“Summer Thunder” at Kubota Garden

 

8/30/26 Taiko drumming event at Kubota Garden

Since notice was very short, I wasn’t sure how many sketchers would join me at Kubota Garden for “Summer Thunder,” a taiko drumming event that also featured dancing and storytelling. I was happy to find at least a few folks there!

As soon as I arrived, I realized I hadn’t been to the garden in quite a while; I think the last time was in 2022. It’s lovely year-round, but late summer is probably one of the best times to be at Kubota. Some Japanese maples were just beginning to hint at turning; in a couple of months, they’ll be gorgeous. I could have spent a long time trying to capture layers of foliage, but on this sunny afternoon I was more in the mood for the festive taiko event (top of post).

Eventually I took a walk through the maze of the garden. No matter how many times I’ve been there, I always get lost on its meandering paths. I don’t know where I was when I found a pine tree that was asking to be sketched (a good eavesdropping spot, too).

A Return to Obon

 

7/18/26 Obon festival, Seattle Betsuin Temple, Central District

As a child and teen, I looked forward to Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple’s annual Obon festival every summer. For my friends and me back then, it was mostly about socializing, dancing (traditional folk dances) and eating street food, but the festival itself has religious roots related to honoring deceased loved ones (I gave my shorthand of the roots in this 2016 post). This year, of course, I had more reason to go than usual and especially to attend the formal service that precedes the festivities. (Aside: As I listened to the minister talk about Obon, I realized it’s quite similar to El Día de los Muertos in intention and spirit.)

When I was young, the lead dance instructor barked out strict rules of dress and conduct during rehearsals: No blue jeans! No short pants! No tennis shoes! No chewing gum! We were to wear only traditional kimono or happi festival jackets over dark pants. Now participants wear anything they want, and I enjoy seeing the mix of styles.

I continued attending Obon annually as an adult, and Greg had loved participating as much as I did. He enjoyed and appreciated the small-community feeling, and of course, we both enjoyed the food and socializing. For a long period, though, we kept missing Obon because it always seemed to coincide with the many Urban Sketchers Symposiums we attended or other travel. Then COVID happened, followed by Greg’s worsening dementia, and I realized last Saturday that I hadn’t been to Obon since 2017. No wonder I had missed it so.

Taiko drumming, usually performed by Seattle Betsuin's own taiko group, is a highlight of the festivities.

Attending with a friend since elementary school, we reminisced about simultaneously dreading/hoping to see certain boys (middle school) and how the kori (shave ice or snow cones in other parlance) we just paid $7 for used to cost 75 cents. We caught up with another friend we went to middle school with and had danced with at many Obon. She introduced us to her grandkids in tow. Much reminiscing commenced.

Obon is where we count time by decades as much as by years.

Washington, DC, Part 2: Tidal Basin Cherries

 

3/28/26 Jefferson Memorial

Washington Monument

When I heard that Washington, DC,’s famed Tidal Basin cherry trees were expected to be at peak on the very weekend that my family would be in town, you can imagine my excitement! Petal peeping at the national level! With many years of experience sketching at the University of Washington Quad, which can attract a hanami crowd of thousands a day (a total of 40,000 during the couple of weeks that the cherries are in bloom, according to the UW), I thought I was well-trained and ready. But nothing I’ve experienced as a sketcher could have prepared me for the density of the crowd that those blossoming trees attract!

Despite that challenge, I had the opportunity to sketch the cherries twice. The first was during Sakura Taiko Fest on the same Saturday as the No Kings march (which was over by the time we arrived, but crowds lingered). Along with tens of thousands of other petal peepers, I was determined to find the picture-postcard scene I was looking for: the trees with the stately Jefferson Memorial on the opposite side of the basin (top of post). Although the sheer quantity of blossoming trees is truly impressive, I didn't know how to show that!

Although multiple banks of porta-potties were available nearby, lines to use them were long all day. I used the waiting time to sketch more blossoms, this time with the Washington Monument (at right).

The following Monday, I had a slightly less congested opportunity to sketch the trees again (though it was still amazingly crowded for a weekday). I was happy to meet up with USk buddy Joel, whom I have sketched with at every symposium I’ve attended as well as in Seattle a couple of years ago during Sketcher Fest. This time, he got to show me his neck of the woods and offer helpful tips on how to tour the National Mall more humanely (like where to find restrooms and good cafes).

3/30/26 Tidal Basin

So I’m a tourist: I couldn’t resist ghosting the Jefferson Memorial back there behind the blossoms. The strong wind of the previous days must have shortened the cherries’ peak considerably; petal “snowfall” was everywhere, and the green leaves were showing through between blossoms.

Joel sketching cherry trees

(Part 3 will continue with more sketching that Joel and I did that day.)

Me sketching from the Porta-potty line

I tried to take a photo that showed the density of the Tidal Basin crowds, but I'm not sure this captures it.

Tina and Joel at the Basin

Washington, DC, Part 1: Family

 

3/28/26 National Mall, Washington, DC. A kite-flying festival was one of many events associated with the annual cherry blossom festival.

With members scattered on both coasts, my family tries to reunite annually. It helps to have an event to gather around (we especially like eclipses). This year the event was a taiko festival associated with Washington, DC,’s annual cherry blossom festival. Since I had never visited the DC area before, it was also an opportunity to sketch sights that were all new to me.

On stage in the shadow of the Washington Monument, the all-afternoon Sakura Taiko Festival was organized and led by my nephew-in-law, Mark Rooney. A challenging factor was that the event was the same day and location as the No Kings march and the peak of the cherry blossom bloom around the Tidal Basin. Lots and lots of people everywhere! Another challenge was that the temperature was in the low 40s with bitter wind most of the day. 

The taiko drumming could be heard from a long distance, adding a festive flair to other general cherry blossom festival goings-on all around. (Since I had opportunities to sketch the Tidal Basin cherry blossoms twice, I’ll put those sketches in a separate post.)

In addition to instructor and leader Mark, his wife Kristen and my other niece (and Kristen’s cousin) Alix are also taiko performers. The two cousins practice on opposites sides of the country, so it was especially fun to see Kristen and Alix perform together on the same stage for the first time. 

The highlight for my family was a performance by Kristen and Mark that was a tribute to my mom (Kristen’s grandmother). Called "Waiting for Spring," the performance included my mother’s haiku poetry. I got a little teary thinking about how proud and happy she would have been to see that performance (and I’d like to think she did from somewhere).

On another day, we visited the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism together. The memorial honors Japanese Americans who served in the US military during World War II. The 100th infantry battalion and 442nd regimental combat team, fighting in Europe, became the most highly decorated army unit for its size and length of service in American military history. (Ironically, many of these servicemen had family members who were incarcerated by the US government while they served). It also acknowledges the injustice of more than 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent being incarcerated for the war’s duration.

Ten markers surrounding the memorial indicate the names of the 10 concentration camps and the number of citizens who were held at each. My parents and both brothers were incarcerated first at Tule Lake and then Minidoka. Since the two markers happened to be next to each other, this spot was ideal for a family portrait.

A highlight for me was collaborating with my grand-niece Kaila at the memorial. Now three-and-a-half, Kaila had taken interest as I sketched the memorial’s central crane sculpture, and I invited her to participate.

3/30/26 Collaborative work by Kaila and Tina

3 1/2-year-old Kaila hard at work

Finally, we all got to meet two furry members of the Koyama family, Roxie and Mugicha (whom I had sketched previously from a photo).

4/1/26 Mugicha and Roxie

Urban Cookies

Sketches digitally printed with edible ink onto cookies made by Joan Matsukawa.

My sketches have appeared on a T-shirt, on a poster, and in a cookbook. I’m always flattered and honored to see my work published in any form, but with my pastry tooth, you can imagine how thrilled I was to have my sketches reproduced on cookies.

Joan Matsukawa contacted me recently after she had spotted my sketches of Obon dancers and taiko drummers that I had made at Seattle Betsuin’s Obon festival several years back. She asked permission to digitally print them onto cookies she would bake to sell at Aloha Stadium’s Megabon event in Honolulu. Happy to support any Obon celebration, of course I said yes! After the event, she sent these to me all the way from Honolulu. Thank you, Joan!

I'm not sure I've ever turned down a cookie, but alas, I can't have my cookie and eat it, too!

Kaila

12/25/22 5"x7", Hi-Uni graphite on Stonehenge Lenox Cotton

 A while back when I made a portrait and complained about how much harder it is to draw young skin (you’ve probably noticed that I tend to favor craggy, old men when I choose reference photos), a Facebook friend commented that I should try drawing a baby. I shuddered at the thought of rendering all that smooth skin and such subtle forms (babies’ noses are so tiny, they barely cast a shadow), but you know me – challenge accepted!

 I didn’t have to go out on the Internet to find a random baby’s photo. This little person is the newest member of my family. She was born to my niece Alix and her husband Seila in August. Since I also sketched at their wedding, their current house, and Alix performing with her taiko group, it felt extra special to draw my grand niece Kaila, too.

Material and process notes: As expected, drawing Kaila was certainly the most challenging portrait I’ve attempted to date. Although capturing resemblance is usually at least a partial objective with portraits, in this case, I knew it was all-important. I spent the most time on the eyes.

After that, it was all about trying to render the delicacy of her skin. For paper, I chose Stonehenge Lenox Cotton. It isn’t perfectly smooth like Bristol; it has a fine, velvety tooth, which is lovely with both graphite and colored pencil. Halfway through, I regretted my choice. Even with an H-grade Hi-Uni pencil, the paper’s fine tooth seemed too coarse for an infant’s skin. I wished I’d used Bristol Smooth after all. Using a blending stump can be risky because it usually darkens graphite, but I took a chance and gave the graphite a very, very gentle once-over to smooth out the texture. Whew!

The hardest part of all? Stopping in time. It’s the kind of drawing I could have continued picking at for a few more hours, but I knew that would only make it worse, not better.

Mark, Kristen and Ilyaimy

12/7/22 Sketched during livestreamed video performance by Mark, Kristen and Ilyaimy

 

During the first pandemic year, my niece and her husband gave me several opportunities to sketch their taiko performances on livestreamed video. For Fourth of July and Labor Day that year, they gave concerts to friends and neighbors from their front yard in Maryland. Last week Kristen and Mark joined the Baltimore “folk/rock/acoustic grunge” band Ilyaimy for an eclectic, dynamic mix of music and taiko. The venue, called “The Lair,” looked to be someone’s garage, which had surprisingly decent lighting for a change, so it was easier to sketch than previous concerts had been.

For the finale, Mark, who is a professional taiko instructor and composer as well as performer, turned into a rabbit. The number they performed had something to do with rabbits. I didn’t quite get it, but it was obvious that the musicians were all having a good time, and I certainly had fun sketching them as they performed.

Obon T-Shirt

A couple of months ago, someone with the Buddhist Church of Stockton (California) contacted me about images he had found online of my sketches from the Seattle Obon festival in 2016. The organization wanted to purchase the use of a couple of images for promotional materials for its Obon celebration this year. Saddened that Seattle’s Obon had been cancelled for the second year, I was happy to be able to contribute to the Stockton church’s festivities. (I declined the payment and donated it back to the church.) I was thrilled to see my sketches on the T-shirts they sent me! (T-shirts are still available for sale online.)

Last year when Obon (and all other summer festivals) was cancelled, I had hoped that COVID would be under enough control that we would be resuming festivities this year. Alas. Instead, the Seattle Buddhist Betsuin sold boxed food items (similar to Stockton’s event), but it’s certainly not the same as dancing in the street and seeing old friends. Maybe next year.

7-16-16 Bon Odori dancers

7/16/16 taiko drummers performing at Obon

Halloween Taiko

 

10/31/20 Mark and Kristen perform from their front yard (live video)

To my delight, I had two opportunities to sketch taiko on Halloween. As they did on both Labor Day and Fourth of July, my niece Kristen and her husband Mark performed for their neighbors from their front yard. It was already evening on the east coast where they live, so I had the challenge of sketching from live video that was mostly dark except where the drummers were spotlit.

That was challenging enough, but my afternoon of sketching taiko wasn’t over. On the west coast, my other niece, Alix (yes, I have two nieces who are taiko performers, and they aren’t even sisters) and San Jose Taiko (whom I was thrilled to sketch live a few years ago) also gave a performance – virtually. Each performer was videotaped while playing their part at home, then the pieces were put together into what must have been quite a synchronizing and editing challenge. (Performing music in the age of COVID is not for the faint of heart.) The result was an entertaining montage of video images that kept moving around on the screen. Every time I started to sketch a player, the image would suddenly jump to another part of the screen or be replaced by a different player! Challenging to say the least, but all the performers were costumed, which made it fun.

Alix is dressed as a s’more (thankfully, her graham cracker costume was easy to draw). My favorite was the hotdog, whose sign insisted he was a sandwich.

10/31/20 A hotdog and Alix (recorded video)

10/31/20 junior San Jose Taiko members (recorded video)

Taiko from the Porch

9/5/20 live video of Kristen, Mark and friends

As they did for the fourth of July, my niece Kristen and her husband Mark hosted a neighborhood musical concert from their front yard in Maryland last Saturday. Several friends joined them in taiko during “Labor Day Porch Play,” including Rowan Corbett, a vocalist who also plays a percussion instrument called “bones.”

During one piece, I spent so much time trying to get the perspective right on the row of drums bending away from the video camera that I managed to capture only one player by the time the piece was done! After that, I decided to focus on small gesture sketches instead, which is always fun and challenging with dynamic taiko.

A Bit of Obon Taiko

7/11/20 San Jose Taiko on Facebook Live

Many Buddhist communities honor their deceased ancestors during a summer Obon festival. When I was a kid, I participated by joining the folk dancing that took place in the closed-off street outside the temple where my family attended services. And of course, we all enjoyed the shaved ice, noodles, barbecued chicken on skewers and other treats that were sold in the food booths. I stopped dancing as an adult, but Greg and I always went to watch the dancing and especially to enjoy taiko drum performances by Seattle Buddhist Betsuin’s own taiko group (whom sketcher Cathy McAuliffe and I had fun sketching a few years ago).

This year, of course, Obon has been cancelled everywhere, but some communities are taking their Obon online. In San Jose, the Buddhist Betsuin festivities included performances by San Jose Taiko, my niece Alix’s group (whom I sketched live a few years ago when they were in town). The Facebook Live event included real-time video as well as a recording from a previous Obon.

The multi-camera views of the live performances made for a more sophisticated viewing experience – but not for sketching! As soon as I started to sketch a drummer, the video would switch to another camera! All that motion and energy are hard enough to capture from one view, let alone many. The stick figure gestures I managed to capture above were done during a pre-recorded segment that had been made with one video camera, so the angle didn’t change. Whew!

 The festivities of the temple that I attended will be online tomorrow. The experience won’t be nearly as fun as strolling through the street, chomping on shaved ice, feeling the rhythm of drumming, smelling chicken barbecuing, seeing the bright kimono colors on children. But I guess it will have to do.

Porch of July

7/4/20 Live video stream of Kristen and Mark

My niece Kristen Koyama and her husband Mark Rooney gave a taiko performance Saturday afternoon during Porch of July, a community music festival in their Maryland neighborhood. The two long-time taiko musicians set up their driveway with a makeshift stage and put out folding chairs for safely distanced and masked audience members. Although I would have loved to have seen them in person, apparently it was sweltering that day, so I was perfectly happy to enjoy their dynamic performance on a live video stream. They were joined later by other equally energetic musicians.

 

7/4/20 Rowan Corbett

Although I’ve sketched live taiko performances many times, I had never caught this couple drumming together in my sketchbook. In fact, this was the first time since their wedding eight years ago that I’d seen them perform together, so it was especially fun.

I also sketched vocalist Rowan Corbett, another act during Porch of July. No, he isn’t wearing headphones. . . I just had difficulty capturing the shape of his shaved head. (Sorry, Rowan.)

Mark and Kristen