stage. I saw Mrs. Betty Shimada, my neighbor, playing the shamisen with the rest of the group. I had always loved the shamisen and was very surprised to see her playing the instrument. When I expressed my interest in Japanese folk music, Mrs. Shimada invited me to visit the group. Needless to say, I not only visited the group on the following Monday but joined the group and it has been a very large part of my life for the past twenty-nine years.
During that time the membership has changed from mainly first-generation immigrants (Issei) to second (Nisei), third (Sansei), and even fourth (Yonsei) generation Japanese Americans with varied ethnicities and ages from 13 to 85. The original immigrant members were forced to become farmers, housekeepers and gardeners even though they were educated because of their inability to express themselves in English. The Nisei, Sansei, and Yonsei are very lucky because the Issei, despite the prejudice and hardships they faced, worked ceaselessly to make enough money to educate their off-spring.
Our past and present members now include doctors, teachers, engineers, and accountants. Last year we performed for the Sacramento Buddhist Church Bazaar, San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival, Elks Lodge Japan Day, Gedatsu Church Bazaar, Greenhaven Estates Care Home, Hart Center Celebration, Locke Chinese New Year Celebration, Pacific Rim Street Fest, Sacramento Taiko Dan Concert, Safe Credit Union Japan Day, Tong Xin Annual Dinner, World Music and Dance Festival, Yamato Gekidan, and Sacramento Zoo Celebration.
We are very grateful to the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission for giving us grants during the early eighties when our group faced lawsuits and had to rebuild the club from the ground up and to the Nisei Veterans of Foreign Wars who have allowed us to meet at the Nisei War Memorial Hall for the past twenty seven years.
Toshiye Kawamura
During that time the membership has changed from mainly first-generation immigrants (Issei) to second (Nisei), third (Sansei), and even fourth (Yonsei) generation Japanese Americans with varied ethnicities and ages from 13 to 85. The original immigrant members were forced to become farmers, housekeepers and gardeners even though they were educated because of their inability to express themselves in English. The Nisei, Sansei, and Yonsei are very lucky because the Issei, despite the prejudice and hardships they faced, worked ceaselessly to make enough money to educate their off-spring.
Our past and present members now include doctors, teachers, engineers, and accountants. Last year we performed for the Sacramento Buddhist Church Bazaar, San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival, Elks Lodge Japan Day, Gedatsu Church Bazaar, Greenhaven Estates Care Home, Hart Center Celebration, Locke Chinese New Year Celebration, Pacific Rim Street Fest, Sacramento Taiko Dan Concert, Safe Credit Union Japan Day, Tong Xin Annual Dinner, World Music and Dance Festival, Yamato Gekidan, and Sacramento Zoo Celebration.
We are very grateful to the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission for giving us grants during the early eighties when our group faced lawsuits and had to rebuild the club from the ground up and to the Nisei Veterans of Foreign Wars who have allowed us to meet at the Nisei War Memorial Hall for the past twenty seven years.
Toshiye Kawamura