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BAKUHATSU TAIKO DAN
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NEWS & FEATURES

Behind the Scenes: Picnic Day Parade

4/27/2017

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This past Saturday, April 22nd, Bakuhatsu had a performance at the 103rd Annual UC Davis Picnic Day just like we do every year for many years now. However, this year the club made Bakuhatsu and collegiate taiko history by building a parade float from scratch and then pushing and pulling that float for almost two miles while members rotated between playing on and off the float. We also incorporated painted lanterns and paper cranes that were made by community members at the 2nd Annual Davis Cherry Blossom Festival two weeks prior.
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Bakuhatsu members pushing and pulling the float while others drummed on it or danced around it.
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However, all of the effort during Picnic Day cannot rival the effort that was put into the float ahead of time. Our members Greg Wada and Issa Takada put hours of work into constructing, painting, moving, repairing, and decorating the float for a month before it was unveiled to the world, so here's the behind-the-scenes story: 
The morning of Picnic Day, I awoke to the sound of engines. Some DeLoreans had parked just across from our vermilion (aka heirloom tomato) yatai float that we had built for the Picnic Day Parade. I looked over to see Issa awake, too, bundled in his ski trip clothes. We had spent the night there, atop the float. Our U-Haul reservation had fallen through, so we mustered as many Bakuhatsu members as we could and pushed the float two miles from my house the night before to make the 8:00 am check-in. Under the streetlights and stars, we installed the final decorations to be ready by morning. In the dead of night, setting down to sleep out the last few hours, the lanterns and paper cranes rustled so peacefully. The place felt sacred.
 
It had been a long journey so far, but the 1.7 miles of parade that awaited us were what we had been working for. While many students spend spring break going to fun places or visiting friends and family, we had spent it making the float. Hundreds of pounds of dimensional lumber, the club’s entire varnish reserve, 3 gallons of heirloom tomato paint, steel rod axles, roofing tar to line the wooden wheels, and an assortment of lag screws came together outside Sudwerk Brewery to birth our float. There were full-days under the sun and breeze. There were rainstorms where we couldn’t use the power equipment and were ratcheting screws in by hand. We broke our dime-toss table trying to support the wheels for tarring and had to make rock piles instead. There was creation and setback, but it was good, fun, hard work.
 
We built the float in time to debut it at the Davis Cherry Blossom Festival, an event which Bakuhatsu co-hosts with Sudwerk Brewery. During the festival, we had craft booths set up where people could make origami cranes or paint paper lanterns for our float, and we put every one of them on the float for Picnic Day. So, in that way, the community helped build the float and send us off.
 
While Sudwerk Brewery has been so generous with our club for Cherry Blossom and for allowing us to use their space for construction, the actual landlord told them they had to clear out the construction site the week before Picnic Day. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, though, as the rushed exodus from Sudwerk to my house revealed flaws in the wheel stabilizing mechanisms with enough time to fix them. Also, trying to relocate the float’s roof via the top of my car resulted in the PVC joints coming apart. Though the roof may have exploded on the open road that night, only one critical piece was destroyed, and we were able to replace it and tape the joints together for the actual Parade. In this manner, it is as if the float was teaching us that blessing and curse are two sides of the same coin.
 
Soon after the DeLoreans arrived, more floats began showing up, each pulled by some motorized vehicle. Even though the atmosphere was highly welcoming and collaborative, there was a “game-day” feeling in my stomach, standing atop a wooden float watching the trucks roll in. But as Bakuhatusu members arrived in a red wave around the float, the strength of our engine was apparent, too. My good friend KB, who made possible our work at Sudwerk, joined us as her company’s mascot Barley the Bear, outfitted with the purple happi and the old gong.
 
The actual parade for me is a jumble of snapshots and emotions. It was a lot of fun and a bit surreal. We had to deadlift one end of the float to make turns, so there was a lot of communication and energy directed towards navigating the route. About half-way, before hitting downtown, we seemed to be losing power. We were playing endless-tage (parts of Utage on loop), but we called an audible and took it down to a quiet shime duet to build up some strength and launched back into Utage for downtown and the second half. There were times that I was a bit worried. Ropes came undone. We gave up on roundabouts and just went over. We hit an overhanging tree. But it all worked out. Seeing the excitement and surprise from the audience was rewarding, as was seeing the team work so hard together. By the time we crossed the finish line, I had forgotten about the judging portion of the parade, so it was quite a shock to be handed the Parade Marshall’s Choice award. So, yeah, I might have teared up a bit when we circled up at the end. I’m really proud of Bakuhatsu."
                                          — Greg Wada
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Issa Takada (left) and Greg Wada (right) after receiving the Parade Marshall's Choice certificate and trophy.
Bakuhatsu is so honored to have such inspirational members who make their dreams a reality and push our whole club to work harder and achieve the seemingly impossible. It's the attitude we take with all of our endeavors and is one that has been instilled in us through our strong bonds as a club for many years. You can see exactly what we mean by coming to Kizuna 絆 Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan's 6th Annual Showcase this coming Saturday, April 29th at 4 p.m. at the Davis Veteran's Memorial Center Theatre. 
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A photo collage provided by Greg Wada (@wadawonderfulworld) of float building (top), the parade (bottom left), and the Parade Marshall's Choice Award (bottom right).
Written by Shai Nielson, BTD Historian 2016-2017
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The Road to Kizuna

4/21/2017

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Next Saturday, April 29th, is Bakuhatsu's 6th Annual Showcase, Kizuna. It's an event we've been consciously preparing for since since last September, but the road to Kizuna actually started many years ago. 
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Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan members, 2011-2012.
Our first ever showcase, Akebono or "dawn", was on April 29th, 2012. There were 20 members and 10 original songs written and performed by Bakuhatsu members. There were also special guest appearances by the UC Davis Popping Club, the UC Davis Breakdance club, the UC Davis Japanese American Student Society (JASS) Soran Bushi group, UC Davis Golden Turtle Lion Dance Association, and Hansori, a UC Davis Korean drumming group. However, this first showcase wasn't the real beginning to it all. In fact, Bakuhatsu was formed 11 years earlier in 2001. The club waited so long for a showcase because of the desire to put on the best show possible, which meant practicing hard, creating more equipment, and building up an exciting repertoire. 
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All of that work paid off and Akebono was such a success that showcase continued as an annual spring event with the second showcase, Ikioi or "momentum", on April 28th, 2013. At that time, Bakuhatsu had 22 members and performed 10 original songs with 3 of them being brand new songs to the club. The special guests were UC Davis's only K-pop group, SoNE1, JASS's traditional Japanese dance group, Jishin, Violin player Vanessa Dong, and UC Davis Golden Turtle Lion Dance Association. Watch the video below for a glimpse into what Bakuhatsu members were up to right before Ikioi in 2012.

​Bakuhatsu kept showcase going strong with the third one, Kokoro or "determination", on April 27th, 2014, with 25 members and 12 original songs performed, 4 of them being brand new to the group. The special guests were the UC Davis Liquid Hotplates A Capella group, UC Davis Golden Turtle Lion Dance Association, Zither player and Bakuhatsu member Yvonne Fu, and JASS's traditional Japanese dance group, Jishin. Kokoro was also the first showcase for two of our current members, Naoki Kanagawa (Co-Showcase Director) and Taylor McDougall (Co-President).
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Bakuhatsu members at the end of Kokoro.
Our fourth annual showcase, Todoroki or "roar", was on April 26th, 2015, with 26 members and 13 original songs performed with one being a brand new song. JASS's traditional Japanese dance group, Jishin, UC Davis Golden Turtle Lion Dance Association, and Ducks of the World, a band composed of Bakuhatsu members, were the special guests. This was the first showcase for our current members Daniel Kim (Practice Director), Issa Takada (Equipment Manager), Rahi Suryawanshi (Co-Showcase Director), and Gloria Kum (Designer). Watch the video below of Bakuhatsu doing a publicity flashmob performance of Utage at the UC Davis Quad for Todoroki.
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Bakuhatsu members at the end of Fushigi.
The most recent showcase was Fushigi or "wonder" on February 28th, 2016, with 27 members and 7 original songs performed, 1 of them being new to the club. The special guests were UC Davis Golden Turtle Lion Dance Association and UC Davis Wushu. This fifth showcase was a winter event instead of a spring one and was also a shorter show due to the fact that Bakuhatsu hosted the Intercollegiate Taiko Invitational that year and needed to focus on that during the spring. However, the show was just as successful as the past ones and even sold out before the event. This was the first showcase for current members Calvin Lee (Co-President), August Walker (Workouts and Publicity Director), Curtis Fan (Webmaster), Shai Nielson (Historian), Braden Wong (Administrative Director), and Allyson Beem (Treasurer).

​It's clearly been a long road for Bakuhatsu to get to where we are today. We have 5 showcases to be proud of and we've been working our hardest to make the sixth one the best one yet. Kizuna will showcase 13 returning members, 11 new members, 10 old songs, 3 new songs, 3 different playing styles, a collaboration with the UC Davis Marching Band-uh, and a kizuna or "bond" that has been strengthening for 16 years. This show will honor the legacy of our alumni and exemplify the ever-growing kizuna amongst our members, alumni, drums, family, friends, and community. 

​Be a part of the Kizuna 絆
Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan's 6th Annual Showcase

April 29th at 4 p.m.
​Davis Veterans Memorial Center Theatre
$10 for general admission, online or in person
$8 for students, in person
​Tickets available at: https://bakuhatsutaikodan.yapsody.com/event/index/82496/kizuna-bonds
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Written by Shai Nielson, BTD Historian 2016-2017
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2nd Annual Cherry Blossom Festival Review

4/14/2017

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Last weekend was the 2nd Annual Davis Cherry Blossom Festival hosted by Bakuhatsu and Sudwerk Brewery. With over 1500 attendees, 7 vendors, 6 performing groups, 5 activities and games, 4 demonstrations and workshops, and 2 special edition beer brews, it was one incredible day.

We would like to thank Sudwerk's for working so closely with us and making this event even bigger and better than last year. We'd also like to thank everyone who came out from community members to performance groups to volunteers and everyone in between. This event was more than just a good time; it was a way for the community to come together and celebrate diversity and culture, and we couldn't have done it without every single person involved.

Be on the look out next year because we're making sure every year is better than the last!

​For photos from this year's event, check out the slideshow below and find even more photos on the Gallery page!
Written by Shai Nielson, BTD Historian 2016-2017
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Spring Forward: April

4/7/2017

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Spring Quarter is jam-packed for Bakuhatsu and we want to let everyone know how they can get in on the fun in these next few weeks of April.
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​APRIL 8th
2nd Annual Davis Cherry Blossom Festival
​Tomorrow, April 8th, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Sudwerk's Brewery in Davis, CA, will be the 2nd Annual Davis Cherry Blossom festival with performances by Bakuhatsu and other collegiate and professional taiko teams along with other artists and groups. All the performers and organizations involved would love to bring in Spring with everyone of all ages at this free event. There will also be food, taiko lessons, limited edition beer brews, mochi pounding, game booths, and more! 

APRIL 16th
Cal Raijin Taiko's 10th Annual Showcase, Kakehashi

The weekend after the Cherry Blossom Festival, Bakuhatsu will be hard at work practicing, but we're also going to take some time to visit our friends from Cal Raijin in Berkeley, CA for their 10th Annual Showcase, Kakehashi, on Sunday April 16th from 2-4 p.m. at the Chevron Auditorium, International House, UC Berkeley.
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Cal Raijin Taiko's current members for 2016-2017.

APRIL 22nd
​UC Davis' 103rd Annual Picnic Day
During the third weekend of April, Bakuhatsu is going to make team history by participating in UC Davis' 103rd Annual Picnic Day Parade for the first time ever. For weeks, we've been building our float and we'll be decorating it with origami and lanterns from the Cherry Blossom Festival. We can't wait to show it off as we play our hearts out for the entire duration of the parade. We will also be performing at the Children's Discovery Fair stage at 11 a.m. the same day. Picnic Day takes place on April 22nd and is an all day family-friendly event with many other performers, activities, and foods.
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APRIL 29th
​Bakuhatsu's 6th Annual Showcase, Kizuna
​The last weekend of April is the one Bakuhatsu has been preparing for all school year: it's the weekend of our 6th Annual Showcase, Kizuna! The showcase will take place on April 29th at the Davis Veteran's Memorial Center at 4 p.m. and our theme, Kizuna, means bond. We'll be showcasing how our close-knit family of taiko players has bonded, grown, and worked so hard together through an incredible evening of taiko. From the newest members, GenXVI, performing in their first showcase to many of the returning members performing in their last showcase, it will be a show you don't want to miss.
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​Written by Shai Nielson, BTD Historian 2016-2017
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