Performers & Presenters
as of June 7, 2025
Enjoy Performances on the Main Stage and in the Lobby!
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MC: Mimi Katano 交野みみ
Mimi Katano (she/her) is a bilingual/bicultural theatre artist in Seattle. Mimi is a two-time Gregory Awards nominee for Outstanding Direction, and the production of Vietgone she directed in 2024 was the recipient of Outstanding Production of the Year. Her other directing credits include: Seattle Shakespeare Company, 5th Avenue Theatre (ETC Tour), Seattle Public Theatre, Centerstage Theatre, Pork Filled Productions, SIS Productions, Live Girls! Theatre, 14/48 Projects, and Boston’s Wheelock Family Theatre. Mimi served as the Artistic Director of Youth Theatre Northwest for 26 years, from which she just retired last month. Aside from directing, Mimi has done cultural consulting for Seattle Children's Museum and Book-It Repertory Theatre. Mimi is the founder and the producing artistic director of Za Trans-Pacific Productions, which facilitates artist exchange and produces works of Japanese and Japanese American stories.
For more, go to mimikatano.com or ztpproductions.com.
交野みみ：シアトルを拠点に活動するバイリンガル／バイカルチュラルの舞台芸術家
グレゴリー賞では演出賞に2度ノミネートされ、2024年に演出を手がけた『Vietgone』はその年の最優秀作品賞を受賞した。演出実績としては、Seattle Shakespeare Company、5th Avenue Theatre（ETCツアー）、Seattle Public Theatre、Centerstage Theatre、Pork Filled Productions、SIS Productions、Live Girls! Theatre、14/48 Projects、ボストンのWheelock Family Theatreなどがある。
Youth Theatre Northwestでは26年間にわたり芸術監督を務め、先月その役職を退いた。演出業のほかにも、Seattle Children's MuseumやBook-It Repertory Theatreにて文化コンサルティングを行ってきた。
また、日系および日米の物語を取り上げる作品の制作や、アーティストの国際交流を促進する「Za Trans-Pacific Productions」を創設し、同団体の芸術監督を務めている。
Budokan Dojo started in 1968 and has been teaching Kodokan judo for the past 57 years. Located at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington, Budokan Dojo is one of the premier programs teaching judo three days per week. Budokan Dojo is very well known for training some of the highest caliber judo competitors in the Pacific Northwest.
Tankokai Seattle Association is a non-profit organization serving the Chado Urasenke practitioners and those interested in Chado in the greater Seattle area. Our mission is to promote better understanding and appreciation of the rich culture and spirits of Japan through the art of Chado, “the Way of Tea”, commonly known in English as “Japanese Tea Ceremony".
Chanoyu Seattle Omotesenke-Ryu
Our mission is introduce Japanese culture through Chanoyu in the world.
Ikebana International is a global non-profit cultural organization dedicated to promoting and appreciating Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. The Seattle Chapter, established on March 16, 1959, focuses on fostering and continuing the study of Ikebana through demonstrations and public exhibitions. If you're interested in attending our meetings, joining the chapter, or requesting an Ikebana demonstration for your organization, please contact us at info@iiseattlechapter19.org.
Kaoru Okumura is a Japanese Butoh performer based in Seattle, WA. A devotee of Butoh since the 1970s, she studied at the legendary Asbestos-Kan studio in Tokyo in 1993 with Akiko Motofuji, where she gave her first performance. Beginning her Seattle activities in 2008, she has performed at venues including the Seattle International Dance Festival and collaborated with Google Deep Dream on the innovative "9E2 Seattle" project, Theater X in Tokyo. She conducts annual Japan tours, connecting her Seattle-based practice with her homeland. Okumura brings a unique perspective to her art, balancing her Master of Science degree in mathematical logic with her career as a computer researcher, exploring how the body bridges the soul and the world.
KIMONO ART, based in Seattle and Kobe, is dedicated to sharing the rich heritage of traditional Japanese kimono culture. With our carefully curated kimono collection and expert dressing techniques, we provide personalized selections that respect each client's individuality and cultural background, helping celebrate life's significant moments, from Shichigosan (children's celebrations) to Coming of Age ceremonies and weddings.
We are a J-POP idol group based in Seattle WA founded by students at the University of Washington, inspired by the Japanese underground idol scene. We do sing and dance cover of J-POP idol songs and anime songs, and we also hold our own live performance and events at University of Washington.
Koto no WA is a koto ensemble evolved from a koto class at Nikkei Manor more than 15 years ago! After several years, we started playing traditional and contemporary songs for various local events, such as International Culture Festival at Meany Hall, culture nights at public and private schools, Japanese consulate parties, Hope to Hiroshima, Aki Matsuri (Japanese Fall Festival), mini concerts at public libraries, and seasonal events at Seattle Japanese Garden. Over the years we recruited more members to include beginners and intermediate players who have learned koto during childhood. The group has become smaller in recent years but still has a motive for sharing koto music and Japanese Culture with others.
Kotojazz is variations of traditional Japanese koto music and “nature-inspired” melodies with an infusion of western rhythm and jazz.
Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple is excited to host our 93rd annual Seattle Bon Odori, and can't wait to share the joys of Bon Odori and our temple with attendees of Japan Fair. Watch a live performance from Minyo Kai celebrating the upcoming Seattle Bon Odori festival!
Neal Colodner, Shakuhachi Player
Neal Colodner studied Japanese folk music with the Chikurei-kai in Yokohama in the 1980’s and 1990’s, learning shakuhachi, shamisen, taiko and song. Since then he has practiced mostly on his own, occasionally performing at Japanese culture festivals and collaborating with other musicians in the Seattle area. He is a teacher and program coodinator at Hospitality Educational Foundation, which brings Japanese students to Edmonds College in Lynnwood, Washington.
Our group is made up of approximately 30 active multi-generational performers from Olympia, Yelm, Tacoma, Seattle, Port Orchard, and Oak harbor areas. Members' ages range from toddlers to the elderly. Each of our members has their own unique background some from Okinawa and others local to Washington state. Our ancestors believed that the ocean was a bridge that connected all people and made peace with all nations. Our Okinawan drums send forth a wish of peace to each and every person with our sincere appreciation in harmony with one another. Okinawa, comprised of 150 islands, lies in the southernmost prefecture of Japan. The Okinawa islands sit in the Pacific Ocean and have a distinct culture of their own, much different from mainland Japan.
Cosplay Contest in partnership with Sakura-Con is back to Japan Fair! Registration will be at the convention's table in the lobby.
【𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓!】
Sunday, July 13
Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue
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Contest starts at 3 PM on the Main Stage
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Register at the Sakura-Con table in the lobby area by 2:30 PM!
Sakura-Con is an annual anime convention held in Seattle, Washington, organized by the Asia-Northwest Cultural Education Association (ANCEA). As one of the largest anime conventions in the Pacific Northwest, it attracts thousands of attendees each year. The event features a wide range of activities, including cosplay contests, panel discussions, gaming tournaments, screenings of anime and films, concerts, and vendor halls.
Sakura-Con celebrates Asian pop culture, including anime, manga, music, and fashion, providing a vibrant and immersive experience for fans.
Sakura-Con takes place next April 3rd - 5th 2026! We hope to see you there!
Seattle Kokon Taiko (SKT), Washington’s first performing taiko ensemble, is based in the local Japanese American community and has performed at schools, arts festivals, street fairs, community programs, corporate events and in concert throughout Washington and Oregon. SKT combines the ancient with the modern; our repertoire is a mix of traditional pieces and contemporary compositions. Through taiko, we hope to contribute to the development of a uniquely Japanese American art form –Japanese in origin, American in expression– that weaves threads of continuity between generations and builds bridges of understanding among people of all nationalities and walks of life.
Shintokan Dojo has been teaching classical martial traditions in Woodinville since 1995. Koryu Bujutsu are martial arts whose teachings and techniques have been passed down from teacher to student since the feudal period when the bushi, or warrior class, used them for survival in combat.
Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto Ryu is the oldest extant tradition and the curriculum includes iaijutsu (sword drawing), kenjutsu (sword art), bojutsu (staff art), and naginatajutsu (glaive art), among many other teachings that have survived for 600 years.
Shinto Muso Ryu is a 400 year old style that originates in Kyushu, in southern Japan. The curriculum's focus is on the use of the jo (stick) and sword, but also includes juttejutsu (truncheon art) and kusarigamajutsu (sickle and chain art).
Sound Singers is a non-auditioned mix-voice community choir. Our mission is to build friendship and share the Japanese culture with people from all backgrounds through music.
We have performed at local events, such as Sakura-Con, the Japan Fair, the Hiroshima memorial event at Green Lak in Seattle, and the Seattle Sings! which was organized by the Greater Seattle Choral Consortium. We have also visited local nursing homes to share the joy of singing with residents.
Tatsuya Nishina is a certified 4th-dan Kendama player, Level 2 instructor, and Health Kendama Instructor, affiliated with the Japan Kendama Association. He teaches and performs Kendama at elementary schools and senior facilities and is qualified to conduct official Kendama skill certifications. He has introduced Kendama and held certification tests on Japanese television. Nishina won the 2021 Shizuoka New Year Kendama Youth Division and served as a judge and recorder at the 2024 All Japan Kendama Championship. He trains under Eiichiro Okawa, a 6th-dan Kendama master and top-level judge for national tournaments.
日本けん玉協会会員
資格 けん玉道四段、二級けん玉指導員、健康けん玉指導員
小学校や高齢者施設でけん玉の指導、パフォーマンスを行う。
けん玉の技術がどのくらいか認定できる資格を持つ。
日本でけん玉の紹介と認定試験をテレビで行う。
新春けん玉道静岡県大会2021 ユースの部 優勝。
今年の5月25日開催の全日本けん玉道選手権で審判、記録係を担う。
師匠 大川英一郎氏 けん玉道六段、A級けん玉指導員（全国大会決勝の審判ができるレベル）
Created in 2010, the UV Performing Arts performance group offers dance performance opportunities to all ages of dancers to develop strong self-discipline, self-confidence, and professionalism through dance. This strong dance ensemble now delivers positive, high-energy dance pieces that embrace old and modern Japanese cultures. In addition to training daily, our dancers have been offered many opportunities to perform around the state and beyond. This includes performances at the Japanese Cultural & Community Center, the Cherry Blossom Festival at Seattle Center, Woodland Park Zoo, Japan Fair, Cascadia Art Museum, Walt Disney World, Asian Festival, and Stephanie Reese's concert at Benaroya Hall and Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.
The Washington State Japanese Speech Contest was organized entirely by WATJ volunteers, who secured sponsors, advised students, attended planning meetings, and served as judges. This year marked the second time WATJ hosted the contest, and once again, it was a great success. The Award Ceremony was held on the Fisher Pavilion Stage during the Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Culture Festival in April 2025. Founded in 1991, the Washington Association of Teachers of Japanese (WATJ) promotes high-quality Japanese language education in Washington. Our members include over 80 educators from preschool to university, in both public and private schools, as well as partner organization representatives.
Imagine drawing a long, elegant Japanese bow and releasing an arrow towards a distant target. That's Kyudo, said to be the oldest form of traditional Japanese martial arts. Through the Sengoku era, Kyudo was used as a weapon in battle until firearms changed warfare. It’s since evolved to an established discipline for cultivating both mind & body. As a discipline, Kyudo provides equal & fair footing for everyone, regardless of age/gender. Whether the arrow hits or misses the target is entirely the responsibility of the archer & depends on their skill & focus. Kyudo isn't just about shooting arrows; it's the culmination of correct posture, proper movements, & inner growth. When these elements come together, you see the true beauty of Kyudo. Our group is dedicated to the practice of this art.
Washington Shotokan Association is a traditional Shotokan Karate dojo serving the Eastside for over 50 years. We welcome students of all ages to our community as we work to continuously uphold the values of the Dojo Kun both on and off the dojo floor.
WP+ (Maho Shiomi & Kana Kitagawa)
Takarazuka Revue Alumni 宝塚歌劇OG音楽ユニット
Maho Shiomi
First performed in “The Rose of Versailles" in 1991. In 2004 she left Takarazuka Revue and went to the US, and after returning to Japan, performed in the 2008 and 2010 Japanese versions of the musical “Rent”. She is also a master dancer of the Hanayagi school of Japanese classical dance. She is active in various fields including stage, concerts, and acting instruction.
Kana Kitagawa
First performed in 2006 in Takarazuka
After leaving the group, he started his music career as a Keyboard Player.
While playing synthesizer in Takarazuka Revue Orchestra, she participated as Keyboard Player in “ZARD Premium Acoustic Live” in 2021, 2022, 2023
Wrote lyrics/composed/arranged music for “Wild Flapjacks+”.
汐美真帆 しおみまほ
元宝塚歌劇団77期生
月組「ベルサイユのばら～オスカル編」で初舞台。1999年にはNHK紅白歌合戦の紅組応援団として当時のトップスターらと共に出演。2004年宝塚歌劇団を退団後に渡米し、帰国後の2008年、2010年とミュージカル『レント』の日本版に出演。花柳流日本舞踊の名取でもある。舞台、コンサートの他、各指導など様々なフィールドで活躍中。
北川加奈 きたがわかな
元宝塚歌劇団92期生
退団後はKeyboard Playerとして音楽活動を開始。
宝塚歌劇団オーケストラでシンセサイザーを担当する傍ら、
2021年『ZARD Premium Acoustic Live』
2022年はZARDのデビュー30周年を記念したライブイベント『ZARD “What a beautiful memory ～軌跡～”』にKeyboard Playerとして参加..
今年6月にもZARD 35周年記念ライブコンサートで全国ツアーに参加予定
『テレビ東京音楽祭2022夏』にZARDバンドメンバーとして出演
Wild Flatjackes+の作詞/作曲/編曲を担当
