"Matsuri" the Festival

thursday, August 31 @5-9pm

the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles

Free Admission
Free food & drinks!
no RSVP necessary

Enjoy live music, free food & drinks, kimono dressing & photo session etc. Don't miss the special performance by guitarist Toshi Yanagi of "Jimmy Kimmel Live"!

This is the main event of "Japan Week on the Miracle Mile & Beyond" celebrating JFLA's re-opening. Everyone is welcome! Stop by and see us at our newly renovated center!

Music

Guitarist: Toshi Yanagi

Toshi currently holds 15 years of residence as the in-house guitarist on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” He is originally from Kawasaki, Japan, and started playing piano at the age of 4, violin at 5, then joined the Tokyo Junior Philharmonic Orchestra when he was 11. When he moved to the United States in 1985, all he had was his passport and guitar. After completing his degree at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, his session work took off immediately. He has played with such acts as James Brown, Earth Wind & Fire, Billy Gibbons, Boz Scaggs, Buddy Guy, Todd Rundgren, Men at Work, Bryan Adams, Johnny Lang, Riam Rimes, Sheryl Crow, Hall & Oates, George Benson, Chaka Khan, Gavin DeGraw, Jackson Brown and more. Follow him on Facebook!

DJ: MEISHI SMILE (DJ Set)

Meishi Smile is an electronic project based in LA, CA. The Japanese word “meishi” combined with the word “smile” is meant to convey a “formality masquerading an emotion,” describing the project’s disparate influences of harsh noise, Japanese Pop and shoegaze. The project has released on Japanese netlabel Maltine Records, LA-based Zoom Lens, as well as Captured Tracks, Cascine, Orchid Tapes and Ryan Hemsworth’s Secret Songs. Meishi Smile’s ethereal animated music videos have been premiered on Adult Swim, The Fader, Gorilla vs. Bear & Pitchfork.

Kimono Dressing

Try on a summer kimono ("Yukata") and have your photo taken by a professional photographer! Yukata dressing and professional photo shooting will be organized by Kimono SK.

Food

Have you ever had Japanese savory pancakes called "Okonomiyaki"? The Japanese condiment company, Otafuku Sauce will prepare sizzling okonomiyaki for you in either Osaka style or Hiroshima style.