LA! Special Performance in Little Tokyo - Matsui Makoto and co

“Arigato Little Tokyo, from Kaori”

Meet Up members & friends n fam: $20 per person

Special Performance by Makoto Matsui and Kinyo-u Kai”
(英語の後に日本語での説明をさせていただきます）

THIS IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AUTHENTIC
JAPANESE THEATRE FOR PEOPLE "TAISHU ENGEKI!"

Kaori Nara Turner is inviting Makoto Matsui, an established stage actor and his theatre company, to perform at Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo for the first time in 9 years.
“After I produced his show in Los Angeles in 2015, I promised to bring Makoto and his company back because there was no one like him here, and people wanted to see more,” says Kaori Turner. Matsui Makoto is a star of a theatrical style called “Taishu Engeki” - Theatre for Public. He creates a stage with dance and music producing a contemporary flamboyance along with the elegance of classic kabuki.
“It’s been 65 years since I set foot in this country. I have had a great career and have always felt Little Tokyo grounds me, so I wanted to show my gratitude to the people who have supported and protected our heritage,” says Turner. Turner will be donating 200 tickets to local elders and keeping the ticket cost at a more affordable rate of $35.
The second act will be a Karaoke performance by a local group Kinyo Kai.
Nara Kaori Turner was born in Tokyo in 1933. She began to train in traditional Japanese dance and tap dancing at the age of six and became a professional dancer at 14.
After some years as a top star of Asakusa's "Shinsekai," she moved to the United States. Koari got married but soon after suffered a torn ligament which forced her to retire from dancing. She began to assist her husband with his work, and eventually became a makeup artist in her own right. In 1978, she became the first Japanese national to become an official member of Hollywood's Makeup Artists' Union (1600 members). Currently, she has retired as a full time make up artist but still owns and operates "Star of Color" her makeup and skin care line of products and wigs.
Makoto Mastui was born to a theater family in 1960 in Fukuoka prefecture. He debuted in theaters playing the role of an abandoned baby before the age of one. Matsui started acting in Japan’s musical theatre at the age of 18, and since then has gone on to garner popularity. At the age of 25, Matsui launched his own troupe “Gekidan Makoto.” He has appeared in theatre productions, television dramas, and movies.
Kinyo-Kai is an active Karaoke group established in 1988 with 60 members in Little Tokyo. This performance features 10 singers.
BACKGROUND

The initial show “Makoto and U.S. Friends show in Los Angeles” was a huge success in 2015, and Kaori and Makoto have been planning to bring a new show since then. In 2023, when Kaori turned 90, she decided to move forward with the production because she wanted to share the show one more time with people in Los Angeles, where she always felt encouraged and supported by the community.
TICKETS AND SHOW INFORMATION

“Arigato, Little Tokyo, from Kaori” will be performed on Sunday, August 4th at 2 PM
General admission is $35;
There will be 100 tickets available for anyone who are 80+ years young! These tickets must be previously reserved - by calling or emailing ArigatoLittleTokyo@gmail.com
The show will run approximately 2 and half hours with a 15 minute intermission.
To purchase tickets:

Sanwa Enterprise Inc
114 Onizuka St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-625-1998,
or email ArigatoLittleTokyo (at) [gmail.com](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgmail.com%2F&h=AT2dFtz2KONQE-flUgklCMT9reaWa3Vs4S1mxXx49agatpp0NVynp9g6x754tZwahynwAhRXkrkzJjL__L8u-BdJh4ZUIeZ0lHbFXVWdDEGSrjsr4evyzXv8atAdnpYCUg3dq1j0D7oig8XteZAe5XQ&tn=q&c%5B0%5D=AT0O0GRjCDEJagJwV-tBDkEQ6gegBkD_e8qdmUTEdPNFnEubvY8kKXEo6LYfo22u6itkAnwoz5tID4eWwMDFEjJiagi5sHPJflJWKEnRH5Q2p9sHV4goXG5UbjaI-FNn2ig)