As the Los Angeles Taiko Collective performed their drum set, the sounds of each hit echoed across the LLC Courtyard, attracting more and more people with each swing of their drumstick as people walked by with curiosity.
Multicultural Center Student Services Assistant Kimberly Onaga was happy with the larger-than-anticipated turnout at the AAPI Heritage Month Celebration on May 23, where free meals were also provided to attendees.
“I’m really happy with today’s event, I think it was really successful,” Onaga said. “The performers were excellent. They were able to catch people in the moment, so even if students didn’t know about the event they quickly learned from all the noise and sound. We had a good turnout—over 100 people.”
Community engagement is one of the main goals of the Multicultural Center and it is a reason they work hard to bring the best to its student body, according to Dean of Student Engagement Juan Carlos Astorga.
Astorga mentioned how he also loved the turnout of the AAPI event and how he noticed the community involvement at the events held on campus.
“The Taiko drummers were fantastic,” Astorga said. “It also really creates an opportunity to create community success. I love the fact that people are still gathered here, just hanging around talking.”
Student Jeremy Covita enjoyed his first time attending an AAPI event and sees himself coming to future events next semester.
“This was my first time actually,” Covita said. “I loved the drums, they were very upbeat. It was pretty interesting to try something new, you know if you want to hang out, get some fresh air, and see what’s up with the culture.”
Student Amaar Siddiqui found a new interest while attending the event.
“I have been to an event similar to this for Black History Month. I was here for the last performance and I really enjoyed it,” Siddiqui said. “I honestly think this courtyard was the perfect place to do it. It was really interesting to see and I want to look more into it [Taiko].”
Walter Nishinaka, Lee Cavacungan and Kaz Mogi are the three members that form the Los Angeles Taiko Collective and mentioned how they were thankful to be able to spread their love for Taiko.
“So I started playing Taiko when I was four-years-old and heard it at a parade once,” Nishinaka said. “At my church they were starting a Taiko program and ever since then I never stopped.”
