Mariko Watabe
Los Angeles, CA, Lower East Side, New York, and Carrolton, Texas, in the United States
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 playing traditional Japanese shamisen, voice, hayashi (hand drums, taiko, etc.) 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.
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 teaching in Southern California. She now teaches in Gardena, CA, New York and in Texas.
She performs with her students and does collaborations with fellow Nagauta, Yamatogaku musicians as well. She makes frequent trips to Japan for additional training and performances.
Yamatogaku – Yamato Kyosho 大和杏笙
Certificate of Natori for Yamatogaku from the headmaster, Yamato O-sho in 2017.
Hayashi– Katada Kimisen 堅田喜巳扇
NAGAUTA – Kineya Kichitoji 杵屋吉藤次
長唄名取免状
長唄師範免状
DANCE – Bando Marifuji 坂東麻里ふじ
坂東流名取師範免状
OTHER
Mariko Watabe achieved Master of Science in Education, Waldorf Education – Elementary School, from University of the State of New York, Sunbridge College.
She taught kindergarten and elementary schools at Waldorf Schools in Chicago and New York.
Mariko Watabe translated “Beyond the Rainbow Bridge” by Barbara Patterson, into Japanese and it is published by Gakuyo Shobo in Tokyo, Japan
