Bottom center: Photo by Kim Nagashima | Bottom right: Photo & kimono by Toshiko Okawa
Join us in celebrating the 5th anniversary of JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles on Sunday, August 27. With the concept of “What Japan Can Bring to the World's Music Scene,” we will feature a music performance that bridges Japanese and American cultures. We invite you to experience the vibrant atmosphere of a Japanese festival by listening to musical performances, and trying authentic Japanese food and drinks.
HEAR JAPAN
On the main stage, the renowned Japanese musician MIYAVI will be accompanied by taiko drums, tsugaru shamisen, and drums, symbolizing the harmonious fusion between Japanese and Western musical elements. Enjoy the mesmerizing and culturally rich musical experience.
SAVOR JAPAN
In the “Savor Japan” zone, a variety of food and beverage booths will be available. Indulge in popular Japanese street and festival foods, try Japanese teas, sweets and desserts, and enjoy Japanese beer and sake.
Join us for a memorable experience that celebrates cultural exchange, unity, and the power of music to bring people together.
Program
Pre-Event
1:00 PM | Food & Beverage Station Opens
5th Anniversary Event
4:00 PM | DJ Opening Act
(Food & Beverage Station remains open)5:00 PM | Opening Remarks
5:10 PM | Asano Taiko’s Drumming Performance
5:30 PM | Mike Penny’s Tsugaru Shamisen Performance
(3-string Japanese instrument)5:45 PM | YOYOKA Performance
6:30 PM | Special Remarks
6:40 PM | MIYAVI Performance
7:30 PM | Closing Remarks
*Above schedule is subject to change.
Emcee
Helen H. Ota
Helen H. Ota has been a performing member with the Grateful Crane Ensemble for nearly 20 years. She has traveled with the group to Tohoku, Japan for its Goodwill Tours in 2016 and 2018, and will be returning for another tour this October. She recently joined Asian Persuasian, a five-member Asian American vocal harmony group and enjoys singing classic songs from the 50s, 60s, and 70s while learning about the group’s nearly 50-year history from its two original members. Helen is also known for her comedic performances with ...
Live Performances by
MIYAVI
MIYAVI is a musician, actor, and philanthropist, bridging cultures across the globe with his music and message. His unique style of guitar playing has taken him on 9 world tours in over 30 countries. Fans refer to MIYAVI as the “Samurai Guitarist.” He has released 13 studio albums. As an actor, MIYAVI made his big screen debut in the Oscar nominated film Unbroken. He has since appeared in the 2017 blockbuster Kong:Skull Island and the live-action adaptation of the popular manga Bleach. His recent filmography includes the films Stray (2019) and Maleficent 2 (2020).
Asano Taiko U.S.
Asano Taiko U.S. is a full-service taiko (Japanese drum) facility located in Torrance, CA offering a walk-in store, on-site taiko maintenance and repair, and hands-on taiko classes.
The store also features instruments by American maker, Kato Taiko. On-site repair services provide North American taiko groups with professional maintenance and taiko skinning.
YOYOKA
Born in Hokkaido, Japan, 13-year old drummer sensation YOYOKA has been playing the drums since she was one. She gained international attention at the tender age of 8, when she entered the 2018 Hit Like a Girl drum contest with a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times” and became its youngest weekly champion. She is the youngest drummer in history to be selected as one of the “World’s Top 500 Drummers” and has since performed with world renowned drummers and artists including Fall Out Boy and Cyndi Lauper and has appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show twice.
Mike Penny
Mike Penny is an award-winning tsugaru shamisen performer and composer from Los Angeles, CA. He first studied shamisen from 2004-2005 in Santa Cruz, CA with Kevin Kmetz, and later received the Japan Foundation’s Uchida Fellowship which allowed him to study in Tokyo with the highly respected tsugaru shamisen master Toyoaki Fukushi in 2007-2008. Penny has given hundreds of public performances and workshops throughout Japan and the US, both as a solo artist as well as a member of various ensembles.
Tsugu Itagaki (DJ)
Tsugu Itagaki is a Japanese artist born and raised in Kumamoto, Japan.
Tsugu began his Djing career in the early 2000s. Primarily influenced by American musical genres such as Soul, Jazz and Hip-Hop he decided to make the move to Los Angeles in the year 2007 to expand his Djing Career. Being a native of Japan, he has taken notice of the recent rise in popularity and demand for Japanese City Pop music. Music, Tsugu grew up listening to.