Swingposium is headed to hawaii in February 2026!
Maui - Sunday, February 15 - SOLD OUT!
Hilo - Wednesday, February 18 - SOLD OUT!
Honolulu - Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22 - ALL honolulu shows are sold out!
We can use your help. Donate to support each island’s costs to host Swingposium:
Swingposium
Conceived and produced by San Jose Taiko
Created by San Jose Taiko, Epic Immersive, and Wesley Jazz Ensemble
Japanese Americans have the dubious distinction of being the only U.S. citizen group incarcerated due to wartime hysteria. Sadly, many Americans are unaware of this history. As that generation passes, it becomes ever more important to preserve their history and share its lessons for the future/present. San Jose Taiko’s highly-acclaimed Swingposium employs the power of performance to share this history and foster dialogue around civil rights, honoring the resilience of those who lived through Internment.
Performances:
San Jose, CA (2017 - debut, 2018)
Humboldt, CA (2019)
Stanford University (2022)
Maui, HI (2026)
Hilo, HI (2026)
Oahu, HI (2026)
Minneapolis, MN (October 2026)
Swingposium combines taiko, jazz, swing dance, and immersive theatre to tell a hidden history of one way Japanese Americans maintained morale in WWII Internment Camps – through swing dances with live big band music. An immersive environment surrounds the audience with the sights and sounds of "camp,” their active participation pulls them deeply into the emotional trajectory of the story: the fear and loss of being sent to an Internment Camp, the struggle to maintain dignity and hope, and the ultimate victory of the human spirit. From past presentations, we find that the immersive experience affects people deeply, inspiring community dialog.
Types of programs:
Immersive: 2 hour immersive theater experience in dance hall-like venue (live band, dancers, actors, taiko)
Educational Outreach: 30 minute performance followed by discussion/Q&A. Intended for High School/College students
Workshops: 2.5 hour behind the scenes peek of how San Jose Taiko’s unique immersive touring experience was conceived, developed, and continues to evolve. Participants will learn small portions of various taiko choreography from the show.
Press:
2/22/20: ‘Swingposium’ Celebrates Music in Japanese American Incarceration Camps … With Taiko [KQED]
2/9/20: ‘Swing Time Travel: Photos and Video from the Taiko Swingposium’
10/8/19: Eureka lecture looks at Japanese American war-resisters
9/12/19: Taiko Swings Up To Humboldt: A retro tribute to Japanese American Internees
4/11/19: San Jose Taiko receives grant to take their Swingposium on the road
1/26/19: When Taiko meets Big Band and Swing Dancing!
Swingposium bookings are done through San Jose Taiko. Inquiries can be emailed to swingposium[at]taiko.org.
A huge thank you to JA Community Foundation and California State Library Civil Liberties Program and Knight Foundation for their support of this work
