The Japan Foundation, Toronto and the Toronto Storytelling Festival present

The 25th Katari Japanese Storytelling Show – Hina Doll Festival.

Join us for an afternoon of Japanese folk tales, songs and stories at the 25th annual Katari Japanese Storytelling event. This family-friendly event is presented in cooperation with the Toronto Storytelling Festival. The Katari Japanese Storytellers programme includes traditional and contemporary stories accompanied by guitar renditions, for visitors of all ages.

Audience: Family
Admission: Free (RSVP required)
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes

**Registration will open in February 2018**

Programme:

1. Natalie Vachon : Issun Boshi
2. Aisha Masaoka : A Boy in the Moon
3. Koko Kikucho : Saburo, the Eel Hunter
4. Yusuke Tanaka : Reiko’s Hina Dolls
5. Rui Umezawa : The Art of Fighting Without Fighting
6. Noriko Yamamoto : Clown

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Koko Kikuchi Born in Tohoku, in the Northeast region of Japan, Koko has been involved in Katari since its inception. He specialized in the folktakes of his native region of Iwate.

Yusuke Tanaka Veteran translator, writer and director of the Katari Storytellers since 1994, he has been telling Ainu people’s stories and his own adaptations of Japanese folklore in many places including New York, Seoul, Kyoto, Tokyo and Sapporo.

Noriko Yamamoto A professional dancer, mime, silent storyteller, and visual artist. Since moving to Toronto from Tokyo in 1994, Noriko has added Nia dance exercise to her repertoire. She performs regularly at schools, libraries, festivals, and at various other events.

Nathalie Vachon A writer/storyteller and painter whose work is described as whimsical, magical and heartwarming. She lived in Osaka for a year and a half and loves to share, hear stories and travel back into memories of Japan and Asia.

Rui Umezawa A Toronto writer and storyteller. His novel The Truth About Death and Dying was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Prize for Best First Book. His past participation in Katari inspired his most recent publication, Strange Light Afar: Tales of the Supernatural from Old Japan.

Aisha Masaoka Aisha is excited to have the opportunity to perform with the Katari Storytellers again. She is a graduate of Humber College’s Theatre Performance Program. She recently moved to Listowel, Ontario from Toronto and is enjoying the small town life.

*** Registration is at capacity for this event. To join the waiting list please email library@jftor.org  RSVPs will be held until 10 minutes before the start of the event, after which point patrons from the waiting list will be allowed in, if space allows.