Japan Week in S.F. Japantown

Francis Wong, Tatsu Aoki, Kioto Aoki and Melody Takata performing “Shadow to Shadow” in 2014. (Photo by Kahn Yamada)

SAN FRANCISCO — Japan Week 2015 will be held in San Francisco Japantown from Monday, June 22, to Sunday, June 28.

Featured events:

“Asian Improv in Diaspora: The Tokyo-Chicago-San Francisco Connection” on Saturday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m. at Nihonmachi Little Friends’ Tateuchi Auditorium, 1830 Sutter St. Performance and talk by Tatsu Aoki (shamisen/bass/film) and Francis Wong (saxophone).

Japan Day on Sunday, June 28, from 12 to 5 p.m. in Peace Plaza and East Mall, Post and Buchanan streets. Performances/demonstrations of taiko, shamisen, dance and calligraphy, plus Bon Odori led by Japanese classical dance instructor Michiya Hanayagi.

Japan Week is co-presented by GenRyu Arts, Asian Improv Arts, Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center, Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, and Nihonmachi Little Friends, with generous support from Grants for the Arts, California Arts Council, Japan Center Malls, Japantown Merchants Association, San Francisco Arts Commission, and Zellerbach Family Foundation.

For more information, visit www.genryuarts.org.