A full day of music, dance, martial arts, a roving Japanese Candyman, and taiko.
Main Stage Emcees Allison Kiefer Margaret Price
Performers Kazha Kent Family Magic Circus Masaji Terasawa, The Candyman NATURA Idols nozomi St. Louis Osuwa Taiko Synonymix! The Skalors
Martial Arts Groups Memphis Goju-ryu Karate Memphis Kendo and Iaido Club Memphis Kendo Association University of Memphis Taido Karate Club Yagyu Shinkage-Ryu Japanese Swordsmanship
Ensemble taiko drumming, or kumi-daiko, is a contemporary performance art that draws from traditional and folkloric music in Japan. Founded in 1986, St. Louis Osuwa Taiko is one of the oldest active kumi-daiko groups in the United States. We innovate and share the art of taiko through year-round performances, workshops, and classes for children, adults, and seniors. For more information, visit http://stltaiko.com/. St. Louis Osuwa Taiko is very excited to be participating in the 2023 Memphis Japan Festival! We hope to see you there!
Kazha
A Japanese band representing Music Export Memphis as Official Ambassador and the birth place of Rock’N’Roll - Memphis, TN
Kazha will be performing at the 2023 Memphis Japan Festival! Founded by Japanese singer/bassist Kazuha Oda and guitarist Hideki Matsushige, Kazha is a Japanese rock band based in Memphis, touring the U.S.A. as an Official Ambassador of Music Export Memphis and representing the birth place of Rock’N’Roll - Memphis, TN. Kazha makes special guest appearances at anime and comic conventions and festivals and is also the only band from Japan that is listed on the Top Special Guest List of AnimeCons.com - the most popular Anime Convention directory on the internet. They have also been featured on local broadcasts, such as WREG News Channel 3, ABC 24 News, and WMC Action News 5. In October, 2018, Kazha released their self-titled third album “Kazha”. Representing a new future of music, Kazha is a fusion of cultures and musical view points that create their sound, combining the softness of a falling feather and the heaviness of a hurricane.
The Kent Family Circus, The Kent Family Magic Circus is a real family who perform high quality, family friendly circus acts and magic.
Masaji Terasawa, the Candyman, is returning to the Memphis Japan Festival! The Candyman is a traditional street performer and a one-man-show from Japan. After he moved to the United States, the Candyman began entertaining at Disney World's Epcot Center and now travels to Japanese festivals throughout the country. The Candyman is said to be the only person in the U.S. practicing the ancient Japanese art of amezaiku, sculpting hot taffy into shapes of animals, and he will also keep us entertained with magic tricks and stories.
Martial Arts
Fudoshinka Dojo Kenpo Karate Fudoshinka Dojo offers a gambit of classes in the Jackson / Madison County area. The Karate class offers fun, basic martial arts training to students of all ages. Fudoshinka Dojo will demonstrate Kata & Bunkai applications.
Memphis Goju-ryu Karate Practitioners of classical Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate, Memphis Goju-ryu Karate Do training is based on practical applications through classical & modern training methods. They are focused on preserving an art form that has been passed down.
Memphis Kendo Association Memphis Kendo Association is one of the largest Kendo clubs in the United States. Kendo, a traditional Japanese martial art and the most-widely practiced in Japan, is rapidly gaining popularity worldwide for its beauty, respect and physical and spiritual benefits for its students.
Memphis Kendo and Iaido Club The Memphis Kendo and Iaido Club practices the traditional martial arts of Kendo and Iaido and will present demonstrations of Japanese swordsmanship through the arts of both Kendo and Iaido.
Midsouth Naginata Club Tendo Ryu is a Ko Ryu, traditional Japanese martial art practiced for more than 400 years in Japan. It is famous for its naginata techniques, but it also includes other weapons such as tachi, tanto, kaiken, or kusarigama.
University of Memphis Taido Karate Club Taido is the modern style of karate, utilizing dynamic techniques and footwork for the purpose of self-defense Taido has its roots in traditional Okinawan Karate. Taido teaches how to respond creatively to one’s challenges or situations through physical and mental exercise.
Yagyu Shinkage-Ryu Japanese Swordsmanship We are practitioners of Yagyu Shinkage-Ryu Heihou, which is a 400 year old sword art. Our practice consists of single person forms with steel or alloy swords, and paired practice with wooden swords (bokuto).