News From Junko:

February 15 , 2010:

Happy Presidents Day!

I have listed two new Bingata pouches on the Pouches page, please check them out!

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February 11 , 2010:

Happy February! I am going to introduce my make up �i���x�����jtoday. Okinawan traditional dance make up�i�������x�����jis quite different compared to Japanese Kabuki make up�@�i�����������j. Here is an example of Okinawan dance make up for Wakashu dance (young boy's character). On the far left, as Junko is about half-way through the process of her make up, she is adding black eyeliner over pink eyeshadow, before enhancing her eyebrows with the dark pencil as well. . The center photo shows Junko putting white foundation on her hands, before adding it to her neckline as well. In the photo at far right, Junko is adding a hair piece (in the traditional way, the hair piece should be interwoven with the dancer's own hair, if it's long enough). .

 

The costume for the Wakashu ���O������(young boy's character) court dance

Okinawan traditional dance make up is different from Kabuki make up, which is much whiter and does not include a pink foundation. Okinawan traditional dance makeup starts with the application of a pink foundation, with white powder �i�������jused for shadowing. Although make up methods differ depending on the character in a specific dance, as you can see in the ���x�@sample make up photos below, the Kabuki make up in two photos (upper right (woman's character), lower left (man's character)) simply use a white powder foundation.

The top-center image is closest to the make up of Okinawan traditional dance-style makeup. The upper-right image depicts the make up used for woman's characters in Kabuki, while the bottom-left and bottom-right images show make up used for two different styles of male Kabuki characters.

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January 1, 2010:

Happy New Year!

Hi, I am back to NY and would like to present some photos that I shot at my hometown, Yomitan Village, Okinawa. The average temperature in Okinawa in December is in the 70s, and there are many tropical flowers blossoming in Yomitan Village (near Cape Zampa). Please enjoy:

I also performed dance, played the Sanshin and sang some folk songs at the Senaha Town Hall, at a gathering of the Izumino-kai Seniors circle.
Here are some photos from my performance there:

Please stay tuned for information on my upcoming performances in 2010, in the dance schedule section.

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November 22, 2009:

Thanks for your support throughout the year!

Junko will be in Okinawa for most of the rest of the year. It may take her a little longer than usual to respond to new inquiries related to dance or handbags, but keep those emails coming!

Happy holidays to all!

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October 26, 2009:

Junko introduced a new Momiji clutch for fall, please check the Pouches/Clutches section.

The Texas division of the Miyagi Nosho-kai Ryukyu Dance school will have a recital this Sunday November 1; please visit the dance schedule page for details. If you in or near Irving/Dallas, please visit the theater; I gurantee you'll experience authentical Okinawa traditional dance and music!

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October 7, 2009:

Junko met with Deigo Musume and Shima Daiko performers after their brilliant performance at the Folk Festival of Japan at Carnegie Hall on Sept. 25th. Thier performance was awesome.. Bravo!!

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September 7, 2009: Happy Labor Day!

I have listed a new tote and reduced some prices for our Holiday sale, as well as listing new pouches. Please check them out!

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August 9, 2009:

Thank you to everyone who joined yesterday's Okinawan dance demonstration. It was really great that 125 people showed up! Everyone seemed to enjoy the Okinawan dances we performed, as well as the workshop, including the demonstration of how to wear Okinawan kimonos correctly.

Below are photos of Junko, Sayoko and the workshops:

 

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July 12 , 2009:

The Bon Odori in Westport yesterday had its best crowd ever! It was a great event and a great afternoon.

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June 27, 2009:

There are several new entries on the Pouches page; please check them out!

Also, here's a shout out to my new fan club in Victoria, Australia: Hi!

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June 7, 2009:

Thank you to all the participants in yesterday's demo and workshop at the Lotus Music & Dance Studio in Manhattan. Please join the Bon Odori class n next Sunday in Forest Hills. There's a street fair on Austin Street the same day, so it should be lots of fun!

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May 24, 2009:

Happy Memorial Day weekend! I just listed new totes bags today, please check the totes section. More totes will be listed shortly; please check the totes page frequently!.

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May 23, 2009:

It was lots of fun dancing and singing to Junko's Sanshin playing at the Bon dance class on May 17th. You can see photos of the fun we had (taken by the talented Ms. Itoe Sagai) HERE.

Our Summer Bon class will be at the same place, All Star Studios in Forest Hills on June 14 (there's also a Street Fair on Austin Street the same day!).
I hope you join my next bon odori and singing class.

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May 10, 2009:

We had a rainy day for the 10th Annual White Plains Sakura Maturi event, but I enjoyed the performance. Better luck next year!.

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May 1, 2009:

Happy May!

The Sakura Matsuri at Stony Brook was great, with many guests, and the biggest audiences we ever saw at the Charles B. Wang Center. I performed the "Uchina Uchina" and "Kuroshima Kuduchi" dances this time and received many compliments. In particular, the audience loved my Kuroshima Kuduchi dance, as shown in the photo below. Thank you, Ryushu Kan, for organizing the event and for inviting me back again and again!

 

photo by Teta Capitulo

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April 23, 2009:

HANAMI REPORT:

The Greenwich Japanese School and the Japan Society of Fairfield County were fine hosts of the Hanami last Sunday (April 19). Below are photos of the lovely campus, plus a performance with my students, and the final Bon Odori workshop in which members of the audience joined us and learned the basics. A great time, a great day!

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April 7, 2009:

Happy April!

Today, I received the photo below from my friend in Tokyo. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom this week!

I hope to see you at the Hanami in Connecticut, and at the annual Sakura Matsuri on Long Island. Enjoy the Hanami in New York!

 

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March 11 , 2009:

Happy March and Spring. I am so excited to join the 3rd annual Asian American Cultural Festival in Long Island. I hope to see you there.

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February 16 , 2009:

Happy Presidents Day!

Junko is seeking dancers interested in learning Okinawan dances and joining our public performances. Please contact Junko at 718-631-2637, or E-mail: Junko@JunkoFisher.com.

Junko teaches not only the basics of Okinawan dances, but also Okinawan folk songs with Sanshin, culture and dialects of Okinawa.

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January 1 , 2009:

Happy New Year to all! I hope everyone had a great New Year's Eve!

This year I'm planning to have many performances (and open rehearsals/workshops, too), so please contact me with questions on class or performances. My kickoff performance this year will be at the Nippon Club next week; I'm very excited to perform for members of the Club!
I also plan to join the 3rd Annual Asian Culture Festival in March, and will present my bags at a booth there. I look forward to seeing you all in March as well.

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December 7, 2008:

Yesterday I joined the performance at the Asia Society. Three dancers presented Polynesian dance, and another two offered up dances from India.
It was great opportunity for me to experience Polynesian and Indian dances. I took some photos with them in the green room:

 

Asia Society, NY, December 2008

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November 23, 2008:

On November 15, I joined the Second Annual Kiku Festival at the Bronx Botanic Garden. Thank you for all coming to my performance.
After the recital there, I went to see the Kiku Exhibitions and would like to share some kiku with you; they were awesome!

Kiku Festival, Bronx, NY, November 2008

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October 13, 2008:

On October 4, I danced theNuchi Bana dance at the Partnerships in Learning and Creative Exploration Inc. (PLACE) Multicultural Festival in Hamden, CT. The gazebo-shaped stage was set up in the middle of beautiful Meadowbrook Park, and I enjoyed dancing on that huge stage very much. The kids at the Festival especially enjoyed my dance with bamboo castanets (Yotsudake).

Junko at the PLACE Multicultural Festival, Hamden, CT, October 2008

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September 10, 2008:

There's a new Momiji Flat Bag on the Totes page; check it out.

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September 5, 2008:

This week, I have listed new flat bags with long strap on the Tote section. Please check them. These flat bags are really comfortable to carry around!

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August 22, 2008:

My new "Sakura" totes are up on the web; please take a look at the Tote section. These two bags are really nice.
Please hurry to order! I got the fabric last month, and wanted to save the Sakura fabric until next Spring, but I just couldn't wait,
since these fabrics are so beautiful!

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1) With Chairperson Mr. Harry Sakamaki. 2) Dancing with the audience. 3) With Kappa Daido Geinin entertainer Mr. Oikado Ichiro.

July 26, 2008:

I joined the Westport, CT, Bon and Tanabata Festival sponsored by the Japan Society of Fairfield County, Inc. It was a great festival with a very responsive crowd. In addition to dancing the Bon dance with many new dancers, I was lucky enough to see Oikado-san's unique Kappa dance there, as well as listening to Ohtatsu Taiko's drum' performance and workshop. At the end of the afternoon, all the children were given
a piece of the Tanabata (bamboo) trees with tags bearing their names written in Japanese, to hang on their own bamboo trees for good luck.

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