TAIKO IS A BEACON. IT’S UNABASHED ENERGY THAT’S COMING FROM WITHIN.

— PJ

I took the photographs on these pages while directing a short film about PJ and Roy Hirabayashi, renowned artists whose lifelong partnership has been dedicated to the art of taiko drumming. I was grateful to be invited into this project by taiko drummer and producer Pear Urushima. Her long friendship with PJ and Roy allowed us access and the trust we needed to tell their story.

Children of Japanese immigrants, PJ and Roy grew up in post-war California, navigating between their family’s traditional culture and an often racist American culture to find their identity and purpose. Fifty years ago, they helped create a new, Japanese American form of ensemble taiko that has become popular across the US and around the world. Their music became a platform to create identity, community and to fight racism.

I knew I had to pursue this project because I’ve always been obsessed with how artists find purpose and meaning through their work. I’m also motivated by a deep curiosity about the core human experiences shared across all cultures and how we find identity.

Throughout my career, I’ve tried to spark dialogues across communities by offering a universal perspective on personal stories. This parallels what PJ and Roy have done by bringing people together through their music. I also realized that my past experiences — as a photojournalist covering stories about Japanese Americans, the arts and culture in Japan as well as being an artist and musician grappling with my own identity (as a Basque descendent) — all connected me in profound ways to PJ and Roy and to this film.

What I learned from PJ and Roy was that with enough determnation and grit, it’s possible to accomplish impossible things simply by being true to yourself and your beliefs. By pursuing their art and giving to their community, they built a meaningful, creatively satisfying life and profound legacy.

What would it take for you to live the life you dream of?

Doug Menuez