Mind, Body, Spirit — Not Performance
For someone in Tacoma living with Parkinson’s who has never heard of Issho Open Taiko — what would you each tell them about walking through that door?”
Q1 — Issho — What the Word Carries → Wendy
“Wendy — after fifteen years of teaching this, what does the word Issho actually mean to you? Not the translation — what have you seen it do in a room?”
Q2 — What APDA Sees Across the Region → Jen
“Jen — from an organizational standpoint, what makes rhythm-based programs like Issho uniquely impactful for APDA members compared to more clinical approaches?”
Q3 — The First Five Minutes Wendy
“Wendy — what do you want someone walking in for the very first time to feel before they ever touch a drum?”
Q4 — Community vs. Exercising Alone → Jen
“Jen — the word Issho means together. For someone managing a progressive condition like Parkinson’s, how critical is that shared communal element compared to working out alone at home?”
Q5 — What Changes Over Time → Wendy
“Wendy — what have you seen happen to people who come back week after week? What actually changes in them?”
Q6 — Teaching Here, In This Temple, In This City → Wendy
“Wendy — the Japanese-American community in Tacoma has a painful history — 1942, removal, what was lost. What does it mean to you to be teaching taiko here, in this temple, in this city, right now?”
Q7 — Emerging Horizons in Parkinson’s Wellness → Jen
“Jen — looking ahead, what other creative or rhythm-focused approaches are you seeing emerge that offer the most promise for people living with Parkinson’s right now?”
