Marisa Kosugi was exposed to Minyo-Japanese Folk Music through her mother, Matsutoyo Sato of Matsutoyo Kai, who has been performing & instructing in the Northern & Southern California for over 45 years.
Marisa was always inspired by her mother's creativity and passion in the Japanese Arts. At the age of 21, Marisa decided to dedicate herself to Minyo and moved to Tokyo, Japan, in hopes to learn more about this unique Music, & the Japanese Culture under Madame Makiko Kosugi & the Late Master Iwao Yoneya, Headmaster - Iemoto of Yoneya Kai.
Marisa became an apprentice for 3-years, learning the language and etiquette so she would have the capability to assist her mother and continue to share Minyo with others. She lived with 4 Upperclassmen- who took the time to teach her the ways of understanding this lifestyle. Being an American, it was a challenge in all aspects, but fortunately, her Masters and Upperclassmen encouraged her to do her best which gave her the determination to understand all she could during her training.
At age 24, she received her Certified/Stage Name MARISA KOSUGI than returned to the States and has been performing along with Matsutoyo Kai at Cultural Events, Festivals, Nursing/Retirement, Private Parties & etc.
When Minyo Station and BellTheCat Music was formed, it gave her more motivation to learn, to express her self openly to the audience in hopes to grasp those who had no clue what Minyo is. The most fun is the participation from everyone at a performance. It is a joy to watch and listen to the children who stand on stage and help with the singing and dancing. Minyo is special.
10:45
Opening Ceremonies
Kodama Taiko
Color Guards
Koyasan Boy & Girl Scouts Troop 39
Kathy Bee
Will perform the National Anthem at opening ceremonies Along with her original song “I’m An American" Video
Opening Welcome by Mr. Hirotaka Kakita, representing Consul General of
Japan in Los Angeles office
Aki Onouye performing
two songs in Japanese supporting Japan Rebuild
"Yamato" and "Kaachan".
11:00
Openng Act:
JOIN KATHY BEE & FRIENDS
Featuring Fleet Easton, Mario Raven & The Red Hat Mama's
Performing songs from the 50's, 60's & 70's
12:00
12:30
George Kriyama Educational Excellence Award
-Glen Omatusi
Community Treasure Awards
- Arthur Nakane, One-Man-Band & Kimekomi Dolls
Blossom Award
- Ken Kaneska
1:45
Fujima Kansei Odori Kai - Contemporary Style Japanese Dance
2:00
Rob Narita & Friends
Rob Narita is an actor and singer who grew up in Southern California. While appearing in films, television, and commercials, he also honed his singing and performance to the point of being cast in "Miss Saigon," on Broadway. Rob has performed around the world, and is always thankfully looking forward to what GOD has in store for him next.
2:30
Minyo Station
Minyo Station/Matsutoyo Kai
Minyo Station “The Direction of the Wind” is an indication of the New Sound of Minyo—Japanese Folk Music, as envisioned by Minyo Station’s Music Director and lead guitarist, Yu Ooka. Minyo Station is in the forefront of a movement to infuse a New Sound into traditional Japanese Folk Music, as interpreted by a new generation of artists. Like the wind, the sound of Minyo blows freely from the East to West. Minyo Station’s sound is both unique yet familiar, a multi-cultural “twist” that melds Western elements of genres such as rock, R&B, and Jazz with the melodies and structure of Minyo compositions that have been passed down for generations through the many villages of Japan. Minyo Station was established in 2008, they have performed extensively throughout Southern California and in San Francisco, to multi-cultural, enthusiastic audiences, both the younger and the older generation, playing Traditional & Fusion style Minyo. With the guidance of Matsutoyo Sato, founder of Matsutoyo Kai est. 1966, Minyo Station's mission is to simply ‘Preserve Music from the Past’, respecting and understanding that the music played may convey 'an Emotion, a Memory, a Special Moment Shared with Loved ones.'
respecting and understanding that the music played may convey 'an Emotion, a Memory, a Special Moment Shared with Loved ones.'
Kimono Fashion Show "Kimonos through the Ages" featuring L.A. City Councilwoman Jan Perry - Fashions produced by Ken Kaneska
4:15
5:00
Gary Jung Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen ... We have a very special musical treat for you this afternoon. Our next entertainer, for many years, has been featured in numerous newspaper and magazines, such as The Los Angeles Times, Daily Tribune, The Star, People Magazine, Us Magazine, L.A. Magazine, just to name a few.
He has also been featured on numerous television and radio segments, such as Entertainment Tonight, Eye on L.A., K-Cal 9 News, San Francisco’s Afternoon Show, and Rick Dee’s Mov’in 93.9 FM. He has performed throughout Southern California, as well as in San Francisco, Chicago, Hawaii, Japan, and Hong Kong.
The reason for all of this attention and publicity ... he has been billed as the World’s First Asian Elvis Sound-Alike!! ... Here to perform his special tribute to the King of Rock & Roll and those great hits from the 50’s and 60’s ...
Please join me in welcoming ….. GARY JUNG !!
September 25th., Sunday Events
EMCEE: Miyuki Matsunaga
Miyuki Matsunaga is a Japanese actress in Los Angeles who dances, sings, does voiceover and emcee, teach yoga and pilates, and direct for music video and stage. She teaches Dance and Sing for special needs children and being active in volunteer works such as charity events for Japan disaster and animal rescue. She is also a performance artist with her own Japanese dance style called GETA DANCE, which blends elements of traditional Japanese dance, modern dance, martial arts, and her original haiku poetry. In her performances she wears Japanese GETA sandals with original KIMONO and use various traditional items like SENSU (a fan), KASA (an umbrella), and KATANA (a sword) while I dance and sing.
Kotobuki No Kai is a sub-group of Nippon Minyo Kenkyu Kai, Our head group, Nippon Minyo Kenkyu Kai based in Nagoya is considered one of the largest Minyo dance groups in Japan.
Shihan Imoto Hoshun-Jyu Sensei teaches Japanese Folk Dance or Minyo Odori in the classical Minyo as well as Shin or new Minyo style. She also teaches Kayo Buyo or Dance accompanied by Popular Song. Her love of dance has led to her conducting class every Wednesday evening to students at Gedatsu Church in Rosemead, CA as well as devoting time to teaching additional classes from the Japanese Community Pioneer Center located in the JACCC bldg in Little Tokyo, CA. and Keiro Retirement Home in Boyle Heights.
We perform regularly at Keiro Nursing Facilities in Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights and South Bay, Monterey Park Cherry Blossom Festival, and several local Senior Citizen Centers, Hospitals and Community Centers. We also perform annually at the Nisei Week Parade and Street Ondo held every August in Little Tokyo.
We welcome new students of any age.We are honored to have been invited to the Little Tokyo Cherry Blossom Festival this year. We hope you enjoy our program.
12:00
Geta Dance - Miyuki Matsunaga
Miyuki Matsunaga is a Japanese actress in Los Angeles who dances, sings, does voiceover and emcees. Miyuki also teaches yoga, pilates and directs for music videos and stage. She teaches dance and sings for special needs children and is active in volunteer works such as charity events for Japan disaster and animal rescue. She is also a performance artist with her own Japanese dance, modern dance, martial arts and her original haiku poetry. In her performance, she wears Japanese GETA sandals with an original KIMONO and uses various traditional items like a SENSU (a fan), KASA (an umbrella) and KATANA (a sword) while she dances and sings. miyukigetadance.com
12:45
Gina Hirazumi
International Actress/Singer, Gina Hiraizumi is set to shoot her 2012 Calendar. Following up the success of her previous - her 2010 Hawaiian Calendar endorsed through the Hilton Hawaiian Hotels that sold nearly 100,000 units independently, with calendar signings that have taken her around the world, her success has triggered the attention of a major distribution deal through Calendars.com – the largest outlet for calendars on a nationwide level – every major shopping mall in the United States will carry her Calendar, along the likes of Justin Beiber, Jennifer Lopez, Kobe Bryant, Kim Kardashian and celebrities of that caliber. Partial proceeds of the calendar will also benefit the Red Cross Japan Relief Fund – an incident that’s very endearing to her heart, because Gina was in Tokyo at the time of the recent massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan this past March 2011. As a survivor and a strong Christian woman, Gina’s story and undying philanthropic efforts continue to touch the lives of other celebrities also – a NBA star is sought to do a guest appearance on one of the months of the Calendar. The photography team behind the widely popular Keeping up with the Kardashians on E! Entertainment Network and the Kim Kardashian empire – Slickforce Studios, and their glam team is set to produce Gina’s 2012 Calendar images. Additionally, her project is unique – each calendar unit will also include the release of her first, hugely anticipated English album, in the Pop/Hawaiian/Acoustic genre. A musical style that meets a Bruno Mars crossed with Colbie Caillait.
Along with her massive fanbase that’s garnered an upward of 764,000+ hits to her youtube channel and an endorsement deal with Kilauea Fire Hawaiian Hot Sauce in the Hawaiian Airlines’ Hana Hou Magazine, Gina has been named as one of the most promising Japanese stars rising, as seen in The Peninsula Magazine, a 5-star hotel publication photographed entirely in Tokyo, Japan among the legendary: Tatsuya Matsui, Ryuichi Sakamoto and martial arts superstar, Kane Kosugi.
Among a plethora of television credits, her most recent guest-star roles include Castle (ABC) as “Laurie Hill” opposite Alyssa Milano & Flash Forward (ABC). She is the opening credits singer in the new Cartoon Network series, Titan Maximum with Seth Green and Rachel Leigh Cook. Past credits include Shark (CBS), Quintuplets (FOX), Port Charles (ABC), City Guys (NBC), Lucky (FX) to name a few.
On the silver screen, Gina is the beauty queen wife of Jason Scott Lee (Dragon: Bruce Lee Story) in the WWII feature, Only the Brave and was the lead love interest in Day of Independence, a Japanese-American internment camp film by Academy Awardâ Winner, Chris Tashima.
The seasoned performer has sang the National Anthem at the Staples Center (NBA), Madison Square Garden (NBA), Dodger Stadium, (MLB) and the NCAA Hawaiian Airlines Diamondhead Classic Finals on ESPN. She is the first Asian-American singer to perform on the gospel show, PRAISE THE LORD on TBN - the only Christian talk show, consisting of a billion viewers worldwide. Gina trained at the Juilliard School in New York City, and has released a single/music video for Japan, “Unmei No Ai” which she co-stars with martial arts superstar, Jason Scott Lee. Gina also served as Executive Producer on this music video, and has generated over 120,000+ hits on youtube alone.
1:30
Japanese Dancing, Fujima Seiyumi Kai –Dianne Fukuwa Fujima Seiyumi Kai is a Japanese dance group that was formed to fill a growing interest in the Japanese American community to learn the art of Nihon Buyo. Their mission is to develop an appreciation of Japanese dance by presenting innovative pieces while preserving the traditional aspects of the art. This graceful art form is enjoyed by all age groups. Whether it is classical, folk or contemporary dancing, all of the members find that it is a rewarding way to enrich their lives. Their director and instructor, Fujima Seiyumi, was selected by the Cherry Blossom Festival as one of the “Teachers that Make a Difference” in the community.
2:00
Naoki Atkins on Tsugaru Shamisen
(Tsugaru Shimisen traditional Japanese instrument)
Tsugaru Shamisen is a traditional Japanese instrument with just three strings. Naoki Atkins, age 14, will introduce you to its distinctive Japanese sound. He will perfom as a Solo act and will accompany the Hollywood Entertainment Academy show on J-Pop stage. www.jpthreestrings.com
2:15
Walter Nishinaka – along with Matsubayashi-ryu Karate of Little Tokyo
2:45
Matsubayashi-ryu Karate of Little Tokyo
Located in the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles, we train in traditional Okinawan Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do, as it was taught by Shoshin Nagamine. Although our head instructor, Art Ishii - 5th Dan, promotes traditional Matsubayashi-Ryu training, he draws from a diverse background of disciplines which include Judo, Goju-Ryu, and Wing Chun Gung Fu. Preferring to dwell on the commonalities of these and other various arts rather than their differences, he keeps good relationships with many high ranking instructors of different systems throughout the Los Angeles area, frequently bringing in guest instructors to share their interpretations with his students.
Matsubayashi-Ryu of Little Tokyo is a non-commercial dojo, working out of the social hall of Centenary Church and although we are not affiliated with the church, we are deeply involved with the Little Tokyo and surrounding Japanese American community, of which Centenary has historically been a major part. We train in a familial, non-competitive atmosphere, and frequently contribute to local events in our community, sharing our cultural arts through demonstrations and workshops.
3:15
Best in Festival Most Photogenic Dog Contest
KORI
Best in Festival Mascot
4:30
Panache Orchestra: Icono-Classsical Insurgent Melody The Panache Orchestra suggests turning off your cell phones and your useless genres. If you must have labels, perhaps Brenda K’s classical violin and Chi Saito’s rhythm-driven acoustic guitar and dramatic instrumental compositions are “Rattling the Chamber-Music Cage.” Or “Anime Beatnik Combo.” Another label might be simply “Beautiful.” Woven into TPO's DNA are strands of The Beatles, Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli , Mahavishnu Orchestra, and traditional music of Europe and Japan shaken up with a shot of vintage rock ‘n roll, and as the night grows longer and the cocktails accumulate, a dynamic, swashbuckling romanticism emerges. For additional information and current performance schedule, visit TPO at: www.panacheorchestra.com
The Cherry Blossom Festival SoCal is a fiscally sponsored project of the Pasadena Arts Council,
a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
EIN # 95-2540759
