US KAYO Music Festival

On Sunday, August 10, the US KAYO Music Festival took place at the Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo.
It was hosted by the Japanese Singers’ Association TOMONOKAI in USA and featured six singers from Japan.

Founded in 1963, the Japanese Singers’ Association is Japan’s leading organization for professional singers.
The U.S. branch, the Japanese Singers’ Association TOMONOKAI in USA, was established to promote Japanese popular music in America and foster international friendship.
It organized this concert to celebrate its 5th anniversary.

The event began with performances by talented singers from Los Angeles who had earned Pro-Level Singer certification from the Association.

Then came the long-awaited concert by guest artists from Japan.
First to take the stage was Shizue Abe.

She was followed by Youki Kudoh and Yuki Kashima of Los Indios, who performed the classic hit “Wakaretemo Suki na Hito”
They performed “Como Esta Los Angeles,” written by Akira Fujimoto, president of the U.S. TOMONOKAI.
Youki Kudoh then delivered a heartfelt rendition of a signature song by her father, singer Hachiro Izawa.

Next, Association Chairman Michito Goda sang traditional folk and children’s songs.

He was followed by Yumiko Kokonoe.
Closing the evening, Association President Yasuo Tanabe performed some of his hit songs.
A packed house enjoyed a night filled with timeless Japanese classics sung by the original artists themselves.

This year’s music festival was sponsored by Akira Fujimoto, president of the Japanese Singers’ Association TOMONOKAI in USA, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his Little Tokyo gift shop, the Olympic Shop.
All 800 audience members were invited free of charge.

Fujimoto is actively engaged in community service and has recently donated to the Koreisha Senior Care & Advocacy and the Seinan Senior Center to support the creation of senior care facilities.

This fall, Fujimoto will make his CD debut in Japan with a duet he wrote and performed with Shizue Abe.