6/1908 The annual 2nd Japan Day @Central Park TThe second Japan Day was held at Central Park. The number of the visitors increased from 14,000 to 40,000, comparing with the last year. That is a good sign. I hope Japan Day will be getting bigger and better, and continue forever as one of the best Japanese Cultural event in New York. Producer: Yoshi Amao Director and choreographer: Yoshihisa Kuwayama Performers: Yoshi Amao, Yoshihisa Kuwayama, Takemi Kitamura, Lisa Itabashi, Ryoko Goto, Umihei, Jennifer Tchiakpe, Mat Gordon, Tomas Trinidad, Ayumi Kojima, Yuko Taniguchi, Shieri Yamafuji, Shamisen/flute: Seiichiro Koizumi Tsukeuchi/sound effects: Eisuke Nakajima Sound: Yuriko Nabeta Shooting crew Video: Brian Allen Photography: Nobutoshi Mizushima       5/14/08 Asian Heritage @ LaGuardia Community College The main performer was Lisa Itabashi. We joined her college's big "Asian Heritage" event. Right after the Japanese music started, college students gathered in front of the outdoor stage. We started with festival dancing, followed with long stick combination, Kabuki fighting and Yoshi's fighting, and finally finished with Lisa's sword fighting. The show finished successfully despite slight technical difficulties. As soon as we took our bows, Lisa rushed to another stage for the musical "Cabaret." What a busy girl she was! Producer: Yoshi Amao Director and choreographer: Yoshihisa Kuwayama Performers: Yoshi Amao, Yoshihisa Kuwayama, Lisa Itabashi, Ryoko Goto, Umihei, Ayumi Kojima, Yuko Taniguchi, Shieri Yamafuji, Tsukeuchi/sound effects: Eisuke Nakajima Sound: Ayako Misawa       5/3&4/08 27th Sakura Matsuri at Brooklyn Botanic Garden As you may know, this has been an annual event for us since 2003, and some people said that this year was the best ever. Maybe, or maybe not, because our best performance is always the next one.  Bob's fighting while wearing his mask was unique, Takemi's mask dance was fabulous and scary, and each member's fighting had been refined. Marina's narration was so effective, Seiichiro's shamisen and flute were captivating as usual, and new member Eisuke's tsukeuchi was as good as that of the legendary Ryo Matsumoto. “Mask ~Battles for the Truth~” Producer: Yoshi Amao Director, writer, and choreographer: Yoshihisa Kuwayama Script adviser: Marina Celander Performers: Yoshi Amao, Yoshihisa Kuwayama, Takemi Kitamura, Lisa Itabashi, Ryoko Goto, Umihei, Jennifer Tchiakpe, Mat Gordon, Tomas Trinidad, Ayumi Kojima, Yuko Taniguchi, Shieri Yamafuji, and Marina Celander Shamisen/flute: Seiichiro Koizumi Tsukeuchi/sound effect: Eisuke Nakajima Sound: Ginger Burden Shooting crew Video: Brian Allen Photography: Antonio M. Rosario, Nobutoshi Mizushima, Luis Earnest Montana       4/17/08 Shooting for ”Good Day New York" (Fox TV) Fox TV held a shoot at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden where the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and Samurai Sword Soul was invited. We did some choreography, forms and an interview, and when we were done the director asked us to dance. "What? Why do samurai have to dance?" It was because the main guest at the studio was the king of exercise in the 80's, Richard Simmons! In today's terms, he's like Billy from Billy's Boot Camp.  OK, we had no choice. Although Takemi who is a dancer performed rhythmically, the way Bob and I danced was comical. Later on, I realized a lot of people had watched this program and enjoyed it. Now I need to practice aerobics incase I ever find myself in this situation again. (lol)       1/20/08 Japanese New Year’s Fair @14th Street Y This is our annual performance for 14th Street Y’s new year’s event. We started with the Shadow tate, and followed by Kabuki tate, One on One, One on Multiple and Ensemble tate. Ryo Matsumoto, who is the specialist of Tsukeuchi board, finally debuted as a samurai performer, and showed a wild tate in front of the huge audiences. This is his last performance before going back to Japan. We hope he will come back to NY sometime. Thank you for your happy fun beat, good luck in Japan, RYO!! Produced by Yoshi Amao, Choreographed and directed by Yoshihisa Kuwayama Performers: Yoshi Amao, Takemi Kitamura, Lisa Itabashi, Ryoko Goto, Umihei, Jennifer Tchiakpe, Tomas Trinidad, Ayumi Kojima, Yuko Taniguchi Ryo Matsumoto Shamisen /Flute: Seiichiro Koizumi, Tsukeuchi/Sound Effect: Ryo Matsumoto, Sound: Yuriko Nabeta Shooting Crew Video: Brian Allen       1/20/08 Japanese New Year’s Fair @14th Street Y This is our annual performance for 14th Street Y’s new year’s event. We started with the Shadow tate, and followed by Kabuki tate, One on One, One on Multiple and Ensemble tate. Ryo Matsumoto, who is the specialist of Tsukeuchi board, finally debuted as a samurai performer, and showed a wild tate in front of the huge audiences. This is his last performance before going back to Japan. We hope he will come back to NY sometime. Thank you for your happy fun beat, good luck in Japan, RYO!! Produced by Yoshi Amao, Choreographed and directed by Yoshihisa Kuwayama Performers: Yoshi Amao, Takemi Kitamura, Lisa Itabashi, Ryoko Goto, Umihei, Jennifer Tchiakpe, Tomas Trinidad, Ayumi Kojima, Yuko Taniguchi Ryo Matsumoto Shamisen /Flute: Seiichiro Koizumi, Tsukeuchi/Sound Effect: Ryo Matsumoto, Sound: Yuriko Nabeta Shooting Crew Video: Brian Allen       1/14/08 SSS’s new piece was Impro Dance Version!! The second performance in 2008 was held at Shiseido Cosmetic’s party at the penthouse of Le Parker Meredien Hotel on 57th Street, Manhattan, which overlooks beautiful views of New York City, including the Central Park. The party started with an exciting emcee Yoshi, entertaining with games, exercises and quiz. After the dance time, Samurai Sword Soul appeared. This was our new challenge because we were not allowed to use our best weapon, Samurai Swords, under this situation. Oh, no! We were upset a bit, but remembered that we had samurai who can do contemporary dance, too! We created new piece incorporated with imrov. dance in a short term under the direction of Bob Kuwayama, and explored this new SSS’s piece without swords! We had good feedback from the audience after the show. Is it a good sign for us to be getting busy for new dance version 2008!? Produced by Yoshi Amao, Choreographed and directed by Yoshihisa Kuwayama Performers: Yoshi Amao, Yoshihisa Kuwayama, Takemi Kitamura, Ryoko Goto, Shamisen /Flute: Seiichiro Koizumi, Tsukeuchi/Sound Effect: Ryo Matsumoto,       Samurai Sword Soul launched 2008 with a New Year’s party at Nippon Club. The organizer’s request was to show the strength of SAMURAI, the Soul of Japan. YES, we liked it! The audiences were totally quiet during the show, but right after the final bow, they gave us great applause with standing ovations. They might have been patient trying not to interrupt our performance. We appreciated their considerations, but we should tell audiences that they can express their feelings such as applause, cheers, shouts, laughs and tears etc. any time! In contrast to the intense performance, a samurai workshop was really relaxed and fun. It was held with three volunteers from the audience, and they showed great and unique skills, which even overwhelmed Sensei Yoshi! It was a really happy event which anticipates the good fortune of year 2008. Thank you so much!! Produced by Yoshi Amao, Choreographed and directed by Yoshihisa Kuwayama Performers: Yoshi Amao, Yoshihisa Kuwayama, Takemi Kitamura, Lisa Itabashi, Ryoko Goto, Umihei, Ayumi Kojima, Yuko Taniguchi Shamisen /Flute: Seiichiro Koizumi, Tsukeuchi/Sound Effect: Ryo Matsumoto, Sound: Shieri Yamafuji Shooting Crew Video: Brian Allen     Archives Dec, 2006 - Dec, 2007 Sep, 2005 - Nov, 2006 Feb, 2005 - Aug, 2005 Sep, 2004 - Jan, 2005 Feb, 2004 - Aug, 2004 Aug, 2003 - Jan, 2004 Apr, 2003 - Jul, 2003