Japan’s popular actor and singer Makoto Matsui will perform in Oiran courtesan costume of Edo period (left) and in fictitious Prince Hikaru Genji costume of 10th century Heian period
Entertainment show
75th Nisei Week Special
Matsui Makoto and US Friends Show
Sunday, August 9 at 1:00 pm at the Aratani Theater
All reserved: $60, $45, $40, $3
For tickets, contact Uyehara Travel at (213) 680-2499, Genki Club at (310) 819-8703, or email info@culturalnews.com.
To coincide with the festivities of the Nisei Week Japanese Festival in Little Tokyo, Downtown Los Angeles, in August, a Japan’s popular musical theatre with famous actor/singer Makoto Matsui will be brought to the Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo by a support club of the event on Aug. 9.
Named as “Matsui Makoto and U.S. Friends Show,” a two-hour stage show will highlight Matsui’s female-role dancing, recreations of famous Japanese stories, authentic-style Japanese classical dance accompanied with shamisen music by Mme. Yuusui Fujinaga and Mme. Yuuka Fujinaga from Kitakyushu City.
From Tokyo, two performers from Matsui’s troupe, Ms. Koyuki Akane and Mr. Takuma Kaneko a.k.a Yumenojo Shitamachi will join the stage.
The Matsui Makoto show also will feature local artists such as: Matsutoyo Kai Folk Song Ensemble of Los Angeles; Wakayagi-ryu Wakahisa Kai, Bando Hidesomi Nihon Buyo Kai, Bando-ryu Hana no kai, and Tamagusuku-ryu Kansen-Kai Yonamine Keiko Ryubu Dojo; and Los Angeles and Las Vegas singers.
Makoto Mastui was born to a theater family in 1960 in Fukuoka prefecture. He debuted in theaters as a role of an abandoned baby before the age of one. Matsui started acting in Japan’s musical theatre at the age of 18, and since then he had gone on to garner popularity. At the age of 25, Matsui launched his own troupe “Gekidan Makoto.” He has appeared in productions not only in theatres but also television dramas and modern theatres in Japan.
Makoto Matsui has always stayed true to his own belief and newly wedded the traditional with the current age by constantly breaking new ground. He is an actor with a contemporary take on the classical flamboyance and elegance of kabuki elements.
Makoto Matsui: Japanese Traditional Stage Arts Demonstration will be held on Friday, Aug. 7, from 2 – 3 pm at Los Angeles City College Camino Theater. Admission is free and open to the public. No RSVP required.
Makoto Matsui will present a showcase of the finer points of the art and demonstration of make-up and kimono dressing techniques as well as an on-stage dance performance.
This program is supported by the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles.