Hiroshima -

Hiroshima was an American New Age/smooth jazz ensemble from Los Angeles.

Members: Members: Daniel Kuramoto (flute, saxophone, woodwinds), June Kuramoto (koto), Johnny Mori (percussion, taiko, 1974-2003), Dave Iwataki (keyboards, 1974-79), Danny Yamamoto (drums), Peter Hata (guitar, 1974-84), Dane Matsumura (bass guitar, 1977-80), Teri Kusumoto (vocals, 1977-82), Jess Acuna (vocals, 1977-82), Richard Matthews (keyboards, 1979-80), Barbara Long (vocals), Margaret ‘Machun’ Sasaki-Taylor (vocals, 1989)

Hiroshima are an American ensemble formed in Los Angeles in 1974 by multi-instrumentalist Dan Kuramoto and koto player June Kuramoto. The group combined Japanese instruments and Japanese American subject matter with keyboards, bass, drums, guitar, woodwinds, and ensemble singing. Arista released the first two albums before executive Larkin Arnold brought Hiroshima to Epic for a sequence of 1980s releases.

1979 lineup: Dan Kuramoto (woodwinds, keyboards), June Kuramoto (koto), Peter Hata (guitar), Richard Mathews (keyboards), Dane Matsumura (bass), Danny Yamamoto (drums), Johnny Mori (taiko, percussion), Jess Acuna (vocals, percussion), Teri Kusumoto (vocals)

Background

Dan Kuramoto grew up in Boyle Heights and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1963 before studying art at California State College, Long Beach. He helped establish the campus Asian American studies program and became the department’s first chair while still in his twenties.

June Okida was born in Saitama, Japan, and raised in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles. She began koto lessons at six with Kazue Kudo, a teacher from the Michio Miyagi school, and performed classical Japanese music in Little Tokyo. Her interests also extended to the rock, soul, and rhythm-and-blues records that circulated through Los Angeles.

Kuramoto met Okida at an Asian American community picnic in Griffith Park in the early 1970s. Their relationship joined his work in art, education, and woodwinds with her classical koto background. Dan left academic employment, and the pair formed Hiroshima in 1974 with guitarist Peter Hata, keyboardist Dave Iwataki, drummer Danny Yamamoto, and taiko player Johnny Mori.

The name referred to the Japanese city destroyed by an atomic bomb and identified the group with a wider Asian American cultural movement. Hiroshima developed through community events and Little Tokyo engagements before securing a residency at the Baby Lion Supper Club in Beverly Hills. Duane Kubo’s 1975 documentary Cruisin’ J-Town followed the musicians through rehearsals and performances within the Los Angeles Japanese American community. The Library of Congress later selected the film for the National Film Registry.

Bassist Dane Matsumura and singers Jess Acuna and Teri Kusumoto entered the lineup in 1977. Keyboardist John Shipley succeeded Iwataki before Richard Mathews assumed the role. Performances outside California included an appearance at Howard University, where the group received a standing ovation from a predominantly Black audience.

Arista executive Larkin Arnold encountered Hiroshima through the Los Angeles club circuit. Arnold led the label’s Black music division and recognized an audience for the group among jazz and rhythm-and-blues listeners. He signed Hiroshima to Arista in 1979 and paired the musicians with Crusaders co-founder Wayne Henderson for the debut sessions.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima released their self-titled debut album, Hiroshima, in 1979 on Arista.

Dan Kuramoto wrote seven of eight selections. Peter Hata shares three composition credits, Jess Acuna co-wrote “Holidays,” and former keyboardist Dave Iwataki supplied “Kokoro.” Woodwinds and keyboards come from Dan, while June Kuramoto supplies koto and Johnny Mori handles taiko and percussion. Richard Mathews plays keyboards alongside guitarist Hata, bassist Dane Matsumura, drummer Danny Yamamoto, and singers Acuna and Teri Kusumoto. Henderson brought backing singers Augie Johnson and Miki Howard from Side Effect into a guest group that also includes Jim Gilstrap and Pages singer Richard Page. Jorge Del Barrio arranged the strings.

A1. “Lion Dance” (5:46) – Dan Kuramoto
A2. “Roomful of Mirrors” (3:32) – Dan Kuramoto
A3. “Kokoro” (6:38) – Iwataki
A4. “Long Time Love” (4:00) – Dan Kuramoto, Hata

B1. “Da-Da” (6:30) – Dan Kuramoto, Hata
B2. “Never, Ever” (3:52) – Dan Kuramoto, Hata
B3. “Holidays” (3:18) – Dan Kuramoto, Acuna
B4. “Taiko Song” (5:45) – Dan Kuramoto

Crusaders co-founder Wayne Henderson produced the album at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood with studio founder Allen Sides as engineer and mixer. Henderson’s recent production work included Side Effect’s Rainbow Visions and Willie Bobo’s Hell of an Act to Follow.

Arista art director Jean Marcellino supervised Susan Chang’s front-cover design and photography by Gary Regester. Chang placed a white theatrical mask against a pale blue field crossed by white lines and red cords.

Arista issued “Roomful of Mirrors” in March 1980 (b/w “Lion Dance”); the song reached No. 80 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart. Hiroshima reached No. 51 on the Billboard 200 and sold approximately 100,000 copies within three months. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab reissued the album as a limited-edition audiophile pressing.

Odori

Hiroshima released their second album, Odori, in 1980 on Arista.

Dan Kuramoto retained the principal composition role and shared selected titles with June Kuramoto, Peter Hata, Richard Mathews, Dane Matsumura, Jess Acuna, Johnny Mori, and Teri Kusumoto. The established lineup returns with guest percussionist Alex Acuña, then a member of Weather Report, and synthesizer programmer Michael Boddicker. Augie Johnson, Jim Gilstrap, Marlena Jeter, and Lillian Tyne contribute backing parts to Henderson’s expanded studio ensemble.

A1. “Cruisin’ J-Town” (3:15) – Dan Kuramoto, June Kuramoto, Hata, Kusumoto
A2. “Odori” (4:49) – Hiroshima
A3. “Echoes” (4:28) – Dan Kuramoto, Hata
A4. “Winds of Change” (6:32) – Dan Kuramoto, Mathews, Matsumura

B1. “Warriors” (4:26) – Dan Kuramoto, Hata, Mathews
B2. “Shinto” (4:29) – Dan Kuramoto
B3. “All I Want” (5:07) – Dan Kuramoto
B4. “Fortune Teller” (5:39) – Dan Kuramoto

Wayne Henderson returned as producer for sessions at Ocean Way Recording. Allen Sides led an engineering team with Hank Sanicola and Mark Ettel, extending the production arrangement established on the debut album.

Donn Davenport and Roland Young directed the sleeve presentation, with Davenport responsible for design and Michael Hashimoto credited for photography.

Arista issued “Cruisin’ J-Town” in 1980 (b/w “All I Want”). The label also serviced “Warriors” as a promotional single; the song reached No. 79 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart. Odori reached No. 78 on the Billboard 200 and remained on that chart for eighteen weeks. “Winds of Change” received a Grammy nomination in the rhythm-and-blues instrumental category.

Third Generation

Hiroshima released their third album, Third Generation, in 1983 on Epic.

The title refers to Dan Kuramoto’s status as a third-generation Japanese American. He wrote six selections and composed “San Say” with bassist Dean Cortez. June Kuramoto and keyboardist Derek Nakamoto supplied “Distant Thoughts,” Peter Hata wrote “From the Heart,” and Johnny Mori contributed the brief percussion piece “Sukoshi Bit.” Teri Kusumoto remained involved as associate producer, while the personnel expanded beyond the core band for selected studio parts.

A1. “Heavenly Angel” (3:38) – Dan Kuramoto
A2. “We Are” (4:02) – Dan Kuramoto
A3. “Ren” (2:32) – Dan Kuramoto
A4. “Do What You Can” (3:47) – Dan Kuramoto
A5. “San Say” (5:04) – Dan Kuramoto, Cortez

B1. “Distant Thoughts” (5:55) – June Kuramoto, Nakamoto
B2. “From the Heart” (4:01) – Hata
B3. “Long Walks” (4:23) – Dan Kuramoto
B4. “Fifths” (5:40) – Dan Kuramoto
B5. “Sukoshi Bit” (0:59) – Mori

Dan Kuramoto assumed production for Hiroshima’s first Epic album, with Larkin Arnold serving as executive producer after bringing the group from Arista. Don Murray recorded and mixed the principal sessions across Monterey Sound, Ocean Way Recording, Conway Recording, Sunset Sound Factory, and Fiddler’s Studio. Steve Crimmel and Craig Burbidge handled additional recording, while Allen Sides, Terry Christian, and Phil Brown completed specific studio assignments.

Epic issued “San Say” in 1983; the song reached No. 68 on Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart. The accompanying video became Hiroshima’s first promotional film. Figure skater Scott Hamilton later used “Ren” in the free-skating program that secured his gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics. Third Generation reached No. 142 on the Billboard 200, No. 50 on the Black Albums chart, and No. 10 on the Jazz Albums chart.

Epic reissued the album on compact disc near the end of the decade.

Another Place

Hiroshima released their fourth album, Another Place, in June 1985 on Epic.

Dan Kuramoto wrote or co-wrote seven of nine selections. Former Trillion keyboardist Patrick Leonard and singer Keithen Carter supplied “The Game” and “What’s It to Ya,” while Michael Sasaki shares the credit for “Touch and Go.” Peter Hata left before the sessions, and guitar assignments passed to David Taylor and T.J. Parker. Barbara Long assumed the principal singing role alongside the returning instrumental lineup.

A1. “One Wish” (4:50) – Dan Kuramoto
A2. “Save Yourself for Me” (4:34) – Dan Kuramoto
A3. “Another Place” (3:30) – Dan Kuramoto, Joe Wolfe
A4. “I Do Remember” (4:30) – Dan Kuramoto

B1. “The Game” (4:35) – Carter, Leonard
B2. “Undercover” (4:32) – Dan Kuramoto, June Kuramoto, Danny Yamamoto
B3. “Stay Away” (4:35) – Dan Kuramoto
B4. “What’s It to Ya” (4:22) – Carter, Leonard
B5. “Touch and Go” (4:01) – Dan Kuramoto, Sasaki

Dan Kuramoto produced the album at Sunset Sound Recorders, Sunset Sound Factory, and Sound City Studios. Patrick Leonard, then working as Madonna’s musical director, produced “The Game.” Terry Christian, Bill Jackson, Ray Blair, and Glenn Nishida divided the recording assignments, while Christian, David Leonard, and Tchad Blake completed the mixes.

John Pfahl supplied the cover photograph, Triangle, Bermuda, from his 1975 Altered Landscapes series. The image shows a beach divided by a taut line between two posts, with a rock formation visible beyond the shoreline.

Epic issued “Save Yourself for Me” in January 1986 as a promotional single with stereo and mono versions. “One Wish” followed with a Paul Hardcastle remix backed by the album version; the song reached No. 20 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. Another Place reached No. 79 on the Billboard 200 and No. 8 on the Jazz Albums chart. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the album gold.

Epic reissued Another Place on compact disc in 1988.

Go

Hiroshima released their fifth album, Go, in 1987 on Epic.

The title uses the Japanese word for five and marks Hiroshima’s fifth studio release. Dan Kuramoto wrote six selections, composed “I’ve Been Here Before” with Derek Nakamoto, and developed “No. 9” from material shared with Chick Corea. Keyboardist Brad Cole joined bassist Dean Cortez, singer Barbara Long, and the Kuramoto–Yamamoto–Mori nucleus. Guest singer Jon Anderson appears on the title track, while Louis Johnson plays bass on “No. 9.” Guitarists Michael Landau, Roland Bautista, and L. Carl Burnett contribute selected parts, and Luis Conte adds percussion.

A1. “Go” (4:16) – Dan Kuramoto
A2. “I’ve Been Here Before” (5:32) – Dan Kuramoto, Nakamoto
A3. “311” (4:32) – Dan Kuramoto, Dianne Quander
A4. “No. 9” (4:41) – Dan Kuramoto, Corea

B1. “Obon” (4:16) – Dan Kuramoto
B2. “Even Then” (5:54) – Dan Kuramoto
B3. “Hawaiian Electric” (4:36) – Dan Kuramoto, June Kuramoto
B4. “Why Can’t I Love You” (4:52) – Dan Kuramoto

Dan Kuramoto produced “Go,” “I’ve Been Here Before,” “311,” “Obon,” and “Hawaiian Electric.” Keyboardist George Duke produced the remaining selections after the recent solo albums Thief in the Night and George Duke. Ocean Way Recording, Sunset Sound Factory, and Sunset Sound Recorders accommodated the sessions. Duke’s production team brought engineers Erik Zobler and Tommy Vicari into work shared with Coke Johnson and Stephen Shelton; Don Murray and Mick Guzauski handled principal mixes.

Nancy Donald and Tony Lane directed the packaging, David Coleman designed the sleeve, and William Hames supplied the photography.

“Hawaiian Electric” originated in a commercial commissioned by the Hawaiian Electric Company, which received repeated requests for a full recording after the advertisement aired. Epic later circulated the song as a promotional single. Go reached No. 75 on the Billboard 200 and No. 54 on the rhythm-and-blues album chart. Gold certification followed, and the album received the Soul Train Music Award for Best Jazz Album.

Ongaku

Arista issued Ongaku as a compilation drawn from Hiroshima’s first two albums.

The collection returns to Wayne Henderson’s Ocean Way productions and combines selections from Hiroshima and Odori. The program includes “Lion Dance,” “Roomful of Mirrors,” “Kokoro,” “Da-Da,” “Holidays,” “Taiko Song,” “Cruisin’ J-Town,” “Echoes,” “Winds of Change,” “Warriors,” “Shinto,” “All I Want,” and “Fortune Teller.” Arista prepared the release for the compact-disc market without commissioning new sessions.

East

Hiroshima released their sixth studio album, East, in February 1989 on Epic.

Dan Kuramoto wrote five selections and shared “Midtown Higashi” with June Kuramoto, Johnny Mori, and Danny Yamamoto. Dean Cortez co-wrote “Living in America,” Kimo Cornwell shares the credit for “Daydreamer,” and Derek Nakamoto composed “Thousand Cranes” with June. Darrell Yoshihara co-wrote “Tabo.” The lineup features Cortez on bass, Cornwell on keyboards, Margaret “Machun” Sasaki-Taylor as principal singer, and the established Kuramoto–Yamamoto–Mori group. Takeshi Itoh adds alto saxophone, Luis Conte supplies percussion, and Jim Gilstrap, Phillip Ingram, and Augie Johnson contribute backing parts.

“Midtown Higashi” (1:36) – Dan Kuramoto, June Kuramoto, Mori, Yamamoto
“East” (5:38) – Dan Kuramoto
“Tabo” (4:42) – Dan Kuramoto, Yoshihara
“Living in America” (5:35) – Dan Kuramoto, Cortez
“Daydreamer” (5:28) – June Kuramoto, Cornwell
“The Golden Age” (5:20) – Hiroshima
“Streetcorner Paradise” (3:48) – Dan Kuramoto
“Come to Me” (5:24) – Dan Kuramoto
“You and Me” (4:21) – Dan Kuramoto
“Thousand Cranes” (6:06) – June Kuramoto, Nakamoto

Three selections originated in Sansei, a Mark Taper Forum stage production about third-generation Japanese Americans. “Living in America,” “Daydreamer,” and “Thousand Cranes” transferred material from the theatrical production into the album program. Sansei became one of the highest-grossing productions in the theatre’s history.

Hiroshima co-founder Dan Kuramoto produced the sessions at Sunset Sound Factory in Los Angeles. Dave Glover engineered the recordings, with the band retaining direct control over production after the divided Kuramoto–Duke arrangement on Go.

Epic issued an edited version of “Come to Me” in 1989 (b/w “No. 9”).

Later Activity

Hiroshima returned in 1992 with Providence, an album shaped by the Los Angeles civil unrest and broader questions of cultural identity. L.A. followed in 1994, and Urban World Music extended the group’s catalog in 1996. The band released Between Black & White near the end of the decade before moving into a sequence that included The Bridge, Spirit of the Season, Obon, and Little Tokyo.

The 2009 album Legacy revisited material from the early catalog with the long-term ensemble. The release received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album. Departure followed in the next decade, and J-Town Beat returned to the Los Angeles Japanese American community named in the group’s earliest recordings. Hiroshima issued 2020 in 2021 after pandemic restrictions delayed completion and release.

Hiroshima announced a touring hiatus in 2022 after nearly five decades of performances. June Kuramoto continued concert and educational work, and the National Endowment for the Arts named her a National Heritage Fellow in 2024 for her contributions to Japanese koto performance in the United States.

Discography

1979 — Hiroshima
1980 — Odori
1983 — Third Generation
1985 — Another Place
1987 — Go
Compilation — Ongaku
1989 — East
1992 — Providence
1994 — L.A.
1996 — Urban World Music
1999 — Between Black & White
2003 — The Bridge
2004 — Spirit of the Season
2005 — Obon
2007 — Little Tokyo
2009 — Legacy
2011 — Departure
2013 — J-Town Beat
2021 — 2020

“Winds Of Change”… F# flowing strings overlay sharp, intense bass/piano figure… resolves Bm amid woodwind melody… subtle harmonized Japanese chorus (“Henka No Nagare”… strange flow)… clickety hi-hat/kick-drum figure clamps the main theme… harp midsection forms a tapestry that swells into ensemble interplay with the bass figure and woodwinds amid lush strings… rising, dramatic passages reassert at 5:00 amid further harp filigree… vocals reemerge softly to fadeout “Shinto” blossoming woodwinds, subdue to a passage of flute/harp/string in Am with alternating 2’s… Fender Rhodes amid pizzicato harp and autoharp in flat/sharp keys… waving luminous synths… restatement of opener… rhythmless intro/otro

Discography: