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TI: So when we started this interview we talked about how later on this year you were gonna step down, you and PJ as cofounders were gonna step down to let the next generation take over. What's your sense in terms of how they're gonna be able to keep innovating? What have you put in place so that San Jose Taiko will keep growing, evolving, and changing over time?

RH: One, I think we always talk about knowing your roots and it's always important to understand where things come from, so the history of not only taiko but, naturally, San Jose Taiko, and the sense of community where we come from is always important. But two, that we need to think out of the box, that whatever we've done in the past, it might've been real successful and that's what we're recognized for, but be willing to kind of change it up, do something different or challenge it or do something totally new. And so, and a lot of that's through collaborations working with other artists who are just trying different things, and as different members join the group, naturally, they're bringing different influences into what we're doing, too. So the harder part, I guess, really is not so much, to me right now is not so much being able to have that creative energy of new ideas because there's a lot of that comin' in. It's really the challenge to root it so people understand the history of where it all started from and to be able to relate to that and to be able to stand behind that piece as, as members of San Jose Taiko.

TI: But what have you put in place so that that will happen after you and PJ step down? I mean, what will continue the combination, the rootedness and that creativity to innovate? How do you, why are you confident that that will continue?

RH: I think because the leadership of the next generation that we picked, they totally understand that, and even though they're coming from a different perspective and different background, we feel very confident that they totally appreciate and they, they endorse what, the work we've done in the past. And so they talk, the other members, since we've been there -- PJ and I have been there kind of a long time -- there's, I guess, sort of the San Jose Taiko style way of doing things that's sort of our culture and environment, and then they talk about the Roy and PJ style of doing things. [Laughs] So it's like, we've become sort of like the Mom and Pop of the organization in a way. I always hate to use that term, but in a way that's we have become, and so, like, we're the one that always kind of scolding everybody else, "That's not, that's cool, but it's maybe not quite right," so kind of just trying to keep people in line. So I think, I feel confident it's, everyone's gonna have to make mistakes, but that's how you're gonna learn and I feel -- and transition -- you can't hang onto everything, and especially for an arts organization, especially a music one, you got to change. It's always got to change. And if you're thinking, we're not a Baroque orchestra or, you know, old classical music orchestra anything, we're looking to do contemporary work and continually to do that, and so with that said, we can't expect people just to do the old stuff we've been doing a long time, from the beginning, the same way, 'cause it's not gonna happen. And it shouldn't. So that's, that's what I feel is important.

TI: How has the experience changed you? I think of thirty-seven years, San Jose Taiko, I mean, now that you look back a little bit, how has Roy changed by going through this experience?

RH: Yeah, I've actually learned a lot about different things I never dreamed of doing before. I never, when we first started it was just a hobby, something of interest, never dreamed it would be a life's work, basically. I see it continuing as another, my, what I do next is just a continuation of that life work in a different way, in a different context, perhaps. I also feel that I've been able to now kind of share that experience with other organizations, not just within the taiko community, but within the larger arts community, and so several years back I helped start this multicultural arts leadership initiative here in San Jose area where we were able to bring in a group of, a class of about twelve people a year to help train them on leadership skills and to develop them as future leaders within the arts community, and also just myself, being given opportunities to get involved in different kind of leadership programs that I never even dreamed of being able to do before.

TI: So do you view yourself more as a leader now than, perhaps, when you first started in terms of, and being comfortable in that position?

RH: In some ways, yes. But a different kind of leader, I feel. I am not the kind of leader that's gonna go out and say, do this this way, or, charge, follow me, but it's, I like to be the kind of leader that's, hopefully is one that's able to listen to what's going on and help kind of mold the environment or the people involved to work together to move forward, basically. It's a harder process, it's a longer process, and I realize that, but that's, that's kind of, I feel it's a much longer lasting process, too.

TI: More collaborative, getting people involved.

RH: Yeah, because people buying into it, people are willing to engage and stay with it longer and believe in what you're doing, versus creating that one spike and they charge after you saying, oh cool, and then once it's done they're gone and nothing happens anymore. I've seen that happen too many times in the past and, and that's where conflicts always happen, too, because there's always people questioning, was that right or wrong or, especially if it fails. There's always a lot of blame to why it didn't work or whatever.

<End Segment 27> - Copyright © 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.