Amaterasu Za presents OKUNI: The Woman Who Created Kabuki, written, directed, and choreographed by Ako Dachs. This show will be performed in Japanese with subtitles and thematic narrations in English. Preview performances of OKUNI began on November 2, in advance of its opening night on November 14, and the show will run through November 23 at Theatre Row.

Combining authentic dance, live music, dialogue, and narration, OKUNI tells the real-life story of a young woman who, in 1603, defied societal norms and gender roles to create Kabuki, one of Japan’s most iconic art forms. Performing on the riverbanks of Kyoto, Okuni and her all-female troupe captivated audiences by portraying both men and women with flamboyant costumes and swaggering style. Her bold, satirical performances quickly gained popularity, earning her the title “Best in the World” from the government. However, as imitators and concerns about morality grew, women were banned from performing Kabuki, and the tradition became an all-male domain—a practice that continues today. Presented by the bilingual Japanese-English theater company Amaterasu Za, OKUNI brings to life the extraordinary journey of the woman who broke barriers and founded a theatrical tradition that has endured for more than 400 years.

“OKUNI is a story of defiance, creativity, and the power of female empowerment, says Ako Dachs. “I was inspired to write this play because, even today, women are often marginalized in spaces they have helped to build. Okuni’s journey is a reminder that women’s contributions to culture, art, and society aren’t new. Through this production, we celebrate not only Okuni’s legacy but the strength of women everywhere who continue to push boundaries and redefine what is possible."

*OKUNI* cast (l to r): Ako, Yasushi Kimura, Fumi Tanakadate

Conceived by and starring Japanese-born, NY-based actress Ako*, who was recently seen in FX/Hulu's Emmy Award-winning series Shogun, OKUNI also features well-known Tokyo-based actor Yasushi Kimura and musician Fumi Tanakadate. The design team includes lighting design by Aaron Bowersox, set design by Josh Dachs, projection design by Cinthia Chen, sound design by Chad Raines, costume design by Ako Dachs, and wig design by Mitsuteru Okuyama. Original music composition is by Fumi Tanakadate and Ako Dachs. Production stage manager is Madeleine Blossom*, assistant stage manager is Sabrina Morabito*, and Kanako Morita is the assistant producer.

OKUNI runs 90 minutes with no intermission and will play Tuesday through Friday at 7:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. For more information, please visit AmaterasuZa’s website; to purchase tickets, please visit www.bfany.org.

Full Schedule

Tuesday, November 12 at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. (Opening Night – SOLD OUT)
Friday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 16 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 17 at 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, November 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 23 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

*Actors Equity Association

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Susan McCormac 10/3/24 Susan McCormac 10/3/24

ALL-DAY JAPANESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL

FUN FEST JAPAN

Sunday, October 6 from noon until 4:00 p.m.

Corlears Hook Park – 479 Cherry Street

Admission: Free

Presented by The Japanese Folk Dance Institute of New York (JFDINY), FUN FEST JAPAN celebrates Japan and New York with an all-day Japanese cultural festival, featuring traditional performing arts and cultural activities for the entire family. Head to Corlears Hook Park in the Lower East Side to enjoy performances by JFDINY’s own Minbuza (Japanese Folk Dance), Samurai Sword Soul (Traditional Sword Fighting), and Taiko Masala (Taiko Drumming). In the activities area, experienced teachers will lead children in a variety of engaging Japanese arts and crafts such as origami, calligraphy, kendama, and kimono dressing. The finale of the day will be the Bon Odori, a traditional Japanese summer event where everyone joins in and dances together!

For more information about FUN FEST JAPAN and The Japanese Folk Dance Institute of New York, please visit their website and follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

FUN FEST JAPAN is made possible in part with funds from Creative Engagement, a regrant program supported by The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Private support is provided by City Parks Foundation and Partnerships for Parks through the NYC Green Fund.

Susan McCormac 9/20/24 Susan McCormac 9/20/24

SACHIYO ITO & COMPANY OFFERING FREE LESSON IN JAPANESE DANCE

Free Trial Japanese Dance Lesson with Sachiyo Ito and Company

Saturday, September 28 from Noon until 1:00 p.m.

Sachiyo Ito and Company Studio – 405 W. 23rd Street at 9th Avenue

Admission: Free

Sachiyo Ito and Company at the 2024 Japan Parade. Photo by Jon Jung.

Japanese traditional dancer, instructor, and choreographer Sachiyo Ito is opening her Chelsea studio for a free trial lesson on Saturday, September 28!

What You’ll Learn

Basic movements and gestures of Japanese dance
How to use the dance fan (fan will be provided)
Kabuki dance repertory

What To Bring

Cotton socks
Yukata and obi (if you have them)

To register, please send an email to sachiyoitoandcompany@gmail.com. The deadline to register is Thursday, September 26.

Come dressed in your yukata or allow yourself enough time to get dressed at the studio before the lesson is scheduled to begin. If you need a yukata and/or an obi, please inform Sachiyo Ito and Company when you register.

To those experienced in stage performances, you will have an opportunity to join Sachiyo Ito and Company for 2025 spring performances such as cherry blossom festivals. Learn more about Sachiyo Ito and Company at dancejapan.com.

Enjoy the beauty and grace of Japanese dance!

Sachiyo Ito is blogging her memoir on JapanCulture•NYC! Please click here to read each chapter.

Susan McCormac 1/4/24 Susan McCormac 1/4/24

Sachiyo Ito's Memoir to Appear on JapanCulture•NYC

JapanCulture•NYC is pleased to announce that renowned dancer, dance educator, and choreographer Sachiyo Ito will serialize her memoir on this website. Beginning Thursday, January 11, we will present one chapter each month, revealing a different aspect of her early life in Tokyo and career in New York City in each installment.

Ito Sensei offers of a profound exploration of her experience of dedicating herself to traditional Japanese dance at an early age, arriving in New York City during the tumultuous ‘70s, and making a successful career in the arts. Each chapter offers a glimpse into the complexities that shaped her journey.

The memoir is an invitation to delve into the layers of a creative life and career that has spanned more than 50 years. As a work in progress, it is also an invitation for you to offer your feedback. Your insights will contribute to the evolution of this extraordinary work.

Join us on Thursday, January 11, as we begin this literary examination of not only Ito Sensei’s life, but of how New York City’s culture evolved over the decades and what sacrifices one must make to achieve a thriving career in the arts.

Susan McCormac 8/30/23 Susan McCormac 8/30/23

THE FIRST SHOWCASE OF A.T. DANCE COMPANY

A.T. Dance Company

Sunday, September 3 at 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Robert Moss Theater at 440 Studios – 440 Lafayette Street, #3 (between Astor Place and E. 4th Street)

Admission: $34.12 (includes fees)

Led by artistic director Aya Takeno, A.T. Dance Company presents its first showcase. The stunning production is described as “a fusion of cultures and styles that will leave you breathless!” The show is a unique and special opportunity to experience the beauty of dance from two different countries, Japan and the US, and to explore the themes of culture, identity, and the human spirit.

Act I is a fusion of Japanese traditional music and dance. Be transported to another world as you watch the dancers move to the sound of taiko. In the second act, the audience will witness the collaboration of singers and dancers as they create a seamless blend of music and movement that will leave you wanting more.

To purchase tickets, please visit Aya Takeno’s Eventbrite page.

Performers

Artistic Director
Aya Takeno

Dancers
Aya Takeno
Maiko Harada
Mayu Yamashita
Tsubasa Nishioka
Kisara Nonaka
Yuliya Chitose
Sara Horiuchi

Singers
Aya Nakamura
Showji Kumamoto

About A.T. Dance Company

Aya Takeno established A.T. Dance Company with the goal of creating a supportive environment for dancers of all levels. As a professional dancer herself, she struggled with finding where and how to express her joy, passion, and love of dance. In the future, Takeno wants her dance company to be both artistic and sustainable, providing dancers with the opportunity to pursue their passion for dance while also supporting themselves financially. To Takeno, dance can be a powerful tool for personal transformation. For more information, please visit A.T. Dance Company’s website.

Susan McCormac 8/4/23 Susan McCormac 8/4/23

Sachiyo Ito & Company to Perform at Hudson River Museum

Hudson River Museum Presents: Japanese Dance by Sachiyo Ito & Company

Sunday, August 6 at 2:00 p.m.

Hudson River Museum – 511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers

Admission: Free with general admission ($13 | $9 Seniors, Veterans, and Students | $8 Children ages 3-18 | Free to Museum members)

In this performance inspired by Kengo Kito: Unity on the Hudson, Sachiyo Ito & Company presents classical dances that express reverence for nature. Sachiyo Ito will demonstrate classical dance form and gestures and perform solo contemporary works, “To the Water” and “Memories,” which she choreographed to reflect water, nature, and humanity, accompanied by a poetry reading. Followed by Q&A with the performers.

About Sachiyo Ito & Company

Sachiyo Ito & Company is known for performing and teaching classical dance forms, including Kabuki, Noh, Okinawan Court, and Jiuta-mai, and for presenting contemporary works choreographed by Sachiyo Ito, which preserve the aesthetics of traditional Japanese dance. The Company has performed at Japan Society, Asia Society, and Lincoln Center, among other venues. For more information, please visit dancejapan.com.

About Kengo Kito: Unity on the Hudson

Using more than 2,100 colorful hula hoops, Kengo Kito conceives a monumental, site-specific work symbolizing humanity’s interconnectedness and our relationship with the Hudson River. Unity on the Hudson is the inaugural exhibition of the Hudson River Museum’s transformational new West Wing galleries, which include a cantilevered glass overlook with dramatic, three-sided panoramic views of the Hudson River and the majestic Palisades.

Unity on the Hudson creates an uplifting and memorable space in which to reflect on community and collective action, particularly ongoing efforts to protect the Hudson River ecosystem. Kito notes, “The process of transformation of consciousness through connection is an element that is crucial in the effort to improve the condition surrounding the River . . . environmental issues are the responsibility of not just one singular person but of the community as a whole.”

The exhibition, offered in English, Japanese, and Spanish, includes an interactive area where visitors are invited to contribute their personal stories about interconnectedness and unity.

The artist envisions an immersive experience where visitors walk around and under the multicolored intersecting circles as a metaphor for our bonds with each other and with nature. Curving lines, created by deconstructing and reconnecting different hoops, flow throughout the galleries like water, heightening our awareness from one point, ourselves, to something larger—expansive, yet fluid and intertwined.

The exhibition runs through Sunday, September 24. To learn more, please visit Hudson River Museum’s website.

About Kengo Kito

Kengo Kito received a BFA from Nagoya University of Fine Arts and Music in 2001 and completed his postgraduate studies at Kyoto City University of Fine Arts and Music in 2003. In addition to his work as an artist, he is currently Associate Professor at Kyoto University of Art and Design.

Unity on the Hudson is a triumphant return to New York for Kito, who had a residency and a dynamic show at the Brooklyn campus of Long Island University in 2009. The artist first showed a hula hoop installation in 2021 at Japan House, Los Angeles; this is the first time one of his hula hoop environments has been exhibited on the East Coast.

Susan McCormac 6/12/23 Susan McCormac 6/12/23

The Festival of Japan: Drums + Dance

The Festival of Japan: Drums + Dance
Presented by The Japanese Folk Dance Institute of New York

Saturday, June 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 18 at 2:00 p.m.

Abrons Arts Center Playhouse Theater – 466 Grand Street (between Pitt and Willett Streets)

Admission: $25 ($30 Door) | $20 Seniors | $15 Students

The Japanese Folk Dance Institute of New York celebrates its 30th anniversary with The Festival of Japan: Drums + Dance, a collaborative dance performance between JFDINY’s own dance ensemble Minbuza, accompanied by world renowned taiko ensemble Sukeroku Taiko from Japan.

Powerful taiko performances will be weaved throughout a full repertoire of more than one thousand years of folk dance, including “Tsugaru Aiya Bushi” (umbrella and fan dance from Aomori) and “Onikenbai” (demon-masked sword dance from Iwate that is on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List).

Tsugaru Shamisen Singer/Player Yuzu Natsumi will also join as a special musical guest.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit JFDINY’s website.

Susan McCormac 5/5/23 Susan McCormac 5/5/23

JAPAN SOCIETY’S KODOMO NO HI

Children's Day: Kodomo no Hi

Sunday, May 7
Session 1: 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Session 2: 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Japan Society – 333 E. 47th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues)

Admission: $15 | $10 Japan Society members | Free children ages 2 and under and Cool Culture members

Carp streamers flying can only mean one thing: Children’s Day is here!

Share the joy of childhood as Japan Society celebrates Japan’s national holiday packed with fun for the whole family. Every child is a star as they pose with life-sized samurai armor displays and take to the stage in a popular sword-fighting workshop led by Kyo Kasumi from TATE Hatoryu NY. Families will also be captivated by the beauty of traditional Japanese dance through an enchanting performance by Sachiyo Ito & Company.

Children can design their own koinobori carp streamer and wearable origami kabuto helmet. The excitement doesn’t end when you leave: There will be take-home craft kits for you to continue the fun at home!

For more information and to register, please visit Japan Society’s website.

Looking to deepen your understanding and appreciation of Japanese culture? Look no further than JapanCulture•NYC's membership program!
As a member, you'll gain access to exclusive content about events, workshops, and resources that will immerse you in the fascinating world of Japanese art, cuisine, history, and more. Whether you're a seasoned Japanophile or just beginning to explore this rich cultural tradition, our membership program offers something for everyone. From crafting classes to kimono-wearing workshops, from sake tastings to film screenings, you'll discover new facets of Japanese culture and connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion.
So why wait? Sign up for our membership program today!

Susan McCormac 4/19/23 Susan McCormac 4/19/23

Sakura

Sakura

Saturday, April 22 at 6:00 p.m.

Goldish – 71 Murray Street (between W. Broadway and Greenwich Street)

Admission: $150

Ninja Ballet returns to New York City to grace the intimate space at Goldish, after a whirlwind tour in Mexico. In Sakura, artistic director Shoko Tamai hosts an Earth Day dance theatre celebration of the spring season, along with a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Light refreshments will be served.

To purchase tickets, please visit Shoko Tamai’s Eventbrite page.

Performing Artists

Choreography — Shoko Tamai
Guest Dancer — Elisa Toro Franky
Shakuhachi — Adam Robinson
Drum (Music Arrangement) — Mal Stein
Artwork — Pedro Cuni
Tea Master — Yoshitsugu Nagano

About Ninja Ballet

Established 2017, Ninja Ballet is a fusion Eastern and Western dance methodology, practice, and performance. The company seeks to stimulate cross-cultural learning and environmental awareness through dance, music, and visual arts, while inspiring a new generation of enlightened movement artists. For more information, please visit their website.

Susan McCormac 4/17/23 Susan McCormac 4/17/23

Akiko tokuoka and the japanese aesthetics of voguing

Akiko Tokuoka was inspired by a non-Japanese person who was inspired by Japan.

Although the New York-based dancer was born and raised in Kyoto—a popular tourist destination and Japan’s cultural hub—she had no formal training in Japan’s traditional arts, such as tea ceremony, calligraphy, and Nihon buyo, traditional Japanese dance.

“I was not familiar with it at all,” she says.

She admits that her home country’s time-honored traditions have always been part of her DNA. But she had to come to New York before she could fully appreciate them.

Early Influences

“I loved Black culture, Black music, hip-hop when I was young,” she says. “When I was 16 years old, I started that kind of dance first.”

Iconic Japanese pop star Namie Amuro, to whom Tokuoka refers as “the Japanese Beyoncé,” was her biggest influence.

“She could really sing and dance well. And I wanted to be like her; that’s the reason I started dancing.”

Tokuoka came to New York to pursue a career in contemporary dance and to learn English. The longer she stayed in New York, however, the more she felt an interest in her country’s traditions awaken within her.

“I realized that I have to learn traditional Japanese things. I have to learn traditional Japanese dance,” she says. “This helped expand my career and my philosophy. I started studying under [acclaimed dancer/choreographer] Sachiyo Ito Sensei in 2010 and learned from her for four or five years.”

However, she never abandoned her original goal of performing in other genres, finding a balance between both worlds.

Scene from WAKASHU by Akiko Tokuoka (far right). Photo by John Mazlish.

Come On, Vogue

Tokuoka went to New York City night clubs, sometimes doing dance battles. She eventually segued from hip-hop to house music, which is characterized by faster beats and more steps. There, she discovered voguing, the Black and Latinx communities’ stylized form of dance that grew out of the LGBTQ ballrooms of Harlem and rose to prominence with Madonna and the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning.

Almost two decades after the documentary put the spotlight on voguing, Tokuoka found a community among the “houses” that keep the vibrant voguing traditions alive. Going to clubs every week, Tokuoka gradually became familiar with the dancers as well as the dances. She was invited to audition to become a member of the House of Ninja more than 13 years ago, and she’s been a member ever since.

“I really love how they describe Japan through their movements,” says Tokuoka of her House of Ninja partners. “It expands my inspiration, too.”

The “mother” of the House of Ninja, the late Willi Ninja, was inspired by Japan. Known as the godfather of voguing, Willi Ninja is credited with perfecting the dance’s clean lines and poses. He appeared in Paris Is Burning, saying that he wants to take voguing to Japan and have it accepted there.

they’re not as different as you’d think

To the uninitiated, Nihon buyo and vogue may seem like two disparate dance forms. Tokuoka disagrees; she finds many similarities between them.

“To dance with kimono is a totally different thing compared to other dance styles because there is a limitation,” Tokuoka explains.

Because the kimono restricts movement of the legs, Tokuoka says traditional Japanese dancers use their hands a lot and emphasize the angles of the neck and torso.

“That part is voguing dance,” she says. “Voguing dance and dancing in Japanese kimono really match. . . Part of voguing dance is we [go from] pose to pose to pose. Also, when we perform Japanese cultural dance, we look like we’re posing for pictures.”

the birth of wakashu

Tokuoka brought those similarities to life with her show Wakashu: Timeless Beauty of the Third Gender, which premiered at The Secret Theatre in Woodside, Queens, and ran for two nights in mid-November 2022.

With Wakashu, Tokuoka seamlessly blended delicate elements of Japanese culture and energetic voguing to a fluid, beautiful, and expressive performance. She and her fellow dancers—her House of Ninja collaborators Javier Madrid (aka ICONIC Javier Ninja) and John-Deric Mitchell (aka Star Ninja)—wore kimono and hakama, gestured with Japanese fans, performed a tea ceremony, and wistfully watched cherry blossoms in full bloom until their petals scattered to the ground. All the while, they danced to koto and shamisen music, overlaid with house beats, moving powerfully across the stage, striking poses, and blurring the lines between a contemporary dance form and one that’s hundreds of years old.

“I did my best to create a show that has Japanese elements,” says Tokuoka, although she also says she did not “consciously combine” Nihon buyo with voguing. She forms the idea of the show first, and “the choreography comes naturally.”

From concept to stage, Tokuoka spent only three months developing Wakashu. She received a grant from the Queens Council on the Arts in late June and had to present her work before the end of the year. Creating a new work from the beginning, securing a venue, holding rehearsals, and travelling to Japan to attend a wedding after the premiere made for a pressure-packed second half of 2022. But bringing together people who know her as a traditional Japanese dancer and those from her voguing world made it worthwhile.

Teaching japanese people about japanese traditions

“This is my mission. Every time I go back to Japan, they forget [Japanese traditions]. People in Japan don’t notice [Japanese traditions] at all . . . They are chasing other countries’ culture all the time. They love Hollywood movies; they love K-pop. They’re chasing other stuff—that’s what I see—instead of rooting themselves in what they already have.”

Wakashu embodies her mission of reminding her fellow countrymen of Japan’s ancient aesthetics, even with contemporary twists and turns thrown in.

The cast of WAKASHU bows to the diverse crowd

more on akiko tokuoka

When she’s not creating her own productions, Akiko Tokuoka performs with other companies. She appeared in The Brooklyn Nutcracker, which incorporated various world dances into the classical Christmas ballet, and she was a part of the Japanese comedy game show BATSU! New York in the East Village. You can follow Tokuoka on Instagram at @nyc.performanceartist.

OKUNI: The Woman Who Created Kabuki