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.

A huge thank you to JA Community Foundation and California State Library Civil Liberties Program and Knight Foundation for their support of this work