Biography
Born and trained in Japan, Mariko Watabe is one of the foremost experts in theatrical Kabuki style music and dance. She is an accredited master & teacher in many fields with 50+ years overall experience playing traditional Japanese hand drums, small drums, shamisen, vocals and dance. Mariko Watabe currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.
She goes by her stage names Kimisen Katada for Hayashi, Kyosho Yamato for Yamatogaku, Kichitoji Kineya for Nagauta and Marifuji Bando for dance.
Since 1974, she has introduced Kabuki dance and music to American audiences nationwide. She has given performances, lectures, and demonstrations in all types of learning institutions throughout the United States. Other notable work includes collaborations with musicians from other genres including jazz, and koto. She has worked on soundtracks for off broadway shows, and animation film.
After living in Chicago, and New York, she moved to California, in 2012. Shortly thereafter, she formed a non-profit organization called “Fuji Japanese Music,” and began classes at the Oxnard Buddhist Temple in March 2013. She is now teaching classes in Gardena, and Hollywood as well.
She performs with her students and does collaborations with fellow Nagauta, Yamatogaku musicians in Los Angeles. She continues to teach classes in New York and New Jersey and makes frequent trips to Japan for additional training and performances.