Taiko Master Kenny Endo Returning to Satsuki Bazaar and Arts Festival

BERKELEY — As part of his 40th Anniversary Celebration Tour, taiko master Kenny Endo is returning to headline the entertainment at the 67th annual Satsuki Bazaar and Arts Festival on Sunday, May 22, at the Berkeley Buddhist Temple.

The two-day bazaar and arts festival, which is the major fundraiser for the temple, will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, and from 12 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 22. The temple is located at 2121 Channing Way.

The entertainment, which will be free, will also feature Hawaiian music by JCCCNC ‘Ukulele as well as Dance Identity, which will perform a lively mix of Bollywood, hip- hop and Bhangra styles. Taikoist Carol Chen will emcee the event.

The bazaar will feature a variety of Japanese, Hawaiian and Asian foods, including sushi, udon, loco moco, kalua pork, curry rice and shave ice as well as American fare such as hot dogs, barbecued steaks, hamburgers and portobello mushroom burgers. The event will also feature a silent auction, arts and crafts, games for children and homemade baked goods.

“We welcome everyone to our 65th annual Satsuki Bazaar and Arts Festival,” said Russell Ware and Sara Jotoku, co-chairs of the bazaar. “We are honored that Kenny Endo chose the Satsuki Bazaar and Arts Festival as part of his 40th Anniversary Celebration Tour. Please join us for a weekend of great entertainment, delicious food and a memorable time at the temple.”

Kenny Endo

For Endo, headlining the bazaar entertainment has become a welcome, repeat event.

“The Satsuki Festival is one of my favorite events to perform at,” said Endo in 2014, his most recent appearance at Satsuki. “I always appreciate the temple members coming together to work so hard to make the festival successful every year. There’s a positive feeling of community spirit that’s been lost in most areas. It’s a modern manifestation of true Buddhism.”

Endo will perform with a group of renowned musicians: Hiroshi Tanaka, Mas Koga, Eien Hunter-Ishikawa and Noriko Tsuboi Nusthit.

JCCCNC ‘Ukulele has been performing Hawaiian music and playing ‘ukulele at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center in San Francisco for over a decade. They were guest performers in 2011 at the Honolulu ‘Ukulele Festival and the Maui ‘Ukulele Festival in 2012. They perform regularly at community events and Bay Area music festivals.

Dance Identity was founded in 2009 by choreographer and teacher Shaira Bhan. The Dance Identity troupe teaches classes and performs at various events and concerts. They have performed at the Miss India Pageant in Northern California and Performers for Choice Awards 2010 in San Francisco, and have collaborated with professional choreographers.

Chen has been a member of San Francisco Taiko Dojo since 2011 and first began to emcee the group’s outdoor performances at San Francisco Japantown’s Cherry Blossom Festival.

A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit Maya’s Musical Therapy Fund, which empowers people with developmental disabilities to increase their autonomy, build community and expand artistic expression through music therapy.

For more information, visit the Berkeley Buddhist Temple’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BerkeleyBuddhistTemple/ or the Berkeley Buddhist Temple’s website at: www.berkeleysangha.org/.