The Dance, Kokoro

Kokoro is beautifully danced by Michelle Fujii and Toru Watanabe (L). Besides being graceful dancers, Michelle and Toru are accomplished and highly skilled taiko drummers. Michelle, is currently with the Portland Taiko and is a member of the North American Taiko Conference Advisory Board. She has a degree in Ethnomuicology from UCLA, where she was the Artistic Director of Kyodo Taiko, the first collegiate taiko group of its kind. She has been a member of San Jose Taiko, On Ensemble, TAIKOPROJECT, and Warabiza dance troupe in Japan.

Toru Watanabe, is a member of the Warabiza dance troupe. one of Japan's foremost folk-dance groups based in the Akita prefecture.