GenRyu Arts, established in 1995, serves the SF Japantown community as Gen Taiko and Odori School, and Studio Gen as an inclusive community space for art. The Gen kanji means “origin” or “where the spring begins”. This concept has allowed GenRyu Arts to respond to the needs of the community through the arts.
Mission
The mission of GenRyu Arts promotes, presents, and participates in art-making, art sharing, and community building through the arts.
Leadership
GenRyu Arts is directed by its founder Melody Takata, a multi-faceted artist trained in Japanese classical dance, taiko and shamisen. Sensei Takata has been performing for over 20 years in Japan and U.S.A.
Ms. Takata grew up in the Japanese American community of Los Angeles with a rich experience in traditional arts. From age 8 she learned odori (Japanese dance) at the Nishi Hongwanji as part of the obon festival ritual (festival honoring ancestors). At age 10 she began formal study of Nihon Buyo (formal name for Japanese classical dance) at the Fujima School and has performed dance at numerous theater works under Madame Fujima Kansuma until age 20. From age 13 to 18 she studied shamisen with the Kineya School. At 15 she began studying and performing with Los Angeles Matsuri and at 20 traveled to Japan to study and later perform as a member of Tokyo’s O Edo Sukeroku Taiko, one of Japan’s most highly renowned taiko ensembles. Ms. Takata completed the ACTA master apprentice program for 2002-2003 on shamisen with Hideko Nakajima Sensei. Most recently, Ms. Takata has reestablished study with Madame Fujima Kansuma in Los Angeles to strengthen her integrity of Nihon buyo and to ensure a high standard of integration of odori into Gen Taiko’s repertoire.
History
GenRyu Arts was founded in 1995 as Gen Taiko, and incorporated in 1998. Gen Taiko and Odori school continues to instruct classes at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of No. California, and creating narratives through concert settings that merges Japanese cultural forms taiko, dance and folk songs with new music, spoken word and visual design into singular expressions that honor community heritage and address key issues stemming from the legacy of internment and redevelopment.
The organization developed Japan Week in 2012, as a festival to celebrate, and honor the Issei Legacy through Japanese diaspora and Japanese performing arts, and craft arts. Japan Week engages audiences with Japanese cultural forms: taiko, dance, folk songs, karate, and other Japanese art. Together with the Japan Center Malls they feature master artists in origami, shodo, shamisen, taiko, and more.
Studio Gen was established in 2022 in collaboration with the Japan Center Malls to address community needs in SF Japantown cultural district post pandemic. Studio Gen is an all-inclusive community space for visual artists to showcase work, traditional performing arts community classes, music series, and youth programming exploring the history and cultural roots of this 118 year old cultural district.
Community Collaborators
GenRyu Arts is grateful for our many partner organizations who we collaborate with:
- Nihonmachi Little Friends
- Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center (APICC)
- Asian Improv Arts
- Japantown Task Force
- Japantown Cultural District
- Japanese-American Religious Federation
- JCCCNC
- JCYC
- Kimochi