Posts tagged as:

Japanese Culture

Event: Hanayagi Academy Japanese Dance Recital

by Austin Otaku on February 28, 2010

Nihon Buyo Recital by Hanayagi Academy

I had the pleasure of attending the 2010 Classical Japanese Dance Recital by Hanayagi Dance Academy today (Sunday, February 28th). Women and children, young and old, entertained a large crowd at the Asian American Cultural Center on Jollyville Road in Austin.

Below are some pictures from the event. For more pictures, go to my Flickr page.

Hanayagi-Dance-Recital-13 Hanayagi-Dance-Recital-16
Hanayagi-Dance-Recital-17 Hanayagi-Dance-Recital-14
Hanayagi-Dance-Recital-19 Hanayagi-Dance-Recital-08
Hanayagi-Dance-Recital-26 Hanayagi-Dance-Recital-29

The Hanayagi Dance Academy is directed by Rokumizu Hanayagi (Chizuko Matsumoto). If you’re interested in learning traditional Japanese dance or folk dance, you can contact Matsumoto-san via e-mail (hanayagi [at] earthlink [dot] com). You can also contact her through the Asian American Cultural Center.

{ 1 comment }

JASGA’s November Culture Salon: Shakuhachi

by Austin Otaku on November 2, 2009

Shakuhachi ukiyo-e by Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi

The Japan-America Society of Greater Austin is hosting two incredible cultural events this week, the first of which is its monthly culture salon. This month, the focus will be on the shakuhachi (Japanese end-blown bamboo flute). Shakuhachi player and teacher David Duncavage will be performing and presenting on this instrument.

While the doleful sounds of the shakuhachi are often heard in ensembles nowadays, the Fuke sect of Zen Buddhist monks originally refined this instrument to practice suizen (“blowing meditation”). Duncavage received his Shihan (independent Master’s license) in Zen meditation music after years of study in Kyoto, Japan.

Here’s a sample of someone playing the shakuhachi:

Tsuru no Sugomori from naha Jaja on Vimeo.

If you’re interested in checking out this free event, join JASGA at 7pm on November 2nd (yes, that’s tonight!) at Casa de Luz (1701 Toomey Rd, Austin, TX).  For more information, go the official announcement on JASGA’s website.

{ 0 comments }

Photos from UT’s Invitational Team Kendo Tournament

by Austin Otaku on October 26, 2009

Bamboo Blade - Kendo

This weekend, the University of Texas Kendo Association and the Austin Kendo Doshikai hosted the 8th Longhorn Invitational Team Kendo Taikai here in Austin. Teams from around the U.S. and Mexico were represented.

I have to say, this was the coolest event I have had the chance to attend since moving to Austin, despite the crappy parking at UT ($10 event parking) and the fact that there weren’t a lot of seats for spectators. The event cost for guests was free. So you can’t beat that.

Here are some photos from the event:

Longhorn Invitational Team Kendo Taikai Poster Maruyama Kendo Supply
Kendo Match Action - 1 Kendo Match Action - 2
Kendo Match Action - 3 The 8th Longhorn Invitational Team Kendo Taikai
Longhorn Kendo Taikai Participants Gear up Longhorn Invitational Kendo Match Schedule
Longhorn Kendo Taikai Participants Kendo Match Action Shot

If you didn’t get a chance to attend this year’s taikai, keep your calendar open for next year. Generally, the tournament occurs on the second or third week of October.

{ 0 comments }



Standing Meditation – The Art of Kyudo in Austin

October 26, 2009
Austin Otaku

Saturday morning was clear and crisp; perfect for getting outside and enjoying an Austin-style Fall day. So I decided to head down to the Austin Shambhala Meditation Center to watch the Austin Kyudo Group practicing the traditional art of Japanese archery.
Led by Craig Thompson, the group meets regularly at the Shambhala Center (located on the [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Presentation on Anime for JASGA

October 5, 2009
Austin Otaku

This evening, I presented a lecture on behalf of the Japan-America Society of Greater Austin on the topic of “Anime.”  JASGA had asked me a few weeks ago to present on this topic. Initially, I was honored that they would think I was versed enough in this aspect of Japanese entertainment  to present to them.
And [...]

7 comments Read the full article →
Jpop CDJapan


Upcoming Presentation: Anime and Japan’s Popular Culture

September 29, 2009
Austin Otaku

I’ve recently been honored by the Japan-America Society of Greater Austin, who have asked me to do a presentation at their October Japanese Culture Salon on the subject of “Anime and Japanese Popular Culture.” So, if you’re in Austin and interested in catching my slide show and presentation, I’ve included the details below.
Since the Austin [...]

4 comments Read the full article →

Event: San Jose Taiko at the Long Center

September 27, 2009
Austin Otaku

Tonight San Jose Taiko performed at the Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Austin, Texas. It was a high energy display of some incredible rhythm and coordination. If you ever get a chance to see this group perform, jump at the offer. You will be as impressed as I was, I’m sure.
I’ve [...]

2 comments Read the full article →
CDJapan


Toshie Suzuki at Kick Butt Coffee

September 26, 2009
Austin Otaku

On Monday of this past week, Tsugaru shamisen player Toshie Suzuki performed at Kick Butt Coffee’s World Music Night at The Triangle in Austin. Suzuki-san alternated performances on stage with local jazz band Manteca Beat. (Be sure to swing by their site and listen to some of their music.)

Here’s the video of her performance. I [...]

2 comments Read the full article →

Austin Otaku: South Florida Edition

September 25, 2009
Austin Otaku

As I’ve mentioned before, the reason I started AustinOtaku.com was to try to make the best of wherever I live, even deep in the heart of Texas. I think this is a pretty good philosophy to have, and in most large cities in the U.S., I think this is possible, even for otaku, to find [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

Visual Kei CDJapan