RICH IWASAKI

Recently Rich took a moment to answer a few questions for us, here is what he had to say:

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Well, I'm still trying to figure that out. If you check back with me in a few more years, I'll be able to give a better answer.

What was your first job?
I'm pretty sure it was picking strawberries in the fields of Iwasaki Bros.; after that season was over, blackberry picking came next, and then after that there were those dang loganberries. No wonder summer is not my favorite season.

How did your elders prepare you for life?
I think part of the preparation involved learning from them the basic fundamentals of "hard work and fair play", along with some of those traditional Japanese values such as gaman (endurance), ganbaru (persistence), and the old standby, shigata ga nai (it can't be helped).

What is your favorite food?
There are too many to list, but my favorite food group is one of the most important: chocolate.

When did you first see Portland Taiko?
I don't remember exactly, but I believe it was shortly after co-founders Ann Ishimaru and Zach Semke formed the group, back in the mid-1990s.

What else do you like to photograph?
I have always enjoyed photographing the performing arts and have photographed musicians primarily in the jazz and classical fields. I also like to photograph architecture, landscapes (urban and rural), and travel.

If you were an instrument, what would you be?
Assuming the question relates to music as opposed to hardware (such as surgical tools or cockpit dials), throughout high school I did play the cornet in the school band. Now, however, I'd prefer to be something like the cello or shakuhachi, though becoming an instrument is an odd concept for me. It might be fun to be an odaiko, though there's all that pounding to endure.

What are your proudest accomplishments?
Unfortunately they are not many, but one of them is being able to figure out most of the buttons and dials on my digital cameras. The VCR and the remote control, however, are still perplexing.

Where are three places you want to go, but have never been?
Shanghai, Reykjavik, and Dubai, but not all on the same trip.

What keeps you involved with PT?
Being a supporter from almost the very beginning, I have watched the organization grow and evolve, and PT has made a great impact on the community. They have entertained and educated thousands of people, and I think this type of organization is a valuable asset and worthy of everyone's support. All of the people at PT are terrific and fun to be around, so it's not hard to be supportive. As a photographer, fortunately I'm allowed repeat chances to photograph which is necessary since my success rate for decent photos is so low.

What other Portland community groups are you involved with?
...And why are they important to you?
I am a supporter of the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center and the parent organization Oregon Nikkei Endowment (ONE). This is another important entity because of its role in educating and telling the story of Japanese American history in Oregon and the Pacific NW. The Legacy Center, in the Old Town/Chinatown district of Portland, is both a museum and a tremendous resource of information about the Nikkei experience. In the early years, PT began as a program of ONE before branching out on its own.

In addition, I am on the board of the Portland chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). This non-profit organization is also extremely important as its mission is to speak out against racial discrimination and the infringement of everyone's civil rights. Unfortunately, the need hasn't diminished for this type of organization, but the chapter has established relationships with local organizations such as the Muslim Educational Trust, Korean American Citizens League, and of course PT, among others.

Thanks for taking the time, Rich, and for helping to show the world what a beautiful thing taiko is!

For more information about Rich's work, please visit: www.riwasaki.com