2026 FEATURED ARTISTS
Honu Sumo Club https://www.honusumoclub.com/
Honu Sumo is a San Diego based amateur sumo organization dedicated to growing the sport of sumo in the United States through competition, education, and community engagement. Working closely with the United States Sumo Federation (USSF), Honu Sumo provides training opportunities for youth, adults, and masters athletes while also helping develop national level competitors. The organization focuses on introducing sumo to new communities, supporting athletes on their path to national and international competition, and building a strong pipeline for Team USA.
Honu Sumo is a San Diego based amateur sumo organization dedicated to growing the sport of sumo in the United States through competition, education, and community engagement. Working closely with the United States Sumo Federation (USSF), Honu Sumo provides training opportunities for youth, adults, and masters athletes while also helping develop national level competitors. The organization focuses on introducing sumo to new communities, supporting athletes on their path to national and international competition, and building a strong pipeline for Team USA.
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Christina Griffin-Jones – Co-Founder, Honu Sumo
Christina Griffin-Jones is a pioneer in American amateur sumo and made history as the first African American female sumo wrestler to medal on the world stage. She has been instrumental in developing the women’s side of the sport in the U.S. and continues to advocate for greater access and visibility for women in sumo. JJ Jones – Co-Founder, Honu Sumo JJ Jones is a National Champion sumo wrestler and serves as a national team coach for the United States Sumo Federation (USSF). He has been deeply involved in growing the sport through coaching, event organization, and athlete development, guiding numerous athletes toward international competition. Kellyann Ball – Team USA Athlete Kellyann Ball is the most decorated active American amateur sumo wrestler on the international stage. Having consistently medaled at multiple World Championships, her achievements have elevated the profile of U.S. women’s sumo globally as she continues to compete, coach, and mentor the next generation. |
RETURNING ARTISTS
Hideaki and Hitomi
Hideaki started to play taiko with Soh Daiko in New York City from 1995 and Hitomi joined the group in 1999. During those years they had a chance to perform with some taiko players from Hachijo Island and fell in love with their taiko style. They went to Hachijo to immerse themselves in the Hachijo style and there, Hideaki and Hitomi learned their unique and individual style directly from the islanders. The Hachijo style can be learned and enjoyed by anyone, and they encourage you to experience it for yourself. Since 2007 Hideaki and Hitomi have made Sonoma County their home.
Elliot Kanshin Kallen www.japanflute.com
Elliot Kanshin Kallen plays the shakuhachi, the end-blown Japanese bamboo flute. He uses the instrument in a wide variety of contexts, from classical Japanese ensemble music with koto and shamisen, the traditional solo Zen repertoire, to the exploratory sounds of the avant-garde. He is often performing throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. He performs, teaches, and gives lectures and workshops on Japanese music and the shakuhachi from his home base in Northern California.
Naoko www.naokokoto.web.fc2.com
Naoko has been playing the koto since she was six years old. She was taught by Koji Kikuhara who was a highly ranked student of National Living Treasure Hatsuko Kikuhara. In 1987, she passed a professional music examination at the Todo
Music Association. She studied classical singing with Ichijuro Kiyomoto and Fujima style dance with Monjuro Fujima from 1979 to 1981. Naoko plays Nogawa-style Jiuta shamisen and Ikuta-style koto and has performed throughout the United States since 1994.
Sonoma County Taiko www.sonomacountytaiko.org
Sonoma County Taiko is a community-based non-profit organization, whose mission is “building a community of acceptance, harmony, and respect through our love of taiko.” Sonoma County Taiko has been sharing the cultural and musical aspects of Japanese taiko drumming with the communities in San Francisco Bay Area and the North Bay since 1995. Sonoma County Taiko offers performances at schools and festivals as well as cultural and private events. It also offers classes and workshops to people of all ages and abilities.
Ensohza Minyoshu www.ensohza.org
Formed in 2006, Ensohza is a traditional Japanese folk-performing ensemble based in the San Francisco Bay Area. They perform music that evokes the festival spirit and character of Japan’s diverse rural communities. With lively vocals accompanied by fue and shakuhachi (bamboo flutes), shamisen (a stringed instrument) and the beat of the taiko drum, Ensohza transports you to Japan’s mountain and fishing villages with traditional folk songs and festival dance music.
Ron Kodo Brown
A long-time fixture in the Bay Area world of Ikebana, Ron Brown brings innovative, inspiring enthusiasm to Ikebana audiences and his students. He began his studies in Sogetsu Ikebana in 1979 with Burleigh Fedanzo, then became a student of Shuko Kobayashi, with whom he studied until Kobayashi-sensei's retirement. In 2007, Ron became a student of Kika Shibata, and continues to study with her today. Ron holds the rank of Komon. In April of 2017 Ron went to Japan for the 90th anniversary celebrations of founding of the Sogetsu School where he received the Akane Teshigahara Overseas award. Ron is the Director of the Sogetsu San Francisco Bay Area Branch and a member of the Sogetsu Teacher's Association in Tokyo. Ron makes his home in Cloverdale, California.
DeLeon Judo Club www.deleonjudoclub.com
Established in 1970, the DeLeon Judo Club is the oldest, and largest Judo Club in Sonoma County. Head instructor is Henry Kaku, 5th Dan Black belt with almost 60 years of experience. Judo was developed in 1882 for self-defense and to help develop the mind and body. It is the first martial art introduced in the Olympics.
Sakura-Ren www.facebook.com/sfsakuraren
Sakura-Ren has been performing Awa-Odori, a traditional Japanese dance, in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2013. Always an audience favorite, Sakura-Ren’s brilliant traditional costumes and high energy never fail to enchant and engage Matsuri’s attendees.
Bay Area Miyake
Bay Area Miyake is a group brought together by Sonoma County Taiko, recipient of Matsuri Scholarship. The scholarship helped them invite teachers from Japan to study the traditional taiko piece Miyake Daiko directly from them.
Eiko Soei Mouri
Soei Mouri-sensei is a key figure in preserving and transmitting the Omotesenke tea tradition in the U.S. As the previous Vice President of Omotesenke Domonkai of Northern California, she has worked closely with the Omotesenke headquarter in Kyoto, Japan, and has energetically led projects to promote tea culture for more than 45years. In addition to offering private lessons at her residence and group classes, she has also taught college-level courses and conducted countless demonstrations to introduce broader audiences to Japanese tea culture.
Hideaki started to play taiko with Soh Daiko in New York City from 1995 and Hitomi joined the group in 1999. During those years they had a chance to perform with some taiko players from Hachijo Island and fell in love with their taiko style. They went to Hachijo to immerse themselves in the Hachijo style and there, Hideaki and Hitomi learned their unique and individual style directly from the islanders. The Hachijo style can be learned and enjoyed by anyone, and they encourage you to experience it for yourself. Since 2007 Hideaki and Hitomi have made Sonoma County their home.
Elliot Kanshin Kallen www.japanflute.com
Elliot Kanshin Kallen plays the shakuhachi, the end-blown Japanese bamboo flute. He uses the instrument in a wide variety of contexts, from classical Japanese ensemble music with koto and shamisen, the traditional solo Zen repertoire, to the exploratory sounds of the avant-garde. He is often performing throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. He performs, teaches, and gives lectures and workshops on Japanese music and the shakuhachi from his home base in Northern California.
Naoko www.naokokoto.web.fc2.com
Naoko has been playing the koto since she was six years old. She was taught by Koji Kikuhara who was a highly ranked student of National Living Treasure Hatsuko Kikuhara. In 1987, she passed a professional music examination at the Todo
Music Association. She studied classical singing with Ichijuro Kiyomoto and Fujima style dance with Monjuro Fujima from 1979 to 1981. Naoko plays Nogawa-style Jiuta shamisen and Ikuta-style koto and has performed throughout the United States since 1994.
Sonoma County Taiko www.sonomacountytaiko.org
Sonoma County Taiko is a community-based non-profit organization, whose mission is “building a community of acceptance, harmony, and respect through our love of taiko.” Sonoma County Taiko has been sharing the cultural and musical aspects of Japanese taiko drumming with the communities in San Francisco Bay Area and the North Bay since 1995. Sonoma County Taiko offers performances at schools and festivals as well as cultural and private events. It also offers classes and workshops to people of all ages and abilities.
Ensohza Minyoshu www.ensohza.org
Formed in 2006, Ensohza is a traditional Japanese folk-performing ensemble based in the San Francisco Bay Area. They perform music that evokes the festival spirit and character of Japan’s diverse rural communities. With lively vocals accompanied by fue and shakuhachi (bamboo flutes), shamisen (a stringed instrument) and the beat of the taiko drum, Ensohza transports you to Japan’s mountain and fishing villages with traditional folk songs and festival dance music.
Ron Kodo Brown
A long-time fixture in the Bay Area world of Ikebana, Ron Brown brings innovative, inspiring enthusiasm to Ikebana audiences and his students. He began his studies in Sogetsu Ikebana in 1979 with Burleigh Fedanzo, then became a student of Shuko Kobayashi, with whom he studied until Kobayashi-sensei's retirement. In 2007, Ron became a student of Kika Shibata, and continues to study with her today. Ron holds the rank of Komon. In April of 2017 Ron went to Japan for the 90th anniversary celebrations of founding of the Sogetsu School where he received the Akane Teshigahara Overseas award. Ron is the Director of the Sogetsu San Francisco Bay Area Branch and a member of the Sogetsu Teacher's Association in Tokyo. Ron makes his home in Cloverdale, California.
DeLeon Judo Club www.deleonjudoclub.com
Established in 1970, the DeLeon Judo Club is the oldest, and largest Judo Club in Sonoma County. Head instructor is Henry Kaku, 5th Dan Black belt with almost 60 years of experience. Judo was developed in 1882 for self-defense and to help develop the mind and body. It is the first martial art introduced in the Olympics.
Sakura-Ren www.facebook.com/sfsakuraren
Sakura-Ren has been performing Awa-Odori, a traditional Japanese dance, in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2013. Always an audience favorite, Sakura-Ren’s brilliant traditional costumes and high energy never fail to enchant and engage Matsuri’s attendees.
Bay Area Miyake
Bay Area Miyake is a group brought together by Sonoma County Taiko, recipient of Matsuri Scholarship. The scholarship helped them invite teachers from Japan to study the traditional taiko piece Miyake Daiko directly from them.
Eiko Soei Mouri
Soei Mouri-sensei is a key figure in preserving and transmitting the Omotesenke tea tradition in the U.S. As the previous Vice President of Omotesenke Domonkai of Northern California, she has worked closely with the Omotesenke headquarter in Kyoto, Japan, and has energetically led projects to promote tea culture for more than 45years. In addition to offering private lessons at her residence and group classes, she has also taught college-level courses and conducted countless demonstrations to introduce broader audiences to Japanese tea culture.