Kineya Kichikazu

Greater Los Angeles Asian/Asian-American/Pacific Islander Music

As a participant in ACTA’s Traditional Arts Development Program in 2005, Kineya Kichikazu, director of Los Angeles’ Japanese nagauta ensemble Toei-Kai, hosted Kineya Saeiji, a master musician from Japan, to conduct a three-day workshop and lead Toei-Kai members in a concert.  Nagauta music was traditionally performed as the accompaniment to Japanese Kabuki theater but now it may also be performed alone or with Japanese classical dance.  The concert premiered a composition by the late Master Kineya Kischisaburo who founded the Toei-Kai performance group.