Who We Are
The Nihon Buyo Kai of California (NBK) was incorporated in April 2012 as a nonprofit charitable organization under Section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code, Federal Tax ID 45-5478617.
The seven board members are former students of the late Madame Bando Mitsuhiro, renowned and recognized dance instructor in Southern California since her immigration to the United States in 1968. She had studied classical dance in Japan since childhood, attaining her teaching certification under the Bando School in Tokyo, then taught in Japan before moving to Los Angeles.
The board members of NBK are passionate about carrying on the legacy of Bando Mitsuhiro whose dream was to promote Japanese dance, or “buyo,” throughout the U.S, and from whom they studied for many decades before her passing.
All board members are volunteers who receive no salary or wage compensation.
Our Mission
The mission of the Nihon Buyo Kai of California is to preserve, promote and present Japanese classical and traditional dance forms such as, but not limited to, nagauta, hauta, kiyomoto, gidayu, tokiwazu, and sousaku buyo and to enhance knowledge of these dance forms through lecture or narration of the movements, history of the dance piece, and significance of the dance and its music.
Through demonstration, performance, and narratives, the public will gain greater awareness, understanding, and appreciation for Japanese traditional and classical dance and the arts associated with it such as the dance wig, costuming, make-up, and music.
Grants, donations, sponsorships, partnerships, and admission fees will enable public performances which will feature local students who study Japanese traditional and classical dance and their teachers, and whenever possible, highlight guest artists from Japan who will share their artistic talents and expertise.