JAPAN FES
2024/5/1
Last Saturday, April 27th, Head Consul Hamada gave the opening remarks at JAPAN FES. Thank you to the hundreds who came out to experience such a wonderful evening celebrating Japanese culture!
The event began with an impassioned performance from local taiko drum troupe Tomodachi Daiko, followed by national award winning Shamisen artists KIKI. KIKI’s act was part performance, part comedy, and part a historical lesson on the Shamisen; and although it was likely the first time many in the audience had heard the Tsugaru Shamisen in person, their act was met with universal appraise, laughter, and appreciation.
Once the music subsided, California-based BURAI entertained the crowd with a short play featuring samurai and ninja. Crowd participation was a large part of their action-comedy show, and Burai had the audience shouting, laughing, and cheering the whole way through.
Finally, the show ended with a Kimono fashion show. Local volunteers walked on stage dressed in both traditional and contemporary Japanese kimono fashion by some of the industry’s finest, including kimono/costume designer Sueko Oshimoto (most recently of FX’s show Shogun fame) and photographer and Kimono stylist Kentaro Terauchi to name a few.
The fashion show ended with KIKI and BURAI returning to the stage to join the kimono models for the finale followed by a meet and greet with the performers. The event was a huge success not only thanks to the warm public reception, but thanks to the performers, volunteers, and last but not least the organizers at JAA, the Anchorage School District World Languages and Immersion Program, and the UAA Montgomery Dickson Center for Japanese Language & Culture for putting the event together as well.
The Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage is always eager to see Japanese culture, education, and entertainment brought to Alaska.
The event began with an impassioned performance from local taiko drum troupe Tomodachi Daiko, followed by national award winning Shamisen artists KIKI. KIKI’s act was part performance, part comedy, and part a historical lesson on the Shamisen; and although it was likely the first time many in the audience had heard the Tsugaru Shamisen in person, their act was met with universal appraise, laughter, and appreciation.
Once the music subsided, California-based BURAI entertained the crowd with a short play featuring samurai and ninja. Crowd participation was a large part of their action-comedy show, and Burai had the audience shouting, laughing, and cheering the whole way through.
Finally, the show ended with a Kimono fashion show. Local volunteers walked on stage dressed in both traditional and contemporary Japanese kimono fashion by some of the industry’s finest, including kimono/costume designer Sueko Oshimoto (most recently of FX’s show Shogun fame) and photographer and Kimono stylist Kentaro Terauchi to name a few.
The fashion show ended with KIKI and BURAI returning to the stage to join the kimono models for the finale followed by a meet and greet with the performers. The event was a huge success not only thanks to the warm public reception, but thanks to the performers, volunteers, and last but not least the organizers at JAA, the Anchorage School District World Languages and Immersion Program, and the UAA Montgomery Dickson Center for Japanese Language & Culture for putting the event together as well.
The Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage is always eager to see Japanese culture, education, and entertainment brought to Alaska.