Photo Credit Jon LeClaire
- a joy to work with and the performance was truly beautiful.
- Events Coordinator, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire WI
- Kuniko is an outstanding and engaging performer -- the audience loved her! She is so giving of her time and talent -- she went above and beyond at the residency workshops that were scheduled throughout the week.
- Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center, Belle Glade, FL
- Kuniko was a perfect fit for our rural small schools. She was flexible and had an absolutely wonderful sense of humor! Thank you!
- Diane Hoffbauek, Director - North Slope Borough School District, ALASKA
KUNIKO YAMAMOTO enchants audiences of every age with dramatic storytelling using myths and fables from ancient and modern Japan, spiced with social revelations to educate and amuse. Kuniko uses traditional Japanese music, handcrafted masks, stylized movement and a touch of magic to create an artistic balance of illusion and reality. For younger children, Japanese Storytelling with Origami uses folded paper animals and faces, which come alive in folk tales. Every program encourages audience interaction and participation, with each narrative carefully selected for cultural and moral perspectives. Trained in dance and traditional arts in her native Osaka, Kuniko has lived in Florida since 1992. Workshops include Math Lesson with Origami, Origami Cultural Connection to Visual Arts, Origami for Teachers, Japanese Theater (Kabuki and Noh) and Japanese Music.
Here's a typical response to Kuniko's school performances, dated Oct 8th, 2010 and sent via email:
Dear Kuniko,
Thank you so much for your wonderful performance this morning at Apex High School. The capacity crowd was thrilled by your mesmerizing stories and origami. I wish you could have been there as I walked through the school after your show when the halls were abuzz with comments like "Wow", "It was so cool!", "You should have seen what she did!", "It was amazing", "I want to buy a sushi mat!" and more. They were so excited about what they had seen and heard and made their friends wish they had seen your great stories.
Thank you again for all you did! If you ever need a high school reference, please feel free to contact me. I would gladly write you a recommendation letter. I hope we can have you back at Apex again. Best Wishes - Pam Marquie, PTA Cultural Arts Chair, Apex NC
