Season: 2018

Banana Bread is a Pop / R&B choral band comprised of 4 Vancouver residing Japanese multi-instruments with a touch of ukulele sound. The beautiful three-part harmonies blend like all the ingredients of banana bread mixed and baked to perfection. The leader of the band is a local professional guitarist Yuji Nakajima, and the lead singer … Read more

Bushido performs new and traditional music for traditional Japanese musical instruments such as the shakuhachi, taiko, shinobue, shamisen, and koto. 尺八、太鼓、篠笛、三味線、琴などの和楽器を使って、伝統的な音楽と現代的な音楽を演奏します。 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PWQ2oI04XM&list=PLrZCXwSdzprD7x0pHLX9nSoi4PrMTY7wj&index=44 Where you can find them: Link Facebook Instagram

Iwama Shinshin Aikido Busenkai is under the supervision of Kenny Sembokuya Sensei, Student of Hitohira Saito Sensei. He was appointed as an instructor for the Busenkai Tokyo Branch in 2010, as well as the head instructor for Canada, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China. Busenkai also practices Tamiya-Ryu Iaijutsu. Canada Tamiya-Ryu Iaijutsu Genkei Branch … Read more

The first youth Taiko Ensemble formed in Canada in 1993. The membership includes 15 youth ages 9 to 31 years old. Chibi has been recognized as one of the most talented youth performing groups in BC. They have performed for Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Vancouver Children’s Festival, Cherry Blossom Festival, Nikkei Matsuri and of course … Read more

The de Couto/Say/Arai Organ Trio is a Vancouver ensemble led by Jason de Couto on Hammond B3 Organ and features local jazz legends Dave Say on Saxophone and Bernie Arai on Drums. All three members are active and integral musicians in the local music scene and work in a variety of ensembles as leaders and … Read more

Japan Seiko-Kai Karate-Do Canada was established in 1970 and currently has over 1000 members nationally. We also have over 25 international branch clubs. They focus on teaching traditional methods of self-defense while promoting a balance between mind, body and spirit. Currently, they are increasing our focus on bullying-prevention activities, including collaboration with other martial arts … Read more

Founded in 1988 to provide a creative outlet for women performing with the confines of a then largely male-dominated cultural tradition, JODAIKO continues to bring together some of the top professional women taiko artists currently based throughout North America. Following the custom of returning for the hometown matsuri, Jodaiko members gather together each year for … Read more

Kisyuu creates big pieces of calligraphy art during her live performance. She uses a variety of brushes which is up to 100cm long to create her art. Japanese calligraphy is known as a quiet, delicate art, but here she shows the possibility and new aspect of Japanese calligraphy which is dynamic and lively. 姫州はライブ・パフォーマンスで大きな書道の作品を作ります。使用する筆は最大１００ｃｍのものを含め、さまざまです。日本の書道は、静かで繊細な芸術として知られていますが、姫州は書道のダイナミックで生き生きとした新しい側面を披露します。 Where … Read more

Katari Taiko: Canada’s first Taiko ensemble. In its 41st year, this exhilarating, intergenerational and multi-cultural percussion collective continues to pursue “a way to summon music from thunder.” Rooted in the Japanese-Canadian experience, and inspired by the social struggles and liberation movements of North America, it bridges cultures through athletic, powerful, and graceful performance that is … Read more

Katori Shinto-Ryu Kenjutsu is a classical martial art focusing on sword fighting techniques. They train to fight with traditional samurai weapons, including long and short swords, fighting staff, spears, and naginata (halberd). Modern kendo and iaido were born from the older schools of kenjutsu, but their techniques are practiced in their unmodified forms and the … Read more

Kaya & the Criers is a soulful group comprised of students and alumni of Capilano University’s Jazz Studies program. From pop tunes to reinterpretations of jazz standards, they got it all. カヤ＆クリアズは、キャピラノ大学ジャズ学部の学生と卒業生からなるソウルフルなグループです。ポップスから、ジャズ・スタンダードの編曲まで様々な曲を演奏します。 Where you can find them: Link Facebook Instagram

Kayla Isomura is a Vancouver-based photographer best known for her multimedia exhibition, The Suitcase Project (2018). With a background in journalism, her interest in storytelling through multimedia has been deeply influenced by her roots as a fourth generation Japanese and Chinese Canadian. Kayla’s work has appeared locally at the Nikkei National Museum, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese … Read more

Kohei Yoshino is a singer songwriter based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Since he picked up an acoustic guitar at the age of 10, Kohei has actively performed in bands in countries such as Japan, Mexico, and Canada. Currently he spends most of his time writing his own music and entertaining locals and tourists on Granville … Read more

Kokoro Dance was formed in 1986 by Barbara Bourget and Jay Hirabayashi and has since performed more than 1,000 times across Canada, the U.S., in Europe, Mexico, and South America. Kokoro Dance has created more than 190 dance works based on its own blend of contemporary dance and butoh. ココロダンスは1986年にバーバラ・ブールジェとジェイ・ヒラバヤシによって設立され、以来ヨーロッパ、メキシコ、南米のカナダ全土で1,000回以上公演してきました。ココロダンスは、現代ダンスと舞踏を融合させた190以上のダンス作品を制作しています。 Where you can find them: … Read more

KAC Vancouver is a local group which studies the art of Japanese Archery known as kyudo. In kyudo, they strive to improve themselves through shooting. Kyudo is not limited to the act of shooting; it also encompasses all movement and postures in the dojo. KAC Vancouver is a member of the Kyudo Association of Canada, … Read more

Noor Dance Company was founded by Maki and Negma, two of Vancouver’s top belly dancers. They have been enthralling audiences around the world and are thrilled to be back dancing with their students at the Powell Street Festival. Maki has performed and taught in North America, Southeast Asia, and Japan. She is known for her … Read more

The omikoshi, or portable shrine, is an essential element of festivals all over Japan. The carriers, who are believed to be possessed by a divine spirit, rock the omikoshi vigorously; the more frenzied their efforts, the more good fortune is said to pass onto everyone. お神輿は、日本中のあらゆるお祭りで欠かせない存在です。神霊が宿ると信じられた人が神輿を担ぎ激しく揺さぶることで、人々に幸運がもたらされると考えられています。参加希望の方は、ジャクソン・ストリートのアレクサンダーより南にあるブースで申込をしてください。 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN0ESq9b7Bs&list=PLrZCXwSdzprD7x0pHLX9nSoi4PrMTY7wj&index=53 Where you can find them: Link Facebook

Formed in 2016, Onibana Taiko are three veterans of Vancouver’s Taiko community whose performance presentations draw from Japanese folk rituals such as minyo and matsuri all with a touch of punk aesthetics. Through performance, Onibana allows audience members to commune with our ancestors via obon dance, song, sensu (fan) cheerleading, fue, shamisen and kick-ass taiko. … Read more