Ontario

Matt Miwa

Matt Miwa was born in North York, Ontario but grew up in Aurora, Ontario, 40 minutes north of Toronto. With his mother’s family living in the United States, Matt grew up surrounded mostly by his Japanese Canadian extended family (his father’s side), getting together annually for every single holiday – New Years, Easter, Mother’s Day, […]

Suzanne Liska

Suzanne Liska is a teacher, choreographer, dancer and researcher specializing in somatic practices, contemporary dance/theatre, Japanese artforms and physical partnering. She has choreographed and danced in works for CanAsian KickStart, DanceWorks CoWorks, Dusk Dances, and Dance Matters, receiving grants and awards through the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, York University and SSHRC (Canadian Graduate […]

Mio Sakamoto

Mio Sakamoto is a Toronto based performer, choreographer, and certified Kaeja Elevation teacher originally from Japan. Sakamoto graduated from The School of Toronto Dance Theatre in 2017. In 2018, she trained at B12 Festival and Nuova Officinal Della Danza. Over the past few years, she has performed (selected) Crépuscule by Marie-Josée Chartier, October Sky by […]

Warren P. Sonoda

BAFTA-winning and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Warren P. Sonoda is known for directing his features Coopers’ Camera, Swearnet: The Movie, 5ive Girls, Ham & Cheese, the iconic TV shows Trailer Park Boys, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Murdoch Mysteries and over 160 music videos, 70 episodes of TV and 11 feature films. He’s received over 40 national […]

Will Shintani

A Yonsei, Will was born and raised in Toronto, ON, Canada. Mom is Japanese-Canadian, and Dad is Ecuadorian. Using both traditional and digital illustration, Will strives to create artworks that examine the human condition. He likes to engage, study and analyze people. Will says, “It’s about asking questions as much as it is about answers.” […]

David Kai

David Kai grew up in Toronto as a Sansei attending the Centennial-Japanese United Church where he was highly involved in its music ministry. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto, the Humber College music program where he specialized in arranging and composing, and The Centre for Christian Studies. Commissioned as a diaconal minister […]

Teiya Kasahara 笠原 貞野

Nikkei-Canadian settler Teiya Kasahara 笠原 貞野 (they/them) is a queer, trans non-binary, interdisciplinary creator-performer based in Tkarón:to (Toronto). Heralded as “a force of nature” (Toronto Star) and “an artist with extraordinary things to say” (The Globe and Mail) Teiya comes from a background of over a decade of singing both traditional and contemporary operatic roles […]

Tashme Productions

“The Tashme Project” is a 75-minute verbatim theatre piece that traces the history and common experience of the Nisei through childhood, WWII internment and post-war resettlement east of the Rockies. The Nisei, now in their 70’s and 80’s, were children at the time of internment and their stories of adventure and play are presented in […]

Justine Wong

hello! I’m Justine Wong, a full-time freelance illustrator based in Toronto and Tokyo. I am also the creator of the project ’21 Days in Japan: An Illustrative Study on Japanese Cuisine’, consisting of 100 paintings of my meals throughout Japan. When I am not illustrating, I am a dedicated member of Lunchroom, a creative collective […]

Scott Kokichi Kusano

Kokichi began his performing career at the age of 5 as a member of the Toronto Suwa Daiko a cultural association located in Toronto. Subsequently, Kokichi was introduced again to Japanese music during high school after the death of his grandfather and introduction to the Buddhist Temple where he was re-united with Taiko in 1996 […]

Hitoko Okada

Hitoko Okada is a fibre artist and craft maker based in Hamilton, Ontario. She started her career as a props maker and costumer in professional theatre in Vancouver, British Columbia and throughout Southern Ontario, including The Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, The Grand Theatre in London, Ontario, and Mirvish Productions in Toronto, Ontario. Her […]

Shinya Kumazawa

Inspired by the beautiful scenery of High Park, Toronto, Shinya Kumazawa has been living and painting in Toronto since 2000. Mesmerized by the shifting seasons as they unfold on the 400 acres, ranging from blooming cherry blossoms from his homeland to changing fall leaves and glittering snowscapes typical of the Canadian landscape, Shinya has created […]

Katsuhiko Takada

Alana Keiko Fleming

Alana Keiko Fleming is a yonsei illustrator, graphic designer, and animator who has worked on blockbuster movies such as Ghostbusters (2017), Alpha, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. She is currently working on a board game called DreamWeavers. Her art style is a reflection of her culture, a mix of anime and western […]

Warren Hoyano

Warren Hoyano works with paper and watercolour. He creates two and three-dimensional work often by non-traditional means. This involves bending and folding prepared paper in ways that add structure and volume. Hoyano has participated in solo and juried shows since 2004.