Arts & Entertainment

The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco will be changing its free day from the first Tuesday of the month, to the first Sunday, starting May 4.

Called “Target First Free Sundays,” the free day carries on a tradition started in March of 2003, when AAM started with Target Tuesdays. The monthly event is sponsored by Target Stores.

For more information: (415) 581-3500, www.asianart.org.

by SHINTARO TANAKA and LEFTERIS KAFATOS
Hokubei Mainichi

The second weekend of the Cherry Blossom Festival (CBF) kicked off on April 18 with the Friendship Reception at the Kabuki Hotel in San Francisco Japantown.

About 400 people attended the event, where Consul General of Japan Yasumasa Nagamine gave a welcoming speech on the theme of “kansha,” or gratitude.

The reception started off with the traditional kagami-wari, the breaking open of a sake barrel. The entertainment featured groups invited from Japan that included koto, taiko, and kappore.One of those groups was Yatsufusa-ryu Daido-gei from Kobe, specializing in tamasudare and other street performances.

This energetic group, with its bright smiles and colorful costumes, is no stranger to performing overseas, having represented Japan in Germany and Morocco as well as Seattle and Hawaii. Group leader Baiko Yatsufusa said the group had always wanted to perform in San Francisco and that they practiced for six months for these performances.

Having just arrived the day of the reception, they showed no sign of jet lag. In fact, they energized the whole crowd with their enjoyable performance, including a spinning umbrella show where two men spun everything from plates to boxes on their umbrellas. Baiko said, “We made a fun atmosphere here, didn’t we?”

The reception attendees were also treated to a thrilling taiko performance by Tomisato Hizume Daiko. This is the group’s third time to perform in San Francisco, but group representative Takashi Oshio said they were still a bit nervous. “A bit of nervousness is good,” he said, “It helps us to perform better.”

This group practices twice a week for two hours a session, building the stamina necessary for the theme of their hometown, that of galloping horses. Indeed, their performance built to a thrilling crescendo, evoking a horse and her foal galloping on sweeping plains.

Another group that performed was the Kappore group led by Sakuragawa Pinsuke, the fifth master of Edo Gei Kappore. This troupe tends to add their lively flair to weddings and other celebratory events. This is fitting, as Sakuragawa wanted to congratulate San Francisco for its 41st CBF. The troupe planned several traditional performances, as well as a rock number they hoped would express their gratitude for being invited to the event.

Said Sakuragawa, “I hope people who see this performance will say to themselves, ‘I want to learn Kappore!’ ”

In addition to the performers, the reception was attended by Japanese Miss International candidates and Nikkei community queens and courts from Los Angeles, Seattle and Honolulu.

Miss International candidate Hisako Shirata, wearing her tiara and a gorgeous evening gown, enjoyed making shapes with the tamasudare. She summed up the feeling of the queen candidates, saying, “It’s a real honor to be a part of this Cherry Blossom Festival.”

The Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC), to be held Saturday, May 17, in San Franciscoﾕs Japantown, showcases the diverse talent of the Asian American community - comedians, hip-hop performers, rock bands, dance groups and spoken word artists on the Peace Plaza Stage and Sutter Street Stage.

This year's event will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The AHSC is organized in cooperation with over 150 organizations in the local Asian American community. Organizers describe it as the largest gathering of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in the U.S.

Scheduled to appear are:
･Apl.de.ap, aka Allan Pineda Lindo, a Filipino American hip-hop musician, record producer and member of the Black Eyed Peas.
･Animemyu, a Japanese animation performance group known for its ﾒSailor Moon Musical.ﾓ Its goal is to introduce children to Japanese pop culture.
･Calisus, a high-energy alternative rock band whose diversity attracts a similarly diverse audience.
･DJ Chicken Skratch, a veteran San Francisco DJ.
･Lil Jordan, aka 10-year-old Jordan Eugenio, who has appeared on national TV as ﾒthe Ambassador of Junior Golf and Hip-Hop.ﾓ
･Jason Mateo, an internationally recognized poet, performer, arts organizer and activist.
･Jeremy Tagle Bautista, aka Kilusan, an independent performance artist, youth empowerment worker and community organizer.
･Nate Krooks, the hip-hop duo of ﾊDJ and producer Deedot, a third-generation Chinese American, and Kazwell, a second-generation Japanese American. They have just released their debut album, "Still True."
･Native Elements, a band with musical influences ranging from classic R&B soul to Jamaican and English dub.
･Nitya Venkateswaran, a solo performer of Bharatanatyam (South Indian classical dance).
･Nguyen Dance Company, the premier performance troupe of the Vietnamese Performing Arts Group.
･Odessa Chen, a singer/songwriter whose voice and guitar style have attracted international attention.
･Random Ninjas, an American heavy rock/fusion band that utilizes the usual Western rock instruments with a combination of diverse languages, traditional Asian instruments, and random humor.
･Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist, a DJ known in the Bay Area for his True Skool events.
･Ron (Pua) Patrocinio, who comes from a family of hula dancers and musicians. He teaches hula at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California.
･Those Kids, aka the Carvajal Kids, a group consisting of three performing siblings.
･Tracy Cruz, a singer known for her powerful vocals, emotional stage presence, and unique, soulful music.
･The Slants, a band known for its "Chinatown dance rock."

The first AHSC was held in Japantown in 2005. The event has also been held in the Sunset and South of Market districts.

In addition to the two stages, the AHSC includes an arts and crafts section, a J-car gathering, food, a Thai kickboxing ring and a childrenﾕs area. California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) will also conduct free hepatitis B screenings.

Sponsors include CPMC, Subaru, AT&T, Wells Fargo Bank, Brown and Toland Medical Group, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, CBS 5/CW Bay Area, San Francisco Chronicle, BART, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.

For more information, visit www.asianfairsf.com.

The Yoshida Brothers will play Yoshi's San Francisco next week, from May 16 to 18. In June, jazz pianist Keiko Matsui will play Yoshiﾕs in Oakland and San Francisco.

Yoshida Brothers
Ryoichiro and Kenichi Yoshida are masters of the Tsugaru-shamisen, a traditional Japanese three-stringed instrument. But there's nothing traditional about their approach to the instrument, their music, or their stage presentation, which fuses East and West, ancestral and avant-garde - with elements of jazz, rock, pop, and more ﾑ in a stunningly original way.

Superstars in their native Japan, the Yoshidas have previously enthralled audiences at Yoshi's Oakland. This will be their debut at Yoshi's San Francisco.

The Yoshida Brothers will perform on Friday, May 16, and Saturday, May 17, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. both nights; and Sunday, May 18, at 7 p.m. All shows are $30.

Keiko Matsui
Tokyo-born Matsui is an icon of contemporary jazz. With packed concert halls and more than a million units sold in the U.S. alone, she is one of the most recognized artists in the genre.

Her elegant piano melodies and gentle jazz grooves have enormous appeal and never disappoint her loyal fan base, which she has cultivated with over a dozen albums (beginning with 1987's "A Drop of Water") and stunning live shows.

Matsui frequently uses her music for philanthropic purposes, having raised money for breast cancer awareness, bone marrow donation, and world hunger.

Now she brings her signature sophisticated jazz style to Yoshi's Oakland for two special evenings and - in her debut - Yoshi's San Francisco for four nights. She will be accompanied by Gary Melvin, guitar; Jackiem Joyner, saxophone; Eric Baines, bass; Chad Wright, drums; and Steve Reid, percussion.

Yoshi's Oakland is located at 510 Embarcadero West, near Jack London Square. Parking validation is available.

Showtimes for Matsui are Tuesday, June 10, and Wednesday, June 11, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. both nights. All shows are $24.

Yoshi's San Francisco is located at 1330 Fillmore St. (at Eddy), and parking is available.

Showtimes for Matsui are Thursday, June 12, to Saturday, June 14, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., and Sunday, June 15, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. On Thursday both shows are $24 and $28; Friday through Sunday shows are $28 and $32.

Tickets for are on sale at www.yoshis.com or by phone at (510) 238-9200 for Oakland, and (415) 655-5600 for San Francisco. The website also has schedules for upcoming events.

SAN JOSE - In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Japanese migration to Brazil, the documentary "Burajiru no Tsuchi ni Ikite" (Living in Brazilian Lands) will be shown on Thursday, May 15, at 7 p.m. at the San Jose State University Library, 150 E. San Fernando St., in Room 257 on the second floor; and on Friday, May 16, at 1 p.m. at the Yu-Ai Kai, 588 N. 4th St.

The documentary follows a husband and wife who were born during the Meiji Period. They emigrated to Brazil, and the documentary, which was made over a four-year period, records the hardships of their lives.

Director Jun Okamura, a Japanese filmmaker living in Brazil, will be at the screenings. Most of the film is in Japanese and Portuguese, but explanations will be given in English prior to the screenings.

Okamura, a graduate of Waseda University, has made various documentaries all over the world. He began his freelance career in 1987. He then moved to Brazil and began making documentaries independently. Over 20 of his works have been broadcast on networks like NHK, Nippon Television, and TBS. He continues to make films on societal and environmental problems and on Japanese living in Brazil today.

For details, call Nobuko Greenleaf at (408) 293-5464 or e-mail nobuko@yahoo.com.

SAN JOSE - Yu-Ai Kai will hold its third annual Sake San Jose celebration on Thursday, May 22, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in San Jose's Japantown.

The event promises to be an opportunity to taste high-quality and rare sakes, some of which are not for sale in the U.S. It will feature different sakes brewed both in the U.S. and Japan.

Visitors can enjoy tasting the sake while visiting more than 20 different businesses and community centers in San Jose's historic Japantown, one of only three remaining Japantowns in the U.S. The businesses include restaurants, gift shops and a tofu factory.

The opening ceremonies will officially kick off the event with a traditional kagamiwari (cask-breaking) ceremony. This is a Japanese tradition in which the lid of a sake cask is broken with a wooden mallet to celebrate an important event. The event will also feature live entertainment.

The proceeds from this event will benefit Yu-Ai Kai's programs and services for seniors.

Tickets are $35 and are available at Yu Ai-Kai, 588 N. 4th St., and participating businesses or on-line at www.sakesanjose.com. For more information, call (408) 294-2505.

The Mary Sano Studio of Duncan Dancing, located at 245 5th St., Studio 314, in San Francisco, will hold its 11th annual Dionysian Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 24-25.

The event celebrates the 131st anniversary of the birth of Isadora Duncan, who is widely considered the "Mother of Modern Dance."

The event will feature Mary Sano and her Duncan Dancers, as well as G. Hoffman Soto and SotoMotion and Shoko Hikage, who will play koto while Sano dances. Classical Indian dance will also be performed by Priya Ravindhran and Rebecca Whittington.

Sano, who dances in the tradition of Duncan's legacy, will perform to the music of Schubert and Chopin and also show newly choreographed routines.

The festival will start on May 24 at 8 p.m. and May 25 at 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $17 at the door. For reservations, call (415) 357-1817, e-mail info@duncandance.org, or visit www.duncandance.org.

CUPERTINO — The featured artist group at this year’s Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival is the Midori Bonsai Club.

The festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Memorial Park, 21267 Stevens Creek Blvd. (across from De Anza College).

The Midori Bonsai Club is one of the oldest bonsai clubs in California. It was founded in 1961 by a small group of individuals, some with over 25 years’ experience, who were committed to learning both the art and science of bonsai.

“Bonsai” literally means “potted plant.” The art of bonsai consists of cultivation techniques for shaping, watering, and repotting miniature trees and shrubs in various styles of containers. The plants are trained to capture and express the essence of mature trees in nature, with each plant seeming to communicate a unique life story.

The club has grown over the years, but has remained true to its founding purpose. It is about educating and developing the skills of its members while having fun in the process. The club sponsors workshops conducted by bonsai masters, as well as study groups led by highly trained teachers for beginning, intermediate and advanced classes.

This year, the featured demonstrator for the festival is Larry White, former club president, who brings over 20 years of experience in collecting, developing and refining bonsai. He concentrates on the details that produce exquisite, show-quality trees.

Visit www.midoribonsai.org for more information about the organization. For details on the festival, call Lucille Honig, festival coordinator, at (408) 257-7424 or Marge Taniguchi at (408) 255-2093, or visit the website at www.cupertinotoyokawa.org.

PALO ALTO — Aldersgate United Methodist Church will hold its annual Spring Bazaar on Saturday, May 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bento boxes, sushi, udon, teriyaki chicken, manju, baked goods, and pickled vegetables will be sold along with collectibles and plants. Activities for children are also planned.

The church is located at 4243 Manuela Ave. (off Arastradero Road at Foothill Expressway) in Palo Alto. For more information, call (650) 948-6806.

ROHNERT PARK — The Sonoma Film Institute will present Kenji Mizoguchi’s “Ugetsu” (Ugetsu Monogatari) at Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave. in Rohnert Park.

Repeatedly cited as one of the 10 best films ever made, “Uge-tsu” (1953) is a supernatural tale of love and loss. The cast includes Masayuki Mori, Machiko Kyo and Kinuyo Tanaka.

The film is in Japanese with English subtitles.

The schedule is as follows:

Friday, April 25, at 7 p.m. in Darwin 103
Sunday, April 27, at 4 p.m. in Warren Auditorium, Ives Hall
Admission is $5 general, $4.50 for non-SSU students and seniors, $3.50 for SFI members and children under 12, and free for SSU students. For more information, call (707) 664-2606 or visit www.sonoma.edu/sfi.