Shinoharu Tatekawa
Celebrating 50 years of friendship with the city of Kashiwa, Japan, The Torrance Sister City Association (TSCA), one of the most successful sister city programs in the country and operating since 1973, proudly presents The Friendship Festival, an evening of music and arts at The James R. Armstrong Theater in Torrance on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
A rare introduction to the art of traditional Japanese comedic storytelling—rakugo–presented in English by charismatic Japanese rakugo master, Shinoharu Tatekawa, will headline the Friendship Festiva.
A graduate of Yale University, Shinoharu left a corporate career in Tokyo and dedicated 17 years of formal study in rakugo under Master Shinosuke Tatekawa. Shinoharu recently attained the master rank of “Shinuchi,” and travels throughout Japan and internationally in his presentation of relatable, feel-good stories. A lively “TOCA Backstage” interview of Shinoharu by Chris Wolf, Executive Director of the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation can be found at https://youtu.be/vwkkOSIdmck.
Also traveling from Japan is vocalist Tami Ooka, a 1980 student delegate from Kashiwa. While managing a fast-paced career in corporate finance, Tami is passionate about singing and performs regularly in opera productions and concerts.
She will be joining 2019 Torrance delegate, David Contereras, a burgeoning operatic star, for a duet from “Don Giovanni.” Reuniting in California, former home of the late Carol MacIntyre, a 1977 Torrance delegate, will be Carol's daughter Katelyn MacIntyre, a visually-impaired vocalist from New York, and Carol’s son Todd, both of whom have been inspiring audiences around the world with their broad range of styles from baroque to a cappella gospel to show tunes as part of the MacIntyre Family Singers.
Rounding out the festival is KonoKotoDake, a taiko collaboration, led by Alex Ito, a 2015 Torrance delegate. Alex, along with locally-based taiko drummers, Masa Miyano and Gaku Sasaki, will present a modern take on kumidaiko (ensemble taiko), drawing inspiration from hip-hop, rock and electronic dance music.
Tickets to the Friendship Festival, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the sister city friendship between Torrance and the city of Kashiwa, Japan (Chiba Ken), are available at www.torrancearts.org, by phone a 310-781-7171, or at the Armstrong Theatre box office. Visit
www.torrancesistercity.org for more information and details regarding all 50th anniversary festivities.
