2024 NEA National Heritage Fellow June Kuramoto receives a medal during a ceremony at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 18. She is joined on stage by NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson (right) and Rep. Judy Chu (left).
RAFU STAFF REPORT
WASHINGTON — Famed kotoist June Kuramoto from Alhambra was honored this week by the National Endowment for the Arts as a 2024 NEA National Heritage Fellow, the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.
“I know I am not the first. There were many trailblazers before me and hopefully more after me. At the same time there are those who surrounded me, held me up and some even carried me through my life’s challenging journey in a quest to find identity and pursue my dreams,” Kuramoto said in remarks on Sept. 18 in Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress.
“Being an immigrant coming to America with only my mother and three siblings, we were poor, faced with many hardships. I did not have the resources nor the opportunities to study Western music, only koto. Not having these opportunities turns to be blessings as there were no limits or boundaries.”
Under the tutelage of Kazue Kudo, who recognized Kuramoto’s talent and her ability to emotionally connect to the music, she pushed the traditions of koto, blending the sounds with contemporary music as a member of Hiroshima. She has been recognized with many awards both as an individual and as a co-founder of Hiroshima. The Smithsonian, U.S. Congress, State of California, and City and County of Los Angeles have honored her work.
Rep. Judy Chu (D-San Gabriel), chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, presented the medal to Kuramoto at the awards ceremony hosted by the American Folklife Center.
“She puts her own twist of groundbreaking jazz band band Hiroshima. I’ve been a fan of this band for decades. Its unique sounds have captivated so many of us in the Los Angeles area. June’s music bridges different cultures, sounds and traditions into one beautiful composition,” Chu said.
In her remarks, Maria Rosario Jackson, Ph.D., chair of NEA, said, “These fellows build bridges across communities, traditions, time, and place to provide us with the opportunity to explore our creativity and make sense of the world around us.”
Fellowship recipients are nominated by the public, often by members of their own communities, and then judged by a panel of experts in the folk and traditional arts. The panel’s recommendations are reviewed by the National Council on the Arts, which sends its recommendations to the NEA chair, who makes the final decision.
Also recognized were:
Sochietah Ung, Cambodian costume maker and dancer from Washington, D.C.
Bril Barrett, tap dancer from Chicago
Fabian Debora, Chicano muralist from Los Angeles
Rosie Flores, rockabilly and country musician from Austin, Texas
Trimble Gilbert, Gwich’in fiddler from Arctic Village, Alaska
Todd Goings, carousel carver and restorationist from Marion, Ohio
Susan Hudson, Navajo/Diné quilter from Sheep Springs, N.M.
Zuni Olla Maidens, traditional Zuni dancers and singers from Zuni, N.M.
Pat Johnson, community activist and organizer from Pocahontas, Ark.
In her speech, Kuramoto acknowledged those who wrote recommendation letters on her behalf: Chris Aihara, Rev. Mas Kodani, Janice Tanaka, Akira Nakano of the L.A. Inception Orchestra, Shirley Muramoto Wong, and Patricia and Emily Kinaga Wong.
Tanaka, who nominated Kuramoto, said it was long overdue recognition. Earlier this year a group of senior koto players called “Team Kotomoto” organized a slate of events for 2024 that commemorate Kuramoto’s life and career.
“June has been such an influence in my life, and it was important that she receive this high honor given to artists who best represents their community through their art,” Tanaka said. “She is proof that with talent and a lot of hard work, you can make it in the entertainment industry. June is the kindest and most generous human being who cares deeply about her family and her community. I am so happy she is finally getting the recognition she so deserves.”
Speaking on Friday to The Rafu, Kuramoto was elated and exhausted after a whirlwind of events planned by NEA, including a visit to the White House, a panel discussion and an evening at the Kennedy Center.
She said it was particularly special to spend time with the other nominees, each a master of their craft.
“Getting to know each other … it was just incredible. What warm people they were. We miss them already. The beautiful thing when you talk to them is their devotion and love for the art and their heritage,” Kuramoto said.
She joins other noted Japanese American artists who have been recognized as NEA National Heritage Fellows, including poet Violet Kazue de Cristoforo, tea master Sosei Shizuye Matsumoto, Madame Fujima Kansuma, dancer Gertrude Yukie Tsutsumi, Okinawan dancer Lynne Yoshiko Nakasone, San Jose Taiko founders Roy and PJ Hirabayashi, and bonsai master John Yoshio Naka.
Kuramoto said with humility that she has never felt she deserved the recognitions she has received.
“Every degree I’ve received on my koto, I told my sensei I don’t deserve this. She said, ‘June-chan, you have to live up to it. You’re this good. What does that really mean? You do this and live up to it … you keep working hard.’ That’s all I can do. I have to live up to it,” she said.
These days Kuramoto is mostly spending time with her grandchildren Milo and Aya but she feels a responsibility to continue spreading the art of koto as a teacher and mentor. She often works with students who are senior citizens.
“We realized also that playing an instrument is very healing to the soul. Music is healing to the soul, also helps with memory. And it’s a social thing, so we make it a social thing,” Kuramoto said.