From Yoshikuni Okina
President of Nanka Kumamoto Kenjinkaim
On behalf of the Nanka Kumamoto Kenjinkai, we like to express our gratitude for your support of our fundraising campaign to aid victims and support recovery and reconstruction efforts following the “Kumamoto Earthquake 2026.”
We will ensure that your warm words of encouragement and support reach the victims.
This year marks the 125th anniversary of our Kenjinkai founding. We earnestly hope to focus our activities on this relief effort during this milestone year.
We look forward to your continued support.
Although this is a brief note, please accept our heartfelt gratitude.
We wish you all the best in future endeavors.
WE ACCEPT YOUR DONATION
CHECK PAYPABLE TO : NANKA KUMAMOTO KENJINKAI
Please write “2026 Kumamoto Earthquake” in memo.
Mail to: YUMIKO IKEDA, 1200 W.220th Street, #6, Torrance CA 90502
ONLINE : ZELL(3108743363 or angelinakumamon@gmail.com)
https://nankakumamotokenjinkaiusa.blogspot.com/
The Nanka Kumamoto Kenjinkai, in collaboration with a flamenco school and others, held the “2026 Kumamoto Earthquake Charity Concert” in Torrance, Los Angeles, on August 9, raising $20,000 in donations
LOS ANGELS (August 9, 2026) – The Nanka Kumamoto Kenjinkai – Southern California Kumamoto Prefectural Association (President: Yoshikuni Okita) and the flamenco school “Mikaela Kai Flamenco” (Director: Mikaela Kai, real name: Michiyo Ando) jointly hosted the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake Charity Concert on Sunday, August 9, at the Moose Lodge in Torrance, California. The event was hastily organized to support the disaster-stricken areas following the Japanese seismic scale 7 earthquake that struck the Kumamoto region on July 28. On the day of the event, with the full cooperation of local organizations, including the LA Kansai Club (President: Fumio Maruyama), approximately 200 people—including attendees and staff—participated. Total donations from the event exceeded $20,000 (approximately 3 million yen), all of which will be used to support Kumamoto’s recovery efforts.
■ Made Possible by a Swift Call to Action Immediately After the Earthquake
This event was made possible by Ms. Mikaela Kai (Vice President of the Nanka Kumamoto Kenjinkai), who, concerned about the magnitude of the earthquake immediately after it struck, decided to hold the event without delay. The initiative gained full momentum when she called on her own prefectural association to co-host the event. Furthermore, with the cooperation of the LA Kansai Club, they succeeded in securing a venue on short notice, making it possible to hold the event in an exceptionally short timeframe—less than two weeks after the earthquake struck.
On the day of the event, from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., pop-up shops sold merchandise on-site, and a two-part stage performance took place, drawing large crowds throughout the day.
■ Part 1: Sending Encouragement to the Disaster-Stricken Areas Through Passionate Flamenco
The flamenco show in Part 1 featured a guest artist from Barcelona, Spain, who performed a total of 10 pieces.
The opening featured Yolanda Arroyo, who has appeared as a guest at the school’s Kumamoto charity recitals for the past 10 years. She performed an original dance piece imbued with prayers for Kumamoto, a castanet solo showcasing her overwhelming technical skill, and a song dedicated to the disaster-stricken areas. Guitarist Paco Arroyo captivated the audience with a beautiful solo performance, while percussionist Ron Wagner delivered a powerful solo. Wagner, who was caught in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake while on tour with Cirque du Soleil in Japan and evacuated to Hiroshima, deeply empathized with the event and participated actively.
This was followed by a spectacular group dance performed by students from the school. Finally, Mikaela, who served as the event’s artistic director, took the stage alongside Ms. Yolanda. Together, they performed “Alegrías,” a piece expressing hope for Kumamoto’s recovery, with brightness and vigor. Audience members who experienced authentic flamenco up close remarked, “We were deeply moved by its power and passion.”
■ Part 2: Bonds Through Music by a Diverse Array of Local Artists
For the Part 2 concert, performer Naomi Ozawa coordinated the entire program, while musician Yui Sensational handled the sound engineering. Both had previously worked together on relief efforts following the Kumamoto Earthquake 10 years ago through the volunteer group “Love for Kumamoto in LA,” led by Mikaela Kai, and this time, they readily accepted Mikaela’s request and provided seamless support.
The stage opened with an energetic taiko ensemble performance by children. Next, Mr. Okita, president of the Kumamoto Prefectural Association, sang the folk songs “Ohara-bushi” and “Takeda-bushi” in a resonant voice, and the Kawachi Ondo Group performed a graceful dance to “Sado Okesa,” a dance said to have its roots in Kumamoto.
Furthermore, the classical group “Tulips Quartet” performed a medley of songs from Studio Ghibli films, and the entire audience joined in a chorus of the reconstruction support song “Hana wa Saku” accompanied by Mr. Ozawa on piano. Yui Sensational, who also works as a DJ, played an original song dedicated to Kumamoto on the piano with great emotion, and singer Maaya delivered a heartfelt performance, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar. The finale featured performances of the Kumamoto folk songs “Otemoyan” and “Samba Otemoyan,” and the event concluded with a grand dance to “Tankō-bushi,” in which the audience joined in the circle.
■ Bustling Pop-Up Stalls and Organizing Committee Booths
Inside the venue, 10 pop-up shops (vendors) organized by Japanology lined the area. They sold handicrafts, pottery, pop culture goods, accessories, vintage kimonos, and calligraphy works, as well as light snacks such as mitarashi dango and onigiri, and remained bustling from start to finish. Additionally, the organizing committee’s booth displayed donated items such as rice, fresh flowers, tatami products, aromatherapy goods, and brand-name items, with many attendees purchasing these items to show their support.
■ Support Exceeded Expectations; Donation Recipients Under Discussion with Kumamoto City
Mikaela Kai, who served as the event’s general director, expressed relief and gratitude, saying, “Despite the extremely short preparation period of just under two weeks, a truly large number of people took an interest and came out to support us. We received more donations than expected, and I am deeply grateful.”
The total amount of donations collected at this event exceeded $20,000, and organizers are currently consulting directly with Kumamoto City to determine the most effective ways to allocate these funds.