Japanese Taiko drumming performance & school at Seattle & Bellevue,WA
We extend our thoughts and prayers to those in the area affected by the recent catastrophes in the Tohoku and Kanto regions.
We hope for the safety and shelter to everyone there – an area that our principal, Ringtaro Tateishi, visited to perform during his days in Ondekoza,
and in Miyagi Prefecture, where the birth place of current head of Ondekoza, Mr. Seizan Matsuda.
Here in the US, we watch the events unfold on TV, day after day, and seeing this amount of damage with the repeating earthquakes,
we feel the need to do something to support to the disaster areas.
Even over here in Seattle, even just by playing taiko, isn’t there something we can do?
2 months after the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995, Ringtaro visited the area with Ondekoza and gave a taiko performance
that they hoped would breathe strength and courage back in to the people affected there.
We know that there are a lot of things that we should be doing right now,
such as ensuring food, water and fuel and rebuilding the area, but this will be a long battle.
At this point, we are considering starting a fundraiser to send them some encouraging music, and to help rebuild these places
that could use a little music, once the urgency of this disaster dissipates a little.
The gradually-increasing scope of the first step is to ensure their standard of living.
We are considering holding a benefit concert to collect donations for the cause of fixing the damage done in so much of Japan.
We have been in touch with Mr. Matsuda, who is in the area, and we plan to think about what we can do here in Seattle and let you know as soon as possible.
We deeply appreciate ; The world is with Japan.
Let’s do something to fix the Japan that we know and love – its beautiful nature and culture need your/our help.
We hope we can count on your cooperation and support during this crisis.
Ringtaro Tateishi Asako Tateishi
COPYRIGHT(C) 2009 THE SCHOOL OF TAIKO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Ringtaro Tateishi is a Performer, Composer and Arranger who is a former member of ONDEKOZA
and the founder of “The School of TAIKO”: Performing Team & School, based in Seattle.
He began playing Taiko at the age of 6 with the group Osuwa Taiko in Japan.
From 1989 to 1999, he joined the Ondekoza: world renowned taiko group. As the artistic director of the group, he visited over 26 countries and held over 1,000 performances at famous locations like the Carnegie Hall, Fox Theatre,Suntory Hall(Tokyo),Osaka Festival Hall(Osaka) and more. He still continues to join them. Recently he joined their "South Africa Tour" with "Hiromitsu Agatsuma" who is the famous Tsugaru shamisen Player.
2002 to 2009, he was regular performer at Walt Disney World / EPCOT in Florida as a member of Matsuriza. In the time, he composed over 10 Taiko songs, include “Mitsu-Uchi(Lantana).
Some of the highlight performances of his career : he performed with violinist “Midori Goto” , Japanese famous pops group “Southern All Stars”, also with “Joe Hisaishi”, who is composer of movie “Totoro” at Nagano Paralympics.
In the media, Ringtaro has appeared on the "Regis and Kathie Lee Show" , CM film of "Discovery Channel" and more.
You can see his work in 7 CDs and 3 DVDs with Ondekoza and two CDs and DVDs of Matsuriza.
Asako Tateishi is Taiko, Tsugaru-Shamisen player and instructor, living in Seattle. Also she is co-founder of “The School of TAIKO”
She used to perform at EPCOT / Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida and various events with Matsuriza. As a Tsugaru- Shamisen player, she performed at “35th Anniversary International Taiko Festival“(SF), ”NASA launch party”(FL ) ”Hollywood Rose Theater”(LA), “ Anime Cons “(Miami), guest player of Fushu Daiko(Miami)and more.
In the media, she appeared at CM film of "Discovery Channel". You can see her at CD/DVD: RANTANA ,TOYO released by Matsuriza
Eri Usui-Villareal (Artistic Director / Choreographer / Performer / Director and Co. Founder of ArtRise Dance) began studying Hanayagi Style Japanese Traditional Dance at six years old. She also studied various dance style such as Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Tap in both Japan and USA. She was an assistant artistic director and a dancer for six years with Marcy Simon and Dancers in New York City. . Her teaching and choreography style is influenced by her professional training with Paul Taylor, David Parsons, Ron Brown, Fred Benjamin and Suzi Taylor. She enjoys teaching and choreographing all ages at ArtRise Dance and Sacajawea Elementary School. She recently choreographed Japanese Traditional Folk Dance with children ages 5 to 12 at Bryant Elementary School in Seattle. She continues to evolve artistically by currently studying Taiko Drumming by School of Taiko and Djembe Drum. For more info: www.arterisedance.com
ArtRise Dance
Astre Kay
Astre Kay (Artistic Director / Choreographer / Performer / Director and Co. Founder of ArtRise Dance) began performing and choreographing from young age, she starred and assisted in musical adaptions in her hometown in CA. She performed with ‘Samba!’ an Afro-Brazilian dance group in San Francisco. After moving to NYC, she became a 2002 graduate of the Alvin Ailey American Dance School. Her studies included intensive ballet and modern training in techniques such as Horton style, Graham Style, Dunham and West African. She traveled NY performing works of Earl Mosley, Fred Benjamin and other choreographers. After moving to Seattle she earned Yoga Teacher Certification at Hatha Yoga Center. Along with gaining a wealth of teaching experience in the past 6 years, she instructed kids of all ages at Alpha Martial Arts where she also earned her 1st degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. She continues to teach, choreograph and perform with various dance companies around Seattle including ArtRise Dance while pursuing her love of drum and costume design. For more info: www.artrisedance.com
Bellevue Children's Music
Shizuko Komeya
Shizuko Komeya (Artistic Director / Violin / Director of Bellevue Children’s Music) began taking Suzuki Violin at three years old. At age 10, she joined an advanced music program affiliated with Toho Gakuen School of Music. After graduating from Toho High School and University, she came to U.S to study at the School of Music, Indiana University Bloomington on a full scholarship. While there, she taught children at the university’s affiliated violin program as an assistant for Professor Mimi Zweig. She earned a diploma in performance there. She studied under Toshiya Eto and Franco Gulli. Award: Japan Modern Music Competition Award. For more info: www.bellcmusic.com
Bellevue Children's Music
Akiko Iguchi
Akiko Iguchi (Piano) has been an active performer both as a soloist and a collaborative pianist in the Seattle area since 2005. A native of Yokohama, Japan, she began her piano studies at the age of five. She has earned both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Indiana University, and holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Washington. She has studied piano with Reitei Yoh, Jean-Louis Haguenauer, Edmond Battersby, and Craig Sheppard. She has won the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association Competition (1989), and Indiana University Concerto Competition (2002). She has attended several summer festivals including Courchevel International Music festival, and the Leipzig International Summer Festival. As a collaborative artist, Ms. Iguchi was invited to perform at the Seattle University Arts Program Inauguration Chamber Recital with Seattle University Faculty members in 2008. In addition to her performance career and private piano studio, she is the assistant director of Bellevue Children’s Music founded in 2009. For more info: www.bellcmusic.com
Northwest Wushu
Tian Yuan Li
Born in the People’s Republic of China, Tian Yuan Li began her Wushu/Kung Fu training at the age of 8. In 1982 scouts from the Shanxi Province Sports School, one of China’s most respected sports schools which accepts less than 1 in 1000 applicants, discovered Tian’s talent and quickly recruited her as a student.
In recognition of her exceptional skill, dedication and ability, she was later accepted as a member of the Shanxi Province Wushu Team, which was at the time coached by world renowned Wushu teacher Zhang Ling Mei. As a member of the Shanxi Wushu Team from 1984-1993 Tian held several tittles:
In 1989 the Chinese government recognized Tian with the tile of ‘Wu Ying Ji’, a title that has been given to very few people and represents the highest level of achievement and mastery in the arts of Wushu. Two years later Li graduated from the Beijing Sports University, China’s most prestigious sports school which boasts such famous graduates as Jet Li. In 1994 Tain retired from competition and soon after was invited to the Chinese Wushu Association in Yokohama, Japan where she taught Tai Chi and Wushu until 2001.
During her time in Japan she was also recruited by Sony Playstation and Sega Dreamcast as a motion capture character model for the hit game ‘Soul Calibur'. Tian has dedicated her life to the learning and teaching of Taiji and Wushu. www.northwestwushu.com
Thank you for doanted for Baked Sale & Raffle & Silent Auction
Thank you for your support in the notification of our event.
Thank you for your Donation for our Raffle & Silent Auction
Thank you for your supporting for posting our posters on!
APLUS
Amazon
American Airlines
Arctic Storm
Bellevue Cars
Bellevue College
Bellevue High School
Bellevue Nursary
Bryant Elementary School
Bush Garden
Cafe Javasti
Cedar park Christian school (Bothell campus)
Central Community College
Cloud City Coffee
Crossroads Mall Community Wall
Dozo Cafe
E & E Foods
Eastgate Elementary School
Edmond Community College
Enatail Elementary School
Environment and Adventure School
Flying Lab Software
Fuji Bakary / Bellevue
Fuji Teriyaki
Fumie's Gold
General International
Ginza Restaurant
Highline Community college
Highland Christian school
Hiroki
Hiroshi
Hyogo Business and Cultural Center
I Love Sushi on Lake Bellevue
Izumi restaurant
JCCCW
Kiku Sushi
Kukki Tae Kwon Do
Learning Center
Learning Park
Library Lake Hill
Marinepolis Sushi Land
Medina Elementary School
Megumi Preschool
Microsoft Redmond Campus
Microsoft Sammamish Campus
Music Works Northwest
Newport Hills Library
Nintendo
Ocean Beauty
Open Window School
Pacific Harvest
Peace Winds America
QFC
QFC (new castle)
Rikki Rikki
RMI
Roosevelt High School
Safe Way
Safe way (new castle)
Salon EN
Sanwa Trading
Seabell bakery
Seattle Buddist Charch
Seattle Japanese School
Shoreline Community College
Snappy Dragon
Southgate Korean Grocery store
Starbucks
Starbucks northgate
Studio Nine Health & Fitness
Suginoko Preschool
Tofu 101
Tokyodo Salon
Tuna House
Tutta Bella Issaquah
University of Washington (Department of Asian Languages and Literatures)
University of Washington / Central Tower
Uwajimaya
Video Hop
Wellness One
Whole Foods Market
Wing Luke Asian Museum
Items for Raffle
Items for Silent Auction
Supported by
Thank you for coming and supporting Japan with us!
Audiences: About 250
Raised donation: $4,207.77
Seattle Miyagi Kai
Kuniko Takamura
Kuniko Takamura is Director for The Seattle Miyagi-Kai Koto Association was established in 1957. She is an immediate pupil of Michio Miyagi who is very famous because the “Haru no Umi” was composed. That’s mean it is very valuable, precious existence she is.
Her school is a branch of the Tokyo Miyagi-Kai founded by the famous koto virtuoso Miyagi Michio to promote traditional and modern Japanese koto and sangen (a 3 stringed banjo-like instrument) music.
Members of the Seattle Miyagi-Kai have been active performing music in the Northwest area, including cultural and community events.
Seattle Miyagi Kai
Marcia Takamura
Marcia Takamura is a second generation koto master who learned the art from her mother, Kuniko Takamura, Director of the Seattle Miyagi Kai Association, and through intensive studies with Kiyoko Miyagi, a living national treasure, in Tokyo. Marcia is a certified teacher of the Miyagi School and has performed throughout the Northwest. She is a regular performer with Aono Jikken Ensemble and One World Taiko.
