オリエンタリズム|ORIENTARHYTHM

PROFILE

KATSUMI SAKAKURA

Katsumi(born in 1963 in Nagoya, Japan) originated the performing art “Geibu”, which expresses the unique “movement, rhythm, and spirituality” of Japanese traditional martial arts “Budo” as a composite art. He expresses honed Budo skills as “art”, and sends out the spirituality that resides in it as a “message” that solves contemporary problems.
[Geibu]

He first learned Karate from his father at the age of five and started receiving training from Karate experts at the age of 10. He then moved on to Boxing while studying in university.
He took up Hip-Hop dancing in his early twenties and copied American Hip-Hop dancers. He was inspired by a simple question asked by a famous American choreographer – “Why do you copy foreign styles while there are so many cool elements in Japanese art and culture”. He has devoted himself to pursuing the concept of cool Japan ever since.
After trial and error, he extracted “movement, rhythm, and spirituality” from traditional Japanese culture(especially Japanese traditional martial arts “Budo”) and completed his original performing arts style “Geibu”.
He also invented “Street Nunchaku” by combining dance moves and Nunchaku, which is an art of self-defence he learned alongside Karate. He then developed a new performance style “Projection Live” by synchronizing live dance and projected images. He first presented this new performance at JAPAN EXPO 2004 in L.A.
Katsumi’s new performance style “Projection Live” is highly praised around the world. He has performed in 47 countries by invitation and been on TV in 22 countries. He also holds lectures on “Cool Japan worth sharing with the world” in and outside Japan (University of Bologna, The University of Tokyo ,Moscow State University,  and London SOAS university, etc).

In 2022,  The stage work “The Life of HOKUSAI”, which Katsumi composed, directed, choreographed and starred in, received the “Cool Japan Matching Award 2022” from the Japanese Cabinet Office. (This award is given to those who are working to spread the appeal of Japanese culture to the world in new ways.)
In 2022, Performed at the halftime show of the Rugby Japan-France Friendly Test Match held in Toulouse, France.
In 2019, Performed as solo performer at the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup 2019 JAPAN.
In 2015, Performed at the opening ceremony for the 128th General Assembly of the International Olympic Committee in Kuala Lumpur.
He is also known as a talented designer, who designs and crafts his own clothes, costumes and accessories for both stage and private use.

Career Summary
1999 Formed ORIENTARHYTHM with Eiko
2003 Competed on American TV show “TALENT AGENCY” and won the Championship across the U.S
2004 First performed “Projection Live – WA” at JAPAN EXPO 2004 in L.A. USA.
2004 Choreographed for Namie Amuro’s tour.
2007 Performed for 5 days off-Broadway in N.Y. USA.
2008 Performed for a month in Dubai by invitation from the government of Dubai.
2010 Performed for Shanghai Expo.
2011 Performed for a month in Hong Kong Disney Land.
2012 A documentary featuring Katsumi was broadcast in Singapore.
2013 Was featured on a special program broadcast through NHK WORLD (covering 60 countries).
2014 Katsumi got interviewed at BBC News as an artist who influenced Beyonce.
2015 Performed at the opening ceremony for the 128th General Assembly of the International Olympic Committee in Kuala Lumpur.
2016 Appeared on TEDxTokyo as a speaker.
2017 Performed for Asian Football Confederation Annual awards 2017.
2018 Performed our show for 60 minutes at the opening of a new theater in Tokyo Mid Town Hibiya.
2019 Solo performance at the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup 2019 Japan.
2020 Composed, directed, choreographed, and starred in the 90-minute stage “The Life of HOKUSAI”.
2021 “The Life of HOKUSAI” received four stars at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
2022 The stage work “The Life of HOKUSAI”, which Katsumi composed, directed, choreographed and starred in, received the “Cool Japan Matching Award 2022” from the Japanese Cabinet Office.

 

EIKO

Eiko (born in Kyoto, Japan) started her career as a fitness instructor in 1987 in Kansai. She won the Championship of the Japan Bodybuilding Federation in Kyoto in 1992. She then began her dance career and mastered a wide variety of styles including Hip-hop, Jazz, Locking, Waking and Capoeira. Her various achievements as a dancer include winning the second prize at JAPAN DANCE DELIGHT Vol.2.

In 2022, Performed at the halftime show of the Rugby Japan-France Friendly Test Match held in Toulouse, France.
In 2019, Performed at the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup 2019 JAPAN.

Career Summary
1999 Formed ORIENTARHYTHM with Katsumi Sakakura
2003 Competed on American TV show “TALENT AGENCY” and won the Championship across the U.S.
2007 Performed for 5 days off-Broadway in N.Y.
2008 Performed for a month in Dubai by invitation from the government of Dubai.

2017 Performed for Asian Football Confederation Annual awards 2017.
2018 Performed a our show for 60 minutes at the opening of a new theater in Tokyo Mid Town Hibiya.

Eiko together with Katsumi developed their original dance style as composite art to showcase the unique elements of traditional Japan – “movement, rhythm and spirit”.
She actively promotes their original style “Street Nunchaku” as a new genre of dance performance.
Eiko is also a popular conditioning trainer providing advice on physical beauty and health.

MAMI

Mami (born in 1987 in Saitama, Japan) started her dance career at the age of nine as a child street dancer performing Hip-hop, Locking, Punk and Jazz. She entered various dance competitions including TV Tokyo RAVE 2001, and achieved outstanding results.
She started training under Katsumi Sakakura and Eiko when she was 11.
She also took up football at high school.

In 2022, Performed at the halftime show of the Rugby Japan-France Friendly Test Match held in Toulouse, France.
In 2019, Performed at the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup 2019 JAPAN.

Career Summary
2008 Joined ORYENTHARYTHM
2010 Performed for Shanghai Expo.
2012 Choreographed for Hatsune Miku’s concert at Tokyo Dome City Hall.
2013 Was appointed as a brand model for ‘andu amet’, an Ethiopian sheep skin fashion brand.
Performed “Projection Live” for the presentation of a new collection for Triumph, an established underwear maker.
2015 Performed and played for a charity event “Art Football” in Russia as a representative of Japan.
2017 Performed for Asian Football Confederation Annual awards 2017.
2018 Performed a our show for 60 minutes at the opening of a new theater in Tokyo Mid Town Hibiya.

Mami performs together with Katsumi and Eiko their original dance style as composite art to showcase the unique elements of traditional Japan – “movement, rhythm and spirit”.
She assists in promoting their original style “Street Nunchaku” as a new genre of dance performance.
Mami is also known as a FTP Mat Pilates Instructor.