Birchwood Lexus and JCAM present – Karakoro EISA – Live Saturday Aug 12th, 2023

Birchwood Lexus and JCAM present – Karakoro EISA – Live Saturday Aug 12th, 2023

Date Saturday August 12th, 2023 at 6 pm. VIP reception to follow the performance Location Prairie Theatre Exchange 393...

Date

Saturday August 12th, 2023 at 6 pm.

VIP reception to follow the performance

Location

Prairie Theatre Exchange

393 Portage Ave

Presents

In collaboration with the Japanese Cultural Association of Manitoba

Karakoro EISA - Osaka, Japan

Family and Business Sponsors

Click HERE for tickets

Enjoy a lively performance of traditional and contemporary Japanese drum, song and Eisa dance inspired by our common humanity and struggles towards peace and respect for human rights.  You can learn more about the Karakoro EISA at http://karakoro.net/

Based in Osaka, Japan, award‐winning Karakoro will feature 68 performers led by director Yoko Matsui. Since 2011, the troupe has been performing traditional and creative Eisa dance in Canada every year to sellout audiences.  Their last performance in Winnipeg was held at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights Aug 18th, 2019 - https://humanrights.ca/event/karakoro-live-museum.

Special Karakoro Eisa 

Concert:  The Rhythms of Okinawa - Written by Yoko Matsui

In the hope of peace and respect for human rights, the Group Karakoro will present a lively performance of traditional Japanese drum, songs and dances with a rock-style arrangement, using sanshin, violin, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, erhu, flute, keyboard and percussion.

Event Program

Hello, everyone. We are the Group Karakoro from Osaka, Japan.

It is a great pleasure to see you all in Winnipeg after a four-year absence.

At the end of World War II, a quarter of the people in Okinawa died in ground battles. In order not to have such a tragedy again, we will now dance the Eisa of Okinawan culture, chanting in unison,“Eisa, Eisa”

First, we will perform the famous, standard Eisa dances. Then, the adult lions, the lion cubs and the dragon will greet you.

Dance：Chunjun-nagari

Dance：Kudaka

Adult Lions Dance & Lion Cub Dance

Dragon Dance

“Menu-hama ---- The Beach.” It is a traditional women’s dance that was arranged as Eisa. It expresses a wish that the old and the young should get along with each other, cherish nature and never destroy it.

Dance：Menu-hama --- The Beach

“Watarizo-Tachiutushi” performed only by young men. This is traditional Okinawan music that has been passed down since the Ryukyu Period of Okinawa. It is music wishing for good luck.

Dance：Watarizo-Tachiutushi

“Kunjan-Sabakui.” This is a work song sung by a large number of people who were carrying wood cut down in the mountains.

In the past, Kenji Miyazawa, from the north-eastern region of Japan, valued a life of enjoying arts, such as dancing and singing, rather than just working, drinking and sleeping. His spirit is cherished in Okinawa, the southern region of Japan.

Dance：Kunjan-sabakui

Traditional Eisa trilogy.

The first song is “Asatoya Yunta.” It is a story of a beautiful lady on Taketomi Island who refuses to be under the control of one of the officials on the Okinawa main island.

The second performance is “Tenyo-bushi,” a festival song to rejoice in a good harvest.

And, the last performance is “Toshin-doi,” which begins with the joy of people. “A Chinese ship has come to Okinawa!” We’ll dance these three songs in succession.

Dance：Asadoya-yunta

Dance：Ten’yo-bushi

Dance：Toshin-doi

Intermission - 15 minutes

During World War II, Japan invaded Asia, and in Hiroshima and Nagasaki a large number of people were killed and injured by the atomic bombs. After that, American General HQ imposed a non-war constitution on us. However, thanks to that, we Japanese have been able to stay out of war for 78 years.

Now we are concerned that we’re in an era in which the constitution may be amended. We would like to perform on stage with our desire to continue to convey the importance of peace.

“Hama-Chidori.” It means “Plovers on the Beach.” In Okinawa people call them “Chijuya.” People are remembering their loved ones far away from their hometowns, and chirping small birds are flying around. We’ll sing and dance for the refugees from Ukraine.

Dance：Hamachidori --- Plovers on the Beach

“Sugarcane Fields.”  Under the green sugarcane fields of Okinawa, the bones of countless people who died in the battles are buried. Children who lost their fathers in the war have grown up and walk through the sugarcane fields, looking for their fathers. The sound of the wind in the waves of summer greenery is repeated as “zawawa” and “zawawa.” The song is filled with prayers for peace.

Dance：Sugarcane Fields

“A Lullaby from Takeda Region.” In Japan, there was a time when children as young as 4 or 5 years old were sent away to work as migrant laborers. They were the poorest people and were the most discriminated against. We have to remember that Japan had such a history.

Dance：A Lullaby from Takeda Region

“Jin-jin” brightly and cheerfully with the hope that even if children may feel sad and cry, they will live and grow up strong and bright. “Jin-jin” means “fireflies” in the Okinawan dialect.

Dance：Jin-jin --- Fireflies

Encore - We’ll sing in chorus “Furusato --- Hometown” and “Akatombo --- Red Dragonflies.”

Encore

Song：Akatonbo --- Red Dragonflies

Song：Furusato --- Hometown

End

On Thursday, August 17th, in Toronto at JCCC, we will perform a musical of “Naomi’s Tree” written by Joy Kogawa and dramatized by our group.

This is a story of a Japanese-Canadian girl who was driven from place to place in Canada and lost her mother in the atomic bombing, as Japan and Canada were also at war during World War II.

Except for the main character, Naomi, all the other characters appear as insects and animals in this fantasy.

Thank You to all that attended

For those who have purchased a VIP Family Package or our sponsors, please stay and enjoy a beverage and desert and meet with some of the performers of Karakoro EISA.

Tickets

Please note the reserved seating is available in the Premium Section by either purchasing VIP Tickets or reserved seating tickets.  All other tickets will be rush seating only.  All Tickets will go on sale June 1st.

Reserved seats in the Premium Section will be $45 Non Member Pricing or $40 member pricing + PST

Individual rush seating tickets $35 Non Member pricing or $30 member pricing + PST

ORDER TICKETS - HERE

VIP tickets -

Family Sponsorship - $125 (Income tax receipt issued for $50)- 2 VIP seating tickets to the event and access to the post performance VIP event.  Your name is added to the sponsorship webpage for the event - ORDER HERE

Corporate Momoji Level - $250 (Income tax receipt for $100) - 4 VIP seating tickets to the event and access to the post performance VIP event.  Your business logo will be added to the webpage and program.

Corporate Sakura Level - $500 ( Income tax receipt for $$250) - 6 VIP setting tickets to the event and access to the post performance VIP event.  Your business logo will be added to the webpage and program.

Opportunities will exist for other amounts will be accepted.  Please call Kelly Kaita at 204-774-5909and leave your name and number.

Please welcome some of our special guests who represent team Manitoba from the Special Olympics (Manitoba)

About Special Olympics Manitoba 

Special Olympics Manitoba is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability through sport. Their vision is that sport will open hearts and minds towards people with intellectual disabilities and create more inclusive communities. Visit www.specialolympics.mb.ca to learn more about our organization, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@SpecOManitoba).