Nov. 6, 2011
Performed reading at a English Tanka workshop in Monterey, California.
As requested by the host, I presented the original works of Izumi-Shikibu, Rengetsu Otagaki, Takuboku Ishikawa, Shiki Masaoka, in chronological order, in addition to the English version of my original Tanka works.
I am proud of the participants' sincerity and creativity for Tanka, and I would like to continue support them in whatever way I can.

(Above: With Ms. Patricia Machmiller, one of the hosts)

  At the workshop.
Ms. Joan Zimmerman, one of the hosts, standing in the middle.

  Oct. 23, 2011
As in two weeks ago, I appeared again on "Tanka Hour", a radio program of FM Taman, Okinawa.
I introduced a series of Tanka about a sense of wonder that I feel through talking to Japan direct surpassing 16-hour time difference.
Photo: A microphone I used for SKYPE broadcasting of my voice and musical instruments.

  Oct. 16, 2011
Performed Tanka reading at a meeting "Haiku Poets of Northern California" (HPNC) at Fort Mason, San Francisco.
Although it was the meeting for Haiku poets, all the participants were highly interested in Tanka, and accepted me in a very favorable atmosphere.
I was so happy to know that some of the participants actually started Tanka composition, in addition to Haiku, after hearing my reading performance at HPNC some years ago.
Keeping in mind my gratitude towards them, I would like to make more efforts to offer better performance.

  Oct. 9, 2011. I appeared in a radio program, "Tanka Hour", on FM Taman. Did some reading of my own Tanka works, which were published in "Kadan" of Honami Shoten and "Tanka" of Kadokawa Shoten, both of which are renowned Tanka publications.

  Aug. 13, 2011. Ms. Lorna Sim, a photographer who visited my reading performance in Camberra, Australia, was highly interested in my reading and "Hamon", the sound instrument I use when I do reading performance.

She took beautiful pictures! Please view the photos on her album!

  Aug. 13, 2011. Participated in tanka workshop hosted by Ms. Kathy Kituai at God's HR Cafe in Australian National University.

  Together with Ms. Beverley George, the editor of "Eucalypt", we performed reading of tanka poems that each of us created.

  I was interviewed by Ms. Kathy Kituai and Ms. Beverley George about Japanese - English bilingual tanka.

  I explained attendees about Okinawa Peace & Antiwar Festival in Itoman-city, in which I participate every year.

  Aug. 11, 2011. At Asian Book Room in Canberra, Australia. Together with Ms. Amelia Fielden, we performed bilingual tanka reading of the work of the late Yuko Kawano.

  June 18, 2011. I performed tanka reading at "the 7th World Peace Appeal with Tanka" gathering. It was a wonderfurl collaboration with Mr. Yukihiro Gushi's beautiful music. (Photo above)

  June 19 (photo middle), June 26 (photo below) At. FM Taman. I read my essay posted in the Mrachi issue of Tanka Journal "Kurenai".

After the broadcast, we received a phone call from a listener. He said, "I was so moved with the strong thoughts and feelings toward Okinawa that I was near to tear." With this greatful comment, I renew my determination to do the performance to stir the strings of the listeners' hearts. (From right. Ms. Yoko Tamaki, Ms. Katsuyo Kina, self, Mr. Lee Morikawa)

  I performed tanka reading before the audience of about 20 people at the Tea Hose Event of Yuki Teikei Haiku on May 14th, in San Jose CA, USA.

Some of the attendants purchased my tanka reading CD. I am very glad to know that English speaking poets are interested in the sound of Japanese tanka.
I really think how lucky I have been to be given opportunities to do reading overseas more than 30 times to date.

I would like to continue reading, keeping in mind respect toward the literature created by different cultures, languages and historical backgrounds.

  Apr. 11, 2011. At Arches Bookstore, Utah, U.S.A.
Performed reading with Ms. Bambi Steiner. She is a daughter of Ms. Jane Reichhold, who invited me to the Jazz festival held in April, 2009.

  Feb. 19, 2011. When I performed reading at a tanka conference of KURENAI TANKA-KAI,I received a wonderful comment from Ms. Hatsuko Ikehara, a member of this tanka society.
She said that she was deeply impressed by my performance so much, and wanted to share the opportunity with more poets around. She suggested to invite tanka poets who belong to the other tanka groups next time I visit Okinawa in June.
Her comment encouraged me so much, because I did receive some unfavorable comments to me in the past.

  Feb. 20, 2011. At FM TAMAN radio station. With Ms. Yoko Tamaki, president of KURENAITANKA-KAI.

  Feb. 22, 2011. Performed tanka reading at ARIRANG cenotaph in Tokashiki Island, Okinawa.
Praying for the peaceful world.

  Feb. 13, 2011.
Asked by Ms. Yoko Tamaki of KURENAI TANKA-KAI, I appeared on FM TAMAN from my house in Tokyo over the phone!

  Nov. 6th, 2010. At "JIDAIYA" restaurant in Akasaka, Tokyo.
Ms. Beverley George, the editor of Eucalypt, an English tanka journal, and I performed tanka reading in front of an audience of 13 people. We all enjoyed friendly time together, talking about tanka.

  Oct. 23, I was invited to the Moon Viewing Party hosted by Ms. Patricia Machmiller at San Jose, California. I performed reading of 40 pieces of tanka, 20 of them themed "moonlit forest" and 20 others. I am very glad to see the audience enjoyed my performance.

   Oct. 24, a tanka workshop was held at Mr. Patric Gallagher's house. Eight of English haiku poets gathered, and created wonderful pieces of tanka. I hope a few pieces of advice, including what I was taught by my tanka teacher, turns out to be helpful for them in their creative work.

  July 29th, Tanka Reading with Ms. Linda Galloway at Chado Tea Room at Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles.

   On August 1st, we were invited to the opening party of Chado Tea Salon in the area near Beverly Hills. (photo below)

   It was a great opportunity for me, and I am very honored to be able to perform for the audience more than 100!

  June 19th, Participated in the 15th Okinawa Peace & Antiwar Festival in Itoman-city.
Not only performing tanka-reading, I played rainsticks as the background sound for the other member's reading, together with Mr. Gushi, Okinawan traditional musician.

   On the following day, I did tanka-reading at FM Taman.

  June 17th, held a reading performance event at a cafe & gallery "Figaro" in Tomigusuku-city.
The proceeds from my book & CD sales were donated to Itoman-city to help its peace-promotion activities.
The admission fee received at the "Figaro" event was donated to UNICEF Japan.

  April, 2010
I visited Okinawa for preparation and arrangements for this year's Peace & Antiwar Festival in Itoman-city.
In the festival, I will perform tanka reading in collaboration with Mr. Gushi, a famous Okinawan traditional dancer & musical instrument performer.

While I was in Okinawa, I had an opportunity to meet Ms. Kinue Ara, the maseter craftsperson of MINSAA textile.
I was invited to FM Taman, again. Thank you again, Ms. Tamaki!

  Oct. 11th, 2009 The 6th International Tanka Festival at Meiji Jingu Shrine.
Ms. Sachiko Nagata, the Hamohn perrformer, who has just returned from the concert in Paris, added a wonderful sound accompaniment to the bilingual Tanka reading performed by Ms. A. Fielden and I.
Mr. Shiro Akiba, the chairman of the Japan Tanka Poets' Society, seemed to be highly interested in our collaboration.

  With Ms. Aya Yuki, the Chief Editor of Tanka Journal, who act as mistress of ceremonies of the festival.

  With newarly 200 participants, the festival proceeded in friendly atmosphere.

  September 23, 2009 at Gosford/Edogawa Commemorative Gardens.
Performed reading of Ms. George's Haiku translated into Japanese in the presence of Gosford Mayor.

  September 24, 2009
Tanka reading with Ms. Fielden.

  WIND OVER WATER
the 4th haiku pacific rim conference
22-25 september 2009 terrigal, australia

  June 14, 2009 at FM Taman, a radio station in Okinawa.
In the talk with Ms. Yoko Tamaki, a tanka poet, I introduced my tanka reading collection CD.

  June 13, 2009 at "The 14th Peace & Antiwar Festival" in Itoman-city, Okinawa.
I felt and learned a lot from my perticipation in the festival.
It was a great opportunity that I was able to express the importance of peace in my only way of expression - reading my tanka with my own vocie.
I was very glad to know that the people in Okinawa accepted me and my performance.
I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Ms. Yoko Tamaki and the poets in Okinawa who gave me such an honorable opportunity.

  At the poetry party of KURENAI TANKA-KAI, tanka society hosted by Ms. Tamaki.

  April 11, 2009 at HPNC jazz event.
I performed tanka reading with Ms. Linda Galloway. Mr. Karl Young, third left, played Shakuhachi accompaniment.

 It was a wonderful experience for me to stand on the same stage with such wonderful performers before the audience more than a hundred! Shakuhachi, Koto, and dance were all marvellous.
Ms. Renee Owen, assistant to Ms. Jane Reichhold, the host of the event, asked me when I can revisit the US. I hope the opportunity turns up soon!

  March 14, 2009 at Ms. Julie Thorndyke's book launch party in Sydney. I performed tanka reading as well as "Hamohn", a Japanese musical instrument. Audience reaction was very positive, and I was very glad as a performer.

  March 13, 2009 at Gosford/Edogawa Commemorative Gardens in Sydney.
articipated in a pre-event of "Wind Over Water", an international event scheduled to be held in September, 2009. I performed reading together with Ms. Bevereley George, playing the sound of "Hamohn" as the background music.

  March 10, 2009 at God's Cafe in Australia National University in Camberra.
I performed tanka reading with Ms. Amelia Fielden. Mr. Rupert Summerson played wonderful sound of "Shakuhachi", a Japanese bamboo flute, while our performance. Having received many questions after our performance, I was deeply moved by the depth of recognition that the audience had in poetry.

  March 4, 2009 at Asia Bookroom in Camberra.
Performed tanka reading with Ms. Amelia Fielden in a bookstore specialized in Asian books.
It was a great pleasure for me to perform tanka reading in Japanese language before the audience who are interested in Asian culture.

  Sept. 23, 2008 Tanka reading at Santa Monica College at a poetry workshop seminar.  I was very grateful to receive a lot of wonderful comments from the attendants, who have much wider spectrum of life than myself.

  Sept. 20, 2008 At Pacific Asia Museum. Tanka was selected on the themes of illness, Africa, Water Labyrinth, and my personal message such as antiwar.

  Sept. 11 to 14, 2008 Attended Yuki Teikei Haiku Conference at Asilomar Retreat, Monterey.  I was very glad because members invited me for the conference next year, too.

  April, 2008  TANKA reading with Ms. Linda Galloway at Pacific Asia Museum.  In front of the scroll of Rengetsu Ootagaki, a female poet in Edo era whom my grandmother loved a lot.

  April, 2008  TANKA reading at Pacific Asia Museum.  I was very honored to see our performance moved the audience, and some of them were actually moved to tears.

  April, 2008  TANKA reading at Santa Monica College workshop.  I received a very grateful offer from the organizer to perform again in the future.

  April, 2008  With the members of Haiku Poets of Northern California.  Standing at the back, second form the right is the President of HPNC, Mr. Garry Gay.

  Sept, 2007 "SEIZA WO WATARU KAZE"at KIBUN-YA, Nishi-Ogikubo.

  September, 2007 “YUKI TEIKEI CONFERENCE” in San Francisco, U.S.A.
Reading with Ms. Linda Galloway.

  June, 2007 "for everyone who share this same rain"
at Café Gallery SHINE.

  June, 2007 "for everyone who share this same rain"
Collaboration with African traditional instruments.

  May, 2006
"Haiku/Tanka Festival in Vancouver"

  November, 2005
"South Wind at Longitude 135 Degrees East"

 September, 2005
At a publication party of Amelia Fielden's "Still Swimming."

 May, 2005
"WILL" reading session