Featured Japanese Musical Performances

Below are the performances from the 2009 Festival. We will update these for 2010 when the schedule is established.

Rakugo Performance by Kaishi Katsura

We are extremely fortunate to have Mr. Kaishi Katsura, the King of English Rakugo in Japan and worldwide, perform at our Festival in 2008. Mr. Katsura was appointed by the Japanese Ministry of Culture as its cultural exchange ambassador to America, where he is staging a nationwide tour of English Rakugo during 2008. Please enjoy our very special guest, Katsura Kaishi, the world’s top performer of English Rakugo and current cultural ambassador for Japan.

Denver Taiko

A Festival favorite and back by popular demand is DENVER TAIKO! Denver Taiko was founded in 1976 and is an ensemble of third, fourth and fifth generation Japanese Americans. Currently the group includes fourteen musicians that is comprised of not only veterans who have performed with Denver Taiko since its inception, but also energetic and talented teens. Denver Taiko is an important part of Colorado and the West’s cultural landscape, playing at concerts, festivals and diversity celebrations throughout the region. The group was honored in 2001 by Denver’s Mayor Wellington Webb when it received the Mayor’s annual award for Excellence in the Arts.

Be sure to come to see the energy, spirit and artistry of Denver Taiko that has “rocked” audiences for over thirty years!

Denver Taiko on Facebook

Classical Japanese Music by Yoko Hiraoka, David Wheeler

These two recognized classical Japanese musicians will perform on the Koto, Shakuhachi. Both have performed extensively throughout the United States and Japan.

Kuniko Yamamoto – Japanese Storyteller / Koto

Kuniko Yamamoto enchants audiences of every age with dramatic storytelling using myths and fables from ancient and modern Japan, spiced with social revelations to educate and amuse. Kuniko uses traditional Japanese music, handcrafted masks, stylized movement and a touch of magic to create an artistic balance of illusion and reality.

http://www.kunikotheater.com

Buyo Dance - Yoshiko Yamanaka

The beautiful Buyo dance in full costume and makeup is a true sight to behold. Once again the festival will offer this sensuous dance art form.

Yosakoi Dance Group - Kansas State University

K-State is home to one of the most lively dance groups in the midwest. This may be the reason the Yosakoi Dance Group calendar is filled with performances all year long. The style of dance is highly energetic, combining traditional Japanese dance movements with modern music. "Yosakoi" means "Please come at night."

Recently the KSU Group was featured on Sapporo TV in Japan

KSU Yosakoi Dance Group website

J-Band – Pop Music of the "new" Japan – Featuring Ms. Ayaka Uchida who comes to the Festival all the Way From Japan!

The GKC Japan Festival is proud to offer Japanese Pop music performed by the "J-Band", a local group of talented Japanese performers. The J-Band is led by Mr. Jo Yamanaka and includes local musician Mr. Shigehiko Tanihata. This year the J-Band will feature Ms. Ayaka Uchida who joins us all the way from Japan. Ms. Uchida is a singer who was born in Kyoto. She has released a CD containing songs for which she created the lyrics. The disc features Ayaka as the main vocalist. She recently performed at a municipal cultural center near Kyoto at its 10th anniversary where more than 2,000 people were in attendance.

The "J-Band" will play instrumental tunes such as "Ame Moyou" (Rainy Scenes) and "A Night in Tokyo". All the songs and tunes above are composed and arranged by Mr. Jo Yamanaka. Mrs. Yoshiko Yamanaka will also perform a Buyo dance with the J-Band.

In addition to the Yardley Hall performance, the "J-Band" and Ms. Uchida will be playing at the food court.

Kojo no Tsuki Trio – (Koto and Cello Trio) – Trilla Ray Carter (cello) Yoko Hiraoka (koto) and Dianne Daugherty (koto)

3:20 PM and 7:40 PM in Yardley Hall

East meets west in this original arrangement of a Japanese favorite. "Koji no Tsuki" or "Moon over Ruined Castle" is a beloved melody that evokes images of feudal Japan and the heavy heart of a Samurai viewing his war-torn castle in the moonlight. Don’t miss this enchanting performance featuring Trilla Ray Carter of the Carray Ensemble, one of KC’s most accomplished cellists, Yoko Hiraoka, a festival favorite, renowned koto performer and Dianne Daugherty, local koto performer/teacher.

Ottawa Suzuki Strings Institute

The Ottawa Suzuki Strings Institute is an ensemble of young violinists, violists, and cellists from two to twenty years of age. These young string players receive their music education in Ottawa, Kansas, at the Carnegie Cultural Center in a program directed by violinist, Alice Joy Lewis. Their music study is based on the Talent Education approach of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. The Ottawa Suzuki Strings have partnered with the Ottawa Community Arts Council to establish and maintain the Carnegie Cultural Center in Ottawa.

They host two summer music events in Ottawa annually in June — a 10-day "Sound Encounters" program for advanced string players and a five-day Suzuki Institute Mid-Southwest program. These programs draw registrants internationally and from across the United States. Concerts are open to the public without charge.

Glenwood Elementary School – Japan Club

The Glendale Japanese Club has performed at several venues throughout the Greater Kansas City area including at a Kansas City Comets Game, the Jackson County Cultural Arts Commission's Showcase of Arts, and at previous Japan Festivals. Recently, they have added drumming, Kempo, and small plays of Japanese children's stories.

The mission of Glendale Japanese Club is to give Glendale fourth and fifth graders an opportunity to learn about Japan. They have cultural lessons and activities such as Ikebana, Origami, sushi tasting, tea ceremony, and many others.

Metropolitan Youth Orchestra

The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra will be performing an original arrangement by Monty Carter of “SAKURA.” The piece will also feature local performer and teacher, Dianne Daugherty on Koto. The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra is in its thirteenth season of offering good friendship and great music. Based in the Kansas City Northland, Metropolitan Youth Orchestra was founded in 1997 by Jim Murray and Paul Cooper under the auspices of the Liberty Symphony Orchestra. Karianne Waterland is the Executive Director of Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, and Andrew Waterland serves as the Orchestra Manager. The ensemble is conducted by Jim Murray and Monty Carter.