Hiroshima -

Hiroshima are an American new age ensemble that debuted with a 1979 self-titled album on Arista, followed by Odori and the 1983–85 Elektra titles Third Generation and Another Place.

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)

Background

Hiroshima originated around 1970 in Los Angeles when flutist Dan Kuramoto assembled a group for Asian American community benefits. Singer Nancy “Atomic Nancy” Sekizawa joined after musicians approached her at the Atomic Café, a Little Tokyo restaurant operated by her family. Hiroshima appeared with A Long Time Comin’ at a December 1971 benefit for Asian prisoners at Blarney’s Castle.

Kuramoto grew up in Boyle Heights and graduated from Roosevelt High School. He studied painting and drawing at California State College, Long Beach, where he helped establish the Asian American studies program and became its first department chair. Kuramoto also performed at community fundraisers organized through the emerging Asian American movement.

June Okida was born in Saitama, Japan, and grew up in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles. She studied koto from age six with Kazue Kudo, a disciple of Japanese master Michio Miyagi. Okida pursued advanced training through the Miyagi School in Japan and performed traditional music at Little Tokyo events. At a community picnic organized by Gidra in Griffith Park, she heard Hiroshima and showed her talent to Kuramoto. The two began with flute-and-koto duets that combined Japanese pieces with improvisation. Kuramoto encouraged Okida to improvise on koto and incorporated the instrument into the band arrangements.

Keyboardist Dave Iwataki joined Hiroshima in 1974 and wrote the koto-centered piece “Kokoro.” Taiko player Johnny Mori came from Kinnara Taiko, which he helped establish at the Senshin Buddhist Temple. He also operated the Amerasia Bookstore in Little Tokyo. Drummer Danny Yamamoto attended Dorsey High School, where he played in a jazz trio with bassist Larry Klein and pianist Billy Childs. He continued his musical education at UCLA.

Filmmaker Duane Kubo featured Hiroshima in the 1975 documentary Cruisin’ J-Town, which examined the Asian American music scene in Los Angeles and included a joint musical encounter with El Teatro Campesino. Hiroshima played neighborhood events at Watts Towers and established a following at the Baby Lion Supper Club near Koreatown.

By the late 1970s, Hiroshima expanded with guitarist Peter Hata, bassist Dane Matsumura, keyboardist Richard “Arms” Mathews, and singers Jess Acuna and Teri Kusumoto. Mathews succeeded earlier keyboardists Iwataki and John Shipley. The nine-piece lineup retained Kuramoto, Okida, Mori, and Yamamoto.

Crusaders trombonist Wayne Henderson introduced Hiroshima to record companies; Arista executive Larkin Arnold signed the group. Henderson produced the debut sessions with engineer Allen Sides at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood for the 1979 Arista album Hiroshima.

“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:

Hiroshima (1979)
Odori (1980)
Third Generation (1983)
Another Place (1985)
Go (1987)
Ongaku (1988)
East (1989)

References and notes

Pacific Citizen – August 1, 1980. Contemporary Kuramoto interview identifies the original ensemble, early benefits, and 1980 personnel. (Page 7)
UC Santa Barbara Special Collections – 1971. Archived concert poster documents the December Hiroshima benefit at Blarney’s Castle. (Poster catalog)
Smithsonian Folklife – July 2, 2016. Sekizawa recalls Atomic Café encounters, early rehearsals, and joining Hiroshima. (Interview)
National Endowment for the Arts – January 28, 2025. June recalls Gidra, the koto-flute partnership, community concerts, and first studio sessions. (Oral history)
Hiroshima: Dan Kuramoto – Undated. Documents fine arts studies, university teaching, and early community performances. (Official biography)
Hiroshima: June Kuramoto – Undated. Establishes birthplace, Kazue Kudo instruction, and Miyagi School training. (Official biography)
Dave Iwataki – Undated. Original keyboardist identifies 1974 membership and authorship of “Kokoro.” (Personal biography)
Hiroshima: Danny Yamamoto – Undated. Identifies Dorsey High, Larry Klein, Billy Childs, and UCLA studies. (Official biography)
Discover Nikkei – October 15, 2004. Johnny Mori oral-history biography documents Kinnara Taiko and Amerasia Bookstore activity. (Oral history)
New Day Films – 1975. Original documentary documentation establishes early Hiroshima performances and the Little Tokyo cultural setting. (Film archive)
Library of Congress – December 13, 2023. Confirms the documentary and Hiroshima collaboration with El Teatro Campesino. (Registry announcement)
Los Angeles Times – October 29, 2022. Kuramoto interview documents the Baby Lion residency and Larkin Arnold contract. (Interview)
Music of Asian America Research Center – Undated. Documents group development, 1979 personnel, and the original “Kokoro” recording. (Historical study)