Archives: Programs

EPITHMYiA is a five-man dance and vocal J-POP group that has been growing its fanbase steadily since its formation on June 10, 2022. Stopping by Vancouver for their pre-debut North American tour, Rei, Sirius, K, RD, and Maito are thrilled for the opportunity to connect with the local Japanese community. 2022年6月10日の結成以来、着実にファン層を拡大してるEPITHMYiAは、5人組のダンスとボーカルのJ-POPグループです。デビュー前の北米ツアーでバンクーバーを訪れるRei、Sirius、K、RD、そしてMaitoは、地元の日本人コミュニティとの交流の機会にとてもワクワクしています。  EPITHYMiA translates to ‘a … Read more

IzumonookunI is a multidisciplinary dance inspired by Izumo no Okuni, the 17th century cis-female founder of kabuki: a Japanese dance-drama form that currently contains little trace of its cis-female-centric, grassroots, counter-cultural origins. Choreographer Aretha Aoki and Bessie-nominated sound designer and artist Ryan MacDonald are resurrecting and re-imagining Okuni as a punk/synthwave/glam-goth figure. IzumonookunI aims to … Read more

Infinitely Yours is an emotional, dream-like meditation on climate catastrophe and the Anthropocene. The work is an emotionally impactful, embodied illustration of news headlines we see every day, and the complex harm humanity causes to the world – and what it might mean for all of us: humanity, as well as other life, and the … Read more

Kisyuu will go beyond the boundaries of traditional calligraphy art forms, writing Japanese characters on large canvases to convey her messages, emotions, and creativity. She will use multiple sizes of brushes and different colours of ink to create her art. Come watch how her brush moves and enjoy witnessing the process of art-making while experiencing … Read more

Professional Daikagura performer, Michiyo Kagami, will introduce this thousands of years old Japanese ritual and performance practice with the help of ten ten, a Japanese music ensemble based in Toronto. After learning about shishimai, Japanese lion dancing, and kyokugei acrobatics, join a procession through the Craft and Marketplace vendors to grant them good luck for … Read more

Demonstrations will start at 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, and 4:00pm in the Vancouver Japanese Language School-Japanese Hall: Tatami Room 1時、2時、3時、4時 、バンクーバー日本語学校並びに日系人会館 ：畳ルーム。  The Urasenke Foundation of Vancouver promotes the practice of the Japanese Way of Tea through lessons, demonstrations, and public events throughout the year. We invite you to participate in an authentic tea service in … Read more

Following the establishment of Chiba City and North Vancouver as sister cities in 1970, the Chiba City and North Vancouver Youth Exchange Program began. The program is two years, wherein students travel to their sister city one summer and host an exchange student the next summer. The relationship between these students lasts for years to come … Read more

The Tenrikyo Joyous Stars are a children’s J-POP dance group whose 47 members range in age from first grade to high school. Their community of young dancers has been brought together by their shared passion to spread cheer through performances. After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, they are overjoyed to be back dancing again. … Read more

Tamami Maitland Trio consists of vocals/keys, a bass, and drums. Maitland’s original songs are written in English and Japanese with a style interspersed across jazz, R&B, and soul: soothing, groovy, melodic, and rich in harmony. Through her songs, she hopes to send a message that connects with people and encourages them to stay positive.  Tamami … Read more

Sansho Daiko creates contemporary repertoire for the taiko, or Japanese drum. Incorporating western instruments, mask-work, and electro-acoustic scores, the group creates an experience that crosses ethnic and cultural boundaries. Like the plant it was named after, Sansho Daiko seeks to be a spicy addition to the west coast taiko scene.   山椒太鼓は和太鼓のためのコンテンポラリーな 演目を創作します。西洋楽器、マスク・ワーク、エレクトロ・アコースティックの楽譜を取り入れ、民族や文化の垣根を越えた体験を生み出しています。グループ名の由来となった植物のように、山椒太鼓は西海岸の太鼓界にスパイシーなアクセントを加えようとしているのです。 

Rina and Tohoku Minyo Band is a traditional Japanese music band that plays Tohoku Minyo music from the Northern area of Japan. Rina El-Nahas has been performing and playing this style of music since the age of five and has won numerous awards from traditional competitions in Japan. Rina is also an accomplished shamisen (a … Read more

Prince Shima’s live performance is based around blending acoustic, electric, and digital instruments in order to create rich, evocative soundscapes for a fully immersive experience. He manipulates samples of traditional and early electronic Japanese instruments in order to create sounds that are both nostalgic and forward reaching.   Prince Shima is a multi-instrumentalist sansei artist based … Read more

Heavily influenced by Japanese pop culture, Non Sweet combines live vocal and dance to bring an interactive performance. Their original music is written in collaboration with their Japanese sound producer, SHUN, and the members take the creative lead on lyrics, choreography, and the concept for each release.   Non Sweet is a Vancouver-based J-POP music group that … Read more

Kokuho Rose (later ‘Prohibited’) was formed sometime in 1977, the exact origins lost in the mist of time. There is a clear link to the 1977 Japanese Canadian Centennial and Tonari Gumi. Various musicians have played with the group over the years, consisting of Japanese and Chinese Canadians. Born and raised in the diaspora, they … Read more

Kiyoshi & Oleksiy’s performance will have Kiyoshi on the handpan, didgeridoo, and other native instruments alongside Oleksiy, who will be singing a selection of Ukrainian tunes. Their goal is to weave together two worlds: the Japanese world of Kiyoshi and the Ukrainian world of Oleksiy.   Kiyoshi & Oleksiy is a collaboration between two artists: Kiyoshi … Read more

Guitar, bass, synth, and drum machine swirl together with vocal harmonies for mellow minds and crying times, all with an Asian Canadian smile.   Foxgloves is songs in the key of sad! The band is comprised of Miko Hoffman, Lyndsay Sung, and Rafael Tsuchida, all past and present musicians in bands such as Gaze, The … Read more

Join Aza Nabuko and Company as they navigate global issues through a high energy musical performance.   Based in Vancouver B.C., multi-instrumentalist Aza Nabuko is already making waves in the music industry. Landing a sync placement with Netflix’s Tiny Pretty Things and a spot in the top 100 in CBC Searchlight for 2020, the industry is … Read more

Puccini’s famous opera, MADAMA BUTTERFLY, is reimagined by interdisciplinary creator-performer Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野 (they/them) into THE BUTTERFLY PROJECT 蝶々さんのプロジェ クト. As a constantly living and evolving work, THE BUTTERFLY PROJECT highlights the original intention of these appropriated melodies and brings them into the 21st century with live and recorded sounds, electronics, and classical singing in … Read more

Established in 1998, Youshinkan Dojo is a non-profit organization that practices the martial arts of Kendo and Iaido. Through Kendo, they not only emphasize physical strength but also mental strength, stressing courtesy and discipline. They have 25 to 30 active members between the ages of 5 and 75.  Their demonstration will include a brief explanation … Read more

UBC Classical Bu-jutsu Club is an organization dedicated to the practice, preservation, and promotion of the classical martial arts of Japan. For more information, please reference www.shofukan.ca. They will demonstrate representative techniques from a Muromachi-era martial system called Takenouchi-ryu (竹内流).   UBC古流武術クラブは日本の伝統的な武術の実践、保持、推進に努める団体です。詳しくはこちらをご覧ください：www.shofukan.ca 室町時代の武術体系である竹内流の代表的な技を披露します 

Eventbrite Registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/360-riot-walk-august-5-6-tickets-657308355987?aff=erelexpmlt 360 Riot Walk is an interactive walking tour that utilizes 360 video technology to tell the story of the 1907 Anti-Asian Riots in Vancouver. It traces the history and route of the mob that attacked the Chinese Canadian and Japanese Canadian communities following the demonstration and parade organized by the Asiatic Exclusion … Read more