Taiko-Party it up

The month of April will be and so far has been so exciting because Kelsey Furuta is here. Like, seriously. That, and we have our Taiko Fest concert coming up on the 25th, and there's just so much work to be done. It'll be my first big performance with the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble.

But then, throw in work times 3 (teaching, taiko office, prison duties) plus a bajillion gigs in the next two weeks, and you get INSANITY. Absolute insanity, plus parties. You know, because Kelsey's back. AND it's t-minus 9 days before I become the big 2-3.

Three of us girlies went out to Level 4 last night, really the only significant clubbing experience you can get out here in Honolulu, and it was so much fun. After finding out I didn't have to volunteer out at the prison Saturday morning, Friday night had just gotten a whole lot more fun. I drank myself into oblivion, danced the night away with some random boy who was trying to ask me questions amid the blaring music (plus I was so far gone I had no idea what the hell he was saying to me), tipped the bathroom lady $5, and bonded with the two most amazing women on Oahu. I don't know what I would do without them, seriously.

Went to bed at 6 am, and have been recovering ever since I got out of bed. I admit, it's nice to have days like these sometimes.

Going out with taiko peeps later, that should be fun.

I got this awesome new book, called Golden Gulag, after Lisa Fu told me about this organization called Critical Resistance. Critical Resistance is an Oakland-based organization that is totally antiprison, and is all about getting rid of the PIC, understanding why California has turned to caging a disproportionate number of people of color, and working with prisoners' families to make sure these folks can get their loved ones out of the damn system. The founder of this organization wrote this book, and it's all about the growth of prisons in California, i.e. how the entire Prison Industrial Complex came to be, why it exists, and why prisons are completely detrimental to our society as a whole.

It's a great connection to the prison work I've been doing for the past few months, and also helps me think about how I might be able to continue that work when I leave here, although it would be in a very different way.

I did have thoughts though, about how reading this book might completely change my perspective on the work I do now with these kids, and maybe make me realize what's so messed up about the way things are done now. I mean, it's obvious that so many of these kids are just in and out of the system, not at all changing their behavior from age 11-18, hardly learning a thing about how to change their lives and turn things around. Plus, there's a lack of a long term support system for these kids. The state kinda just hands them over to a family member and everyone hopes for the best. And if they end up back in prison it's like, "Eh, oh well, that's where they belong anyway."

Pretty fucked up, right?

Anyhow, at least from a California perspective I think this book will give me what I need when it comes to background on the prison system, and fuel the fire when it comes to carrying out conversations with folks on this issue. I'm hoping it'll help me know what to talk about and how to discuss it if I'm ever put in that kind of a situation.

The world's been abuzz with that ridiculous situation with the Texas state rep. who made that blatantly racist comment about Asian names and then claimed "it's not about race." Seriously Brown, get a clue, and then educate your damn ignorant self.

OH, just had to say - did a taiko gig on Friday morning at Kawaii Kon - the Hawai'i equivalent of Cali's Anime Expo. It was the most unbelievably ridiculous thing EVER!! Just confirmed why I would never go to something like that. I just think the whole idea of that event is bizarre. It definitely commodifies Japanese culture in so many ways. I can't even believe we PLAYED TAIKO there. Just - shameful. So shameful.

Not to mention most of their "celebrities" signing autographs and speaking were white voice actors. I mean, REALLY!?