Ichinosuke Umekawa | An Afternoon of Japanese Classical Dance

This autumn, step into the dreamlike world of buyo (Japanese classical dance), a spellbinding art form that uses subtle, flowing gestures to express everything from falling cherry blossoms to a lover's yearning. Buyo has its roots in Japan's Kabuki and Noh theater, but evolved into its own medium that tells dramatic stories through minimalist props and restrained yet fluid movements. For one special afternoon, renowned dancer Ichinosuke Umekawa brings this rarely-seen art to Hollywood in an intimate performance that bridges centuries-old tradition with contemporary innovation.

Umekawa is one of the world's foremost buyo dancers today, acclaimed for his bold collaborations that blend classical dance with poetry, orchestral music, and animation. After beginning his career with the prestigious Tokyo Ballet and as a Kabuki actor, he decided in 2016 to dedicate himself entirely to buyo. Trained under Living National Treasure Tamasaburō Bandō, one of Japan's most celebrated masters, Umekawa has become a next-generation cultural ambassador for buyo. Passionate about sharing his artistry with audiences worldwide, he performs and teaches across Japan and internationally, from theaters and festivals to the screens of Japan Airlines flights seen by millions of passengers.

In partnership with The Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities at UCLA, this afternoon event will open with Dr. Satoko Shimazaki of UCLA providing an introduction to the history and development of kabuki and Japanese classical dance, offering context that deepens appreciation for the performance. Umekawa: will then give two distinct performances: one rooted in classical dance and the other exploring modern themes. Following the performances, Umekawa will share insights into his artistic journey and experiences as a cultural bridge between East and West, taking questions from the audience.

Join us for this unique opportunity to witness an art form where simple gestures create profound emotion, and centuries of dance come alive on stage.

About the Artist

Ichinosuke Umekawa was born in Hita City, Oita Prefecture, and graduated from Niigata University. He began his dance career with the Tokyo Ballet and as a Kabuki actor before transitioning in 2016 to focus on classical Japanese dance (Nihon buyō) as his primary art form. He is training in Japanese dance under his master, Living National Treasure Tamasaburō Bandō.

In addition to performing throughout Japan and internationally, he engages in a wide range of collaborations that blend Japanese dance with poetry, haiku, orchestral music, animation, and other artistic genres. He currently appears in the in-flight landing video shown on all Japan Airlines (JAL) flights.

His overseas appearances at the invitation of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs include the 120th Anniversary of Japan-Greece Diplomatic Relations performance in Athens, Greece (2019), the Japan Self-Defense Forces 70th Anniversary Reception at the Official Residence of the Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles (2024), and the upcoming Japan-China Cultural Exchange Performance: Japanese Kabuki Dance and Chinese Peking Opera in China (2025).

In recent years, he has also performed as a partner to Tamasaburō Bandō in his acclaimed Talk and Su-odori stage series. As a Japanese classical dancer, or buyōka, Umekawa continues to collaborate across diverse fields and genres, forging new paths and building new audiences for the art form.

About the Speaker

Dr. Satoko Shimazaki is Associate Professor of Japanese Literature and Theater at the University of California, Los Angeles, with a joint appointment at Waseda University in Tokyo. Her research focuses on early modern Japanese theater and popular literature; sound and visual media; and the interaction of performance, print, and text. She is the author of Edo Kabuki in Transition: From the Worlds of the Samurai to the Vengeful Female Ghost (Columbia University Press, 2016).

Co-Presented by

Host or Publisher JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles