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The Arts of Japan Celebration
 
THE ARTS OF JAPAN are blossoming at the Kennedy Center! Be here for colorful Okinawan dance, riveting kyogen theater, Japanese drumming, and passionate classical guitar, plus free performances on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. It's all in celebration of both the 150th anniversary of friendship between the U.S. and Japan, as marked by the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Amity of 1854, and the 25th birthday of the Terrace Theater, a gift from the Japanese government.
 

TICKETED EVENTS

Sho En, King of the Ryukyu 
Sho En, King of the Ryuku In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Japan’s gift of the Terrace Theater, the Kennedy Center presents this compelling dance performance. Known for preserving the traditional Tamagusuku style of Okinawan dance, the Tamagusuku Ryu/Maekawa Michiko School tells the legend of a man’s rise to become ruler of the Ryukyu Kingdom in 15th-century Japan.
Friday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. Terrace Theater
Tickets $35
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Keiko Matsui, piano
Keiko Matsui This native Japanese pianist is turning mainstream pop fans into serious jazz connoisseurs with her blend of smooth jazz and funky blues, creating a uniquely expressive style all her own.
Saturday, March 27 at 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. Terrace Theater
Tickets $28
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Mannojo Nomura's Nippongaku
nippongaku A collaboration between the Kennedy Center and the Embassy of Japan, this official commemorative performance celebrates 150 years of friendship between the U.S. and Japan with over 50 dancers and musicians from the Ethnos company in visually stunning theater and dance produced by acclaimed kyogen master Mannojo Nomura.
Friday, April 2 at 8 p.m. Concert Hall
Tickets $10-$20
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KENNEDY CENTER MILLENNIUM STAGE EVENTS
Free, no tickets required. All performances at 6 p.m.
Live Internet Broadcast at www.kennedy-center.org/millennium

Folk Dances of Okinawa
Folk Dances of OkinawaSATURDAY, MARCH 27
The Tamagusuku Ryu/Maekawa Michiko School performs elegant yet lively Okinawan dances.

Yasuji Ohagi
Yasuki OhagiSUNDAY, MARCH 28, Terrace Theater. LIMITED SEATING!
This internationally acclaimed young classical guitarist stuns audiences with his heartfelt musical style.

Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company
Saeko IchinoheFRIDAY, APRIL 2
This imaginative troupe preserves traditional Japanese dance while infusing it with modern techniques.

Kimiko Shimada
SATURDAY, APRIL 3
A member of the Nikikai Opera Company in Japan, this lyrical soprano performs a program featuring the great works of Puccini, Scarlatti, Mascagni, and Bellini, among others.

The Washington Toho Koto Society
Toho Koto SocietySUNDAY, APRIL 4
The repertoire of this multi-faceted ensemble led by Kyoko Okamoto ranges from early 17th-century koto music to contemporary compositions.

Bamboo Orchestra
Bamboo OrchestraTHURSDAY, APRIL 8
The resonant sound of bamboo instruments transcends culture and speaks to the heart.

Za Ondekoza
Za OndekozaSATURDAY, APRIL 10
This ensemble has mastered the technique of Japanese drumming with its unique performance style.

Hiromitsu Agatsuma
SUNDAY, APRIL 11
Agatsuma is breaking new ground by fusing world genres with traditional Japanese music.

Limited seating. Seating available on a first-come, first-served basis to the elderly and persons with disabilities. There is no free parking for free performances.

Arts of Japan performances are made possible through the support of the Japan Endowment of the International Performing Arts Fund of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. International Programming at the Kennedy Center is supported through the generosity of The Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.