オーロラ日本語奨学金基金

1952 年長崎県出身。シンガー・ソングライター、小説家。
73 年フォークデュオ・グレープとしてデビュー。
76 年ソロ・シンガーとして活動を開始。
『関白宣言』『北の国から』など数々のヒット曲を生み出す。
ソロデビュー以来、通算 4600 回を超えるコンサートのかたわら、
小説家としても『解夏』『風に立つライオン』などを発表。
またＮＨＫ『今夜も生でさだまさし』のパーソナリティとしても人気を博している。
2015年、一般財団法人（現公益財団法人）風に立つライオン基金を設立。
様々な助成事業や顕彰事業、被災地支援事業を行っている。
2022年10月25日、デビュー50周年を迎え、現在アニバーサリー・ツアーを開催中。

Masashi Sada, a singer-songwriter and a novelist, was born in Nagasaki, Japan in 1952.
Sada debuted in 1973 as folk duo “Grape” and made his solo debut in 1976.
He has released many nationally recognized hit songs including “Kanpaku Sengen” (Chauvinism
Declaration), and “Kita no Kuni Kara” (From the North Country).
Since Sada’s solo debut, he has performed over 4,600 concerts in total.
He is also a novelist, publishing works such as ``Kaika'' and ``The Lion Standing Against the
Wind.''
Sada is also will known as the host of NHK’s program “Tonight Live with Masashi Sada.”
In 2015, Sada established the Lion Standing Against the Wind Foundation, a general
incorporated foundation (a public interest incorporated foundation) to carry out various grant
projects, award projects, and support projects for disaster-stricken areas.
On October 25, 2022, Sada celebrated his 50th anniversary since his debut and he has been on
a nationwide anniversary concert tour.

Keynote Speaker
KENKO SONE
Consul General of Japan in LA
Mr. SONE Kenko became Consul
General of Japan in Los Angeles in September of 2022, following an assignment as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Assistant Minister and Director-General for Cultural Affairs. Since 1989, Sone’s diplomatic career has taken him to Geneva, New Delhi, and now three locations in the United States (beginning with
Wesleyan University in Connecticut).Serving multiple times in the sphere of economic affairs– in the context of North America,the OECD, the international economy, and specifically of the U.S. and India, as well as as Ambassador in charge of Economic Diplomacy – Sone has also worked as Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Public Affairs, Director of Global Communications in the Prime Minister’s Office, and Deputy Director-General for Asian and Oceanian affairs.

MAKIKO HIRATA DMA.(Doctor of Musical Arts)
Dr. Pianist, A Shigeru Kawai Artist
An international pianist with ten released albums, Makiko Hirata is “Dr. Pianist” with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Rice University, on a mission to promote the power of music to heal and unite us. She collaborates with neuroscientists to quantify the benefit of music and promote the power of music as an overlooked social resource to enhance our individual and social well-being through speaking engagements, workshops and writing. She is a US-Japan Leadership Program Fellow, a founding member of TEMPO: Music for Climate Action, and Coeuraj’s 2022 “Global Courage Fellow” that honors industry leaders around the world to focus on trust and bridge building in an era of polarization. Dr. Hirata has given recitals, lectures, concerto performances and outreach concerts in the Americas and Eurasia with ensembles and artists, such as the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra,the Pecs Hungarian Symphony Orchestra, conductor Leon Fleisher, and clarinetist David Krakauer. She has taught at New York University, Colburn Conservatory of Music, Rice University, and Lone Star College, and given master classes and lectures internationally. She is an instructor for the Stanford e-Wakayama Program for the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE), and a staff pianist at the Colburn Conservatory of Music.
http://musicalmakiko.com/en/

YOYOKA (Drummer) and FAMILY
Born in Hokkaido, Japan, 13-year old drummer sensation YOYOKA has been playing the drums since she was one. She gained international attention at the tender age of 8, when she entered the 2018 Hit Like a Girl drum contest with a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times” and became its youngest weekly champion. She is the youngest drummer in history to be selected as one of the “World’s Top 500 Drummers” and has since performed with world renowned drummers and artists including Fall Out Boy and Cyndi Lauper and has appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show twice.

国立音楽大学、東京藝術大学大学院修了後に渡米、ニューヨーク・マネス音楽院首席卒業。
ディステファノ国際コンクール（伊)１位など世界の主要コンクールで上位入賞。日韓ワールドカップ前夜祭３大テナーコンサートにてドミンゴ、故パヴァロッティ、カレーラスらと共演。世界各地の歌劇場にてオペラの主役を射止め、蝶々夫人をロンドン・ロイヤルアルバートホール、ウルグアイ国立ソリス歌劇場、ボルティモア・リリックオペラ等にて、ランメルモールのルチアをカリアリ歌劇場(伊)、シチリア・トラーパニ音楽祭、ハンガリー国立歌劇場、ルーマニア国立歌劇場等で、椿姫をテキサスのエルパソオペラ、ミシガンのカラマズーオペラなど。
リンカーンセンター(NY)での主役は、ニューヨークタイムズ紙に「輝くソプラノ」と高い評価を受けた。
他に世界各地のオーケストラに招かれゲスト出演。メトロポリタン歌劇場管弦団、BBC交響楽団、ローマ祝祭管弦楽団、LAシンフォニー、シカゴフィル、ブダペスト放送交響楽団、ソルノーク管弦楽団、日本では東京フィル、東京交響、東京都響、東京シティフィル、神奈川フィル、大阪フィル、大阪センチュリー、関西フィル、京都交響、札幌交響、仙台フィル、九州交響楽、等と協演。
近年、米国大リーグナショナルズに招聘を受け、対ヤンキースの試合前に外国人歌手として初めてアメリカ国歌斉唱の栄誉を得る。
CD「ジュエルズ・オブ・アヴェ・マリア」「ノスタルジア－日本の歌」（ナクソス・ジャパン）の両ディスクはANA国際線オーディオプログラムに搭載された。
現在、後進の指導の教鞭を取る傍ら、社会貢献活動や、各地でマスタークラスなども精力的に行っている。

Soprano Asako Tamura has been praised by the press for her exquisite tonartistic sensitivity, mesmerizing stagecraft as well as a first-class sing actress, brilliant jewel of a voice, blessed with glittering soprano.

Asako has performed a wide variety of roles in Europe and USA since 2002 when she sang with Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti as the female soloist in the Three Tenors Concert in Yokohama before the World Cup Championship. Recently she was honored to sing the National Anthem as a first foreign opera singer at the Exhibition Game of the Yankees vs the Nationals.

In 2014 she sang Cio-cio-san in “Madame Butterfly” for Lyric Opera Baltimore and the Japanese Embassy in Washington D.C. as well as Summer of Knoxville 1915 with the Chicago Philharmonic. Recent engagements include “Madame Butterfly” at London’s Royal Albert Hall, National Opera Teatro Solis in Montevideo, Uruguay, the Dubuque Symphony and for the opening of 2013-14 season of Sarasota Opera.

In 2011-12 she appeared with the Kalamazoo Symphony as Violetta in “La Traviata” before taking the rest of the season off to have her first baby after which she returned to Sarasota Opera as Leila in “Les Pecheurs de Perles” and as Despina in “Cosi fan tutte” with Hyogo Opera in Japan. She has also performed in the Summer Opera Festival at the Foro Romano in “Rome” and at the Teatro Filarmonico in Verona. Additionally, she sang the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor at the National Opera in Constanz, Romania, at the Ente Luglio Musicale Trapanese in Sicily and at the Hungarian State Opera tenor Ramon Vargas and at the Teatro Lirico in Cagliari with tenor Matthew Polenzani. Juliette in “Romeo et Juliette” with the Hungarian State Opera and Gilda in “Rigoletto” on tour in Japan as well as Scarlatti’s L’Ottavia at the Scarlatti Festival in Tokyo and Donatoni’s Alfred, Alfred at the Arena Contemoranea in Verona.

海野 雅威／Tadataka Unno
ジャズピアニスト／Jazz Pianist

1980年、東京生まれ。ニューヨーク在住。 4 歳からピアノを、9歳からはジャズピアノを、18 歳からミュージシャンとして活動を始める。鈴木良雄・伊藤君子・大坂昌彦らシーンを支える多くのミュージシャンと共演し若い世代の旗手的存在であったが、さらにジャズのルーツや文化に触れる為、2008年にニューヨーク移住。ゼロから新たにスタートした新天地でも、ハンク・ジョーンズ、ジミー・コブ、ロイ・ハーグローヴ、ジョン・ピザレリらトップミュージシャンに日本人史上初のレギュラーバンドメンバーとして迎えられ、世界ツアーの他、自身のトリオでも演奏を行っている。

Born in 1980 in Tokyo, Tadataka Unno started playing the piano at age 4 and jazz piano at age 9. He began his career as a musician at age 18 and was a standard-bearer for the young generation, performing with many leading musicians such as Yoshio Suzuki, Kimiko Ito, and Masahiko Osaka. But in 2008, in order to further pursue the roots and culture of
jazz, Unno moved to New York, where he now resides. Despite his new beginning from square one in a new world, Unno was welcomed by top musicians like Hank Jones, Jimmy Cobb, Roy Hargrove, and John Pizzarelli as their first-ever regular band member from Japan. In addition to performing on world tours, Unno also plays in his own trio.

海野雅威さんは、2020年9 月27日午後7 時半ごろに、ニューヨーク市マンハッタン地区の地下鉄駅構内および地上で、若者集団に突然「中国人」「アジア人」と言葉で罵(ののし)られながら理不尽な激しい暴行に遭い、救急車で病院に運ばれました。右肩と右腕の骨折、頭を含む全身の打撲により、ピアニスト生命が危ぶまれる重傷を負わせられました。事件のニュースは大きく取り上げられて、世界中からの支援が寄せられました。差別や暴力に決して屈することなく、「負のエネルギーこそ正のエネルギーに変えうることを音楽で示す事」を新たな使命と感じ、手術と懸命なリハビリを経て、ようやく復帰ステージを実現することが出来ました。オーロラ日本語奨学金基金は海野さんとともに夢、希望、勇気を伝えていきたいと思っています。

About 7:30 pm on September 27, 2020, Unno was viciously and violently attacked in a Manhattan subway station and on ground by a young mob yelling “Chinese” and “Asian,” verbally abusing him. Unno was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, suffering fractures to his right shoulder and right arm as well as bruises on his entire body including the head, critical injuries potentially ending his career as a pianist. This incident was widely reported in the news, and support poured in from all over the world. Determined not to give in to discrimination or violence, Unno now sees it as his mission to “express through music that negative energy can be converted into positive energy.” He has endured surgery and intense physical therapy, which have allowed him to make a long-awaited comeback to the stage. The Aurora Foundation wishes to share this message of dream, hope, and courage with him.

Benefit Awrds Luncheon, Auction & Mini Concert / Performance
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Riviera Country Club


Nicolai Bergmann, Flower Artist
Nicolai Bergmann is one of Japan’s most recognizable artists, whose name is synonymous with contemporary floral design.
Originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, Nicolai’s work in Japan has given floristry a new dimension, pushing it further into the fashion and design worlds.
His exceptional eye for color, form, and balance has allowed him to collaborate on a range of design projects with some of the world’s most prominent design houses.
Nicolai’s work unites the floral design principals of Europe with Japanese sensitivity to detail and fine craftsmanship, while embodying a distinctly Scandinavian style.
The diversity of his clientele itself is a reflection of his range as an artist, never failing to translate his clients’ vision into decorative works of art. Nicolai Bergmann Flowers & Design is now an internationally sought after name for design collaboration projects, product launches, event architecture and consultancy, as well as special events and wedding design. Nicolai Bergmann Flowers & Design operates 13 boutiques internationally, 3 cafes and runs the Nicolai Bergmann International School of Floristry in Tokyo.



ニコライ・バーグマン、デンマーク出身、フラワーアーティスト
スカンジナビアンスタイルのセンスと細部にこだわる日本の感性をフラワーデザインに融合させたユニークな作品を発表し続けている。その活動の幅は広く、フラワーデザインはもとより、ファッションやデザインの分野で世界有数の企業と共同デザインプロジェクトを手がける。国内外に13店舗のフラワーブティック3つのカフェを運営し、ニコライバーグマン インターナショナル スクール
オブ フローリストリーを東京で運営しています。


Makiko Hirata, DMA. (Doctor of Musical Arts) "Dr. Pianist"
An international pianist and recording artist, Makiko Hirata is “Doctor Pianist,” on a mission to promote music and musicians as healing agents in this world. As a consultant to Houston Methodist Hospital’s Center for Performing Arts Medicine, she collaborates with researchers to quantify the benefit of music. Believing in the power of music to encourage empathy, she serves a US-Japan Leadership Program’s Scott M. Johnson Fellow. She is currently authoring a book on her triumph over a fifteen-year battle against stage fright, stereotypes, and sexual harassment as a young Japanese pianist navigating the classical music industry. Dr. Pianist is a Shigeru Kawai artist.

平田真希子 DMA. (Doctor of Musical Arts) "Dr. ピアニスト"
日本生まれ。香港育ち 。ピアノで遊び始めたのは2 歳半。日本語と広東語と英語のちゃんぽんで しゃべっていた娘を「音楽は世界の共通語」と母が励まし、3 歳でレッスン開始。
13歳で渡米しジュリアード音楽院プレカレッジに入学。成績優秀者として表彰され、特待生となる。
18 歳のボリボリビア演奏旅行を皮切りに国際的な演奏活動を展開。世界の架け橋としての音楽活動を目標に、 2017 年以降米日財団のリーダーシッププログラムのフェローとして活動。
音楽のヒーリング効果について、脳神経科学者との共同研究や、執筆・講義・メディア出演もする。
シゲル・カワイ・アーティスト。
詳しくはHPにて：Musicalmakiko.com

The 21st Commemorative Anniversary of Aurora Foundation

Aurora Foundation would like to express our gratitude and appreciation
to all of the sponsors, staff, volunteers, and supporters
who made Awards Luncheon, Auction & Mini Concert / Performance with Nicolai Burgmann & Makiko Hirata a great Success!
We could not have succeeded without your dedication and support.

October 27, 2019
Photo by Tak S. Itomi

Benefit Awards Dinner, Auction & Gala Celebration
Friday, October 26, 2018
Double Tree by Hilton Los Angeles

Masashi Sada Benefit Concert in LA
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center

Masashi Sada, a singer-songwriter and a novelist, was born in Nagasaki, Japan. He began playing the violin at the age of 3 years and 8 months, moved to Tokyo for violin studies after completing sixth grade, and formed a music duo named “Grape” in 1972 with his high school music buddy Masami Yoshida.

Grape made its debut the following year with Warner Pioneer with the song “Yuki no Asa” (Snowy Morning), but it was their second single “Shoro Nagashi” (Drifting of the Spirits) that became a huge hit, winning the Best Lyrics in the 16th Japan Record Awards.

Since Sada made his solo debut in 1976 after Grape dissolved, he has released many nationally recognized hit songs including “Amayadori” (Shelter from the Rain), “Kosumosu” (Cosmos), “Kanpaku Sengen” (Chauvinism Declaration), and “Kita no Kuni Kara” (From the North Country). He has also won many music awards including the Golden Award and the Best Album in the 21st Japan Record Awards. Yet the focus of his musical activities still remains to be his live performances; as of July 2018, he has performed in more than 4,300 concerts since 1976.

In 2001 Sada published his first novel Shoro Nagashi (Drifting of the Spirits). Since then, he has published 10 pieces including Gege, Castella, Hakabon san, Last Letter, and Lion Standing Against the Wind. Eight of these works have been made into films.
Sada is also popularly known as the host of NHK’s program “Tonight Live with Masashi Sada.”

In August, 2015, Sada established a general foundation “Lion Standing Against the Wind” (recognized as a public foundation in 2017) to support various subsidies and disaster-aid activities.

Since May 2018, Sada has been on a nationwide concert tour for his 45th anniversary year. On July 4, he also released Reborn: Masashi Sada at His Birth, his first album after switching to Victor Entertainment.


さだまさし
長崎出身。シンガーソングライター・小説家。
3歳8ヶ月でヴァイオリンを始め、ヴァイオリン修行のため小学校卒業と同時に上京し、1972年に高校時代の音楽仲間である吉田正美とグレープを結成。

翌年、ワークパイオニアから「雪の朝」でデビュー、２ndシングル「精霊流し」が大ヒット、第16回日本レコード大賞作詞賞を受賞する。
グレープ解散後、1976年にソロデビューした後も「雨やどり」「秋桜」「関白宣言」「北の国から」など数々の国民的ヒット作品を発表する。
第21回日本レコード大賞金賞、同ベストアルバム賞他、数多くの音楽賞を受賞する。
活動の中心であるコンサートの回数（1976年以降）は2018年7月現在で4300回を超えている。

2001年「精霊流し」で小説家としての活動を開始。以後「解夏」「かすていら」「はかぽんさん」「ラストレター」「風に立つライオン」など10作品を発表、うち8作品が映像化されている。
また、NHK「今夜も生でさだまさし」のパーソナリティとしても人気を博している。

2015年8月、一般財団法人 風に立つライオン基金を設立（2017年公益財団として認定）、
様々な助成事業や災害地支援事業を行っている。

2018年5月より、45周年コンサートツアーを全国で開催中。同年7月4日、ビクターエンタテインメント移籍第一弾アルバム『Reborn〜生まれたてのさだまさし〜』をリリース。

The 20th Commemorative Anniversary of Aurora Foundation

Aurora Foundation would like to express our gratitude and appreciation
to all of the sponsors, staff, volunteers, and supporters
who made Awards Dinner GALA & Benefit Concert with Masashi Sada a great Success!
We could not have succeeded without your dedication and support.

October 28, 2018
Photo by Tak S. Itomi

Benefit Awards Dinner, Auction & Gala Celebration
Friday, October 20, 2017
Double Tree by Hilton Los Angeles

Aki Yashiro Benefit Concert in LA
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center

Aki Yashiro was born in the city of Yashiro in Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan.
She made her debut in 1971 and became widely known with the song “Namida Goi” (Tear Love) in 1973. Since then, she has had many hit songs including “Ai no Shuchaku Eki” (Terminal Station of Love), “Mo Ichido Aitai” (I Want to See You Again), and “Funa Uta” (Song of the Boat). In 1980 she won the Grand Prize of the 22nd Japan Record Awards with her single “Ame no Bojo” (Affection of Rain). In 2010, when she celebrated her 40th year as an entertainer, her singing was recognized with the Cultural Affairs Agency Director’s Award.

Also a fine artist, Yashiro is a permanent member of Le Salon in France, the world’s oldest art exhibition and an artist’s gateway of success, with her art pieces having entered the exhibition five years in a row.

In 2012, she released a jazz album “Yoru no Album” (Album of the Night) from Universal Music, which was distributed in 75 countries worldwide, making it the largest-scale distribution in the history of Japanese albums. In March, 2013, she held a live show at Birdland, one of the most established jazz clubs in New York, and in August she released the album “Yume no Yoru (Dream Evening): Aki Yashiro Live in New York,” recorded live at that performance.

In October, 2015, Yashiro released her first-ever blues album “Aiuta” (Elegy). That year, she was also appointed as Japan’s Cultural Ambassador to Mongolia. On October 19 of the same year, she released the song “JAMAAS Shinjitsu wa Futatsu” (There Are Two Truths), in which she resurrected a Mongolian tune as her new song.

In May, 2017, Yashiro collaborated with Angela Aki, who made her debut as a sound producer in the 10th single by May J. entitled “10,000 Days of a Mother and a Daughter: Door to the Future,” as Yashiro sang in the role of the mother in a duet.

On October 11, Yashiro released her first jazz album in five years, “Yoru no Tsuzuki” (Continuation of the Night).


八代亜紀
熊本県八代市出身。
1971年デビュー。1973年に出世作「なみだ恋」を発売。
その後、「愛の終着駅」「もう一度逢いたい」「舟唄」等、数々のヒット曲
を出し、1980年には「雨の慕情」で第22回日本レコード大賞・大賞を受賞する。

芸能生活40周年を迎えた2010年には、歌唱技術が認められ文化庁長官表彰を受賞。
また絵画では、画家の登竜門とも言われる世界最古の美術展、フランスの「ル・サロン」で５年連続入選を果たし永久会員となる。

2012年には、ジャズアルバム「夜のアルバム」（ユニバーサルミュージック）が発売。邦人アルバム史上最大級となる世界７５ヶ国で配信される。
2013年3月にはニューヨークの老舗ジャズクラブ「Birdland」でライブを行い、8月にはそのライブ盤アルバム「夢の夜　八代亜紀ライブ・イン・ニューヨーク」を発売。
同年10月には「MU-JO」（ロック）「愛しすぎる女」（ジャズ）「残心」（演歌）「赤い街」（ポップス）を収録した異色のシングルを発売し、メタルフェス出演や、学園祭に初めて出演し学生ビッグバンドとのコラボレーションも果たす。

2015年10月に、初のブルースアルバム「哀歌-aiuta-」を発売。

2016年には哀歌ツアーを東京・大阪で行い、夏にはFUJI ROCK FESTIVAL、RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL、中津川SOLAR BUDOUKANといった野外フェスに出演。
同年、日本モンゴル文化大使に任命され、10月19日に発売された「JAMAAS 真実はふたつ」は、モンゴルの歌を八代亜紀が新たな曲として蘇らせた。

Aurora Foundation would like to express our gratitude and appreciation
to all of the sponsors, staff, volunteers, and supporters
who made Awards Dinner GALA & Benefit Concert with Aki Yashiro a great Success!
We could not have succeeded without your dedication and support.

October 21, 2017
Photo by Tak S. Itomi

Benefit Awards Dinner, Auction & Gala Celebration
Friday, October 28, 2016
Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza

Saori Yuki & Sachiko Yasuda Benefit Concert in LA
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Aratani Theatre

Saori Yuki
Saori made her debut in 1969 with the song “Scat in the Dark,” a tremendously successful hit, creating a scat storm. She won numerous awards with songs like “Tegami” (Letter) and “Koibumi” (Love Letter). In 1983, Saori appeared in the movie “Family Game,” winning the Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the Mainichi Film Awards. She went on to take part in dramas and other films as an actress as well as playing other roles including an emcee and a narrator. In the fall of 2011, Saori collaborated with the jazz orchestra Pink Martini of the United States to create the album “1969,” which was sold and distributed in over 50 countries around the world and became a global hit as the album climbed up to first place in the All U.S. Jazz Chart on iTunes. Saori then appeared as a guest performer for Pink Martini, not just in the U.S. but also in other locations such as Paris and Bahrain. She has received multiple awards such as the Education Minister’s Award in Selected Arts and the Emperor’s Autumn Purple Medal, both in 2012. In 2014, as a celebration of her 45th year since her debut, Saori held special performances, releasing cover albums “VOICE” and “VOICE II.” She released a new song “Journey Called Life” on February 10 and another “I Will Live On with You (Saori Yuki Sings Teresa Teng)” on July 27, both in 2016 (Universal Music Japan). In March she was given the NHK Broadcast Cultural Award.

Sachiko Yasuda
Sachiko studied at Tokyo University of the Arts and went into classical singing, making her debut as Susanna in the opera “The Marriage of Figaro.” She has also appeared in other operas by Mozart, Wagner, and others. She then studied at the Julliard School in New York as well as at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. After teaching at Tokyo University of the Arts for 18 years, she retired in order to focus on her concert performances. Her reputation as a voice trainer is outstanding, having taught students who now appear in musicals in the likes of Shiki Theatrical Company. In concerts, she sings a wide variety of music including Japanese tunes, nursery rhymes, traditional songs, and classical pieces, showcasing beautiful Japanese language, versatile expressions, and heart-warming stage performances. She also gives lectures and speeches. In addition, Sachiko serves as a council member of the public-service corporation Plan Japan, a special instructor at Soen School of Childcare Professions, and an advisor for the non-profit organization “Smile of Japan through Music.” In July, 2013, she received the Education Minister’s Award for her work in communicating the beauty of the Japanese language and the heart of the Japanese people through children’s songs and traditional music.

Aurora Foundation would like toexpress our gratitude and appreciation
to all of the sponsors, staff, volunteers, and supporters
who made Saori Yuki & Sachiko Yasuda Concert a great success.
We could not have succeeded without your dedication and support.

October 29, 2016
Photo by Taro Yoshida

Benefit Awards Dinner, Auction & Gala Celebration
Friday, October 16, 2015
Double Tree by Hilton Los Angeles

Aggela Aki Benefit Concert in LA
Sunday, October 18, 2016
The Redondo Beach Perfoming Arts Center

Angela Aki
A singer-songwriter who was born to a Japanese father and Italian-American mother,
Angela Aki took up the piano at the age of 3. After spending her childhood in Tokushima and Okayama, Angela moved from Japan to Hawaii at age 15, continuing on to study Political Science at George Washington University in Washington D.C.

Angela's music started to materialize as a career while she was still in university.
In 2003, Angela Aki returned to Japan, and the 2005 release of her single "HOME" marked her major label debut. Her first album "HOME" has become a classic since its release in 2006, with cumulative sales counting over 600,000 units. Angela and Nobuo Uematsu, the composer renowned for the music in the Final Fantasy game series, co-wrote the single "Kiss Me Good-Bye" for the international megahit game Final Fantasy XII on PlayStation 2.

Within the year of her debut album, Angela successfully made her dream of playing at The Budokan a reality in December 2006.
Not only that, she became the very first singer at the grand Budokan, celebrating a half-century as a concert venue starting with its performance of The Beatles, to play a full solo concert with just a piano. Angela was fast growing into a talented entertainer able to create a special experience with her skilled live performances.

Angela's 2007 sophomore album "TODAY" marked her first #1 on Oricon album charts.
She composed "Tegami: Haikei 15 no Kimi e (A letter: Dear the 15-year-old You)" as the compulsory piece for the junior high category of NHK's country-wide music competition. The track acquired Platinum Disc status in 2008 and has since become a favorite for audiences of all ages.

Her third album "ANSWER" released in 2009 also topped Oricon album charts. She had earned the following of her female contemporaries, who strongly identified with her honest, true-to-life lyrics. This album also includes "Black Glasses," a track co-written and performed with singer-songwriter/producer Ben Folds for whom she always had much respect.

For her following and fourth album "LIFE," she ventured to Nashville to record with Grammy artist Janis Ian.
This album features an equal number of English tracks and Japanese tracks, which in a sense embodies her bicultural identity drawing from both Japan and the United States.

She has since continued to evolve and recorded "WHITE" (5th album), "SONGBOOK" (6th album), and "BLUE" (7th album).

In 2013, Angela announced to her fans that she will be indefinitely taking time off from the music business in Japan starting in Fall 2014. The following year, 2014, her very first greatest hits album "TAPESTRY OF SONGS--THE BEST OF ANGELA AKI" was released, featuring hits from her 10 year career to present. Her concert at The Budokan on August 4, 2014 marked the last of her public appearances in Japan.

Angela currently resides in the United States with her family and is studying for a university degree in music, in her efforts to continuously evolve and strive towards new dreams. She has also started working on a Broadway musical project.

http://www.angela-aki.com/index.html

Sunday, October 18, 2015
Photo by Tak Iitomi

The 16th Anniversary
Benefit Awards Dinner, Auction & Gala Celebration
Friday, October 10, 2014
Double Tree Hotel by Hilton Los Angeles

TSUKEMEN Benefit Concert in LA
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Arcadia Performing Arts Center

TSUKEMEN
is a Japanese acoustic instrumental group consisting of two violins and a piano.
Committed to producing “natural sound,” the group does notuse any electronic audio equipment whatsoever.
Annually, they perform in more than 80 live concerts across Japan.
Not only does the band play original tunes composed by its own members,
but it also fascinates their audiences with a wide variety of genres including
classical, movie tunes, jazz, game music, and animation themes.

The group made its debut in December, 2008,
with a two day concert held at the Blue Rose Room of Suntory Hall in Tokyo.
In March,2010, the group released its first album BASARA from King Records,
and since then, each of the four albums released by the group has reached No.1 in the Classic Chart.

In addition, they began performing not only in Japan but also in New York and in Korea;
in March, 2014, TSUKEMEN traveled to Germany to perform their completely original music
with the prestigious Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra.
In June, they plan to release their first orchestrated album Across~~TSUKEMEN Special Live in Stuttgart, which was recorded there.
By the end of this year, the group will have performed in more than 300 live concerts throughout Japan.

These concerts have given them renewed strength, charming their audiences and capturing their attention.
Their stage, without particular genres, belongs to no specific area, creating new types of music.

It’s neither classical nor pop; it’s the music of TSUKEMEN.

Japanese Language Scholarship Foundation
(DBA Aurors Foundation)
would like to express our gratitude and appreciation
to all of the sponsors, staff, volunteers, and supporters
who made TSUKEMEN Concert a great success.
We could not have succeed without your dedication and support.

October 11, 2014

Photo by Taro Yoshida

The 15th Anniversary
Aurora Benefit Awards Luncheon, Auction & Gala Celebration
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Riviera Country Club

Masashi Sada Benefit Concert in LA
Sunday, October 20, 2013
The Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center

MASAHI SADA
Born in Nagasaki on April 10, 1952.
Singer, song writer and novelist. Debued in 1973 as a band named Grape with big hits songs including Shoronagashi, Muenzaka.

Became solo singer in 1976 and he released numerous national big hits songs including Amayadori, Cosmos, Kanpakusengen, Kitanokunikara and more.

Last year, he released his Grape’s 41st annual album and solo album.
His lifework is concert and it will be 4000 in July, 2013.

He also started as novelist and released his first book “Shoronagashi” in 2001, became bestseller followed by “Gege”, “Antokinoinochi”, “Kasutera”, “Hakaonsan” etc. and four of them became Movies.

October 20, 2013
Phot by Taro Yoshida

The 14th Anniversary
Aurora Benefit Awards Dinner, Auction
& Michel Bell Mini Live Concert in LA

Sunday, October 28, 2012
Double Tree by Hilton Los Angeles

MICHEL BELL
Michel Bell ended the last century on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in front of the President and First Lady, singing to over 600,000 people at "America's Millennium", the New Year's Eve 2000 celebration.

On the Broadway stage, Mr. Bell received a Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of "Joe" in Hal Prince's production of Show Boat. He has also received the Jefferson Award (Chicago) and the Ovation Award (Los Angeles). In 1998, Michel Bell made his West End debut in London, in Show Boat at the Prince Edward Theatre. Again on Broadway, he starred in the Frank Wildhorn musical Civil War at the St. James Theatre, and earned an Outer Critic's Circle Award. Most recently, he appeared on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre as vocal soloist in Riverdance: The Musical. He was also part of the Riverdance World Tour, performing in Europe and the Far East.

Mr. Bell is especially known for his emotional portrayal of "Porgy" in Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, which he performed in the United States, Berlin, Cairo, Tokyo, Pompeii, Paris and Eritrea.

He has performed with the San Diego Opera, Michigan Opera, Opera Pacific and Lyric Opera of Kansas City as well as the L.A. Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic and Berlin Radio Orchestra.

Michel was formerly a member of the Fifth Dimension vocal group, and has performed with many entertainment greats including Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Julie Andrews, Perry Como, Sammy Davis Jr. and Bill Cosby.

October 28, 2012
Photo by Ken Matsui

The 13th Anniversary
Aurora Benefit Awards Dinner & Gala/Auction
Friday, September 30, 2011
Kyoto Grand Hotel & Garden

KOSETSU MINAMI Benefit Concert in LA
Sunday, October 2, 2011
El Camino College Marsee Auditorium

Kosetsu Minami was born in Oita in 1949, and formed the band Kaguyahime in 1970.
Its distinctive musicianship and vitality taking Japan’s nascent folkmusic scene by storm.

After Kaguyahime disbanded in 1975, Minami continued to produce big hits such as Natsu no Shojo and Yume Hitoyo. Minami has also been a pioneer of innovative musical events, attracting 60,000 fans to the all- night concert, and meeting with success as the first Japanese artist to hold a concert at the Nippon Budokan. From 1986 Minami also produced and performed in an annual “Hiroshima Peace Concert”, raising a total of over 200 million yen towards the building a new nursing home for radiation victims.

Another long term project is his series of “Green Paradise” concerts, held every year since 1992. Kaguyahime reunited in 1999 and put on its first tour in 22 years from the following May 2000 to January 2001. Kosetsu turned 60 in 2009, but age has not slowed him down.
An audience of 20,000 people gathered for his summer concert that year, and he released a new album which was well received, positive reviews and hit a high sales rate. Now in 2011, Kosetsu is currently touring all over Japan.

September 30, 2011 Photo by Taro Yoshida

The 12th Anniversary
Aurora Benefit Dinner & Gala / Auction
Friday, October 29, 2010
Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens

KEI OGURA Benefit Concert in LA
Saturday, October 30, 2010
El Camino College Marsee Auditorium

Kei Ogla is a singer, songwriter, and composer, and has been one of the most well known artists in Japan. Ogla was born in the Ueno district of Tokyo in 1944. He graduated from University of Tokyo in 1967 and started working for Nihon Kangyo Bank (Mizuho Bank). In his 25 years at the bank, he became a branch manager at the Hamamatsu branch and was Financial Service Manager at the bank headquarters.

He retired from the bank in 1993 and got accepted into University of Tokyo again to study Philosophy
and received his Masters degree in 2000. All during his bank and academic years, Ogla also was very active in his music career. His first major LP album was released in 1971. His third album, “Samayoi” (1972), sold over a million records. Ogla shared his compositions with top popular musicians in Japan, and many of the songs he wrote have become truly iconic in Japanese music history, including such songs as: “Shikuramen no Kaori,” “Oretachi no Tabi,” “Yume Shibai,” “Itoshiki Hibi,” and “Ai Sansanto.”

Mr. Ogla has received numerous music awards for his lyrics as well as his compositions, including Japan’s top music award, the Japan Record Award. Ogla has been passionate about writing stage musicals, and his shows “Algo,” “Bunza,” and “Ikyu Soujyun Story” were well received and highly acclaimed by wide range of audiences.

2010 is his 40th anniversary of Ogla music career, and his anniversary tour, “Kaiko, Tabi Tojyo” is touring all over Japan.

Saturday, October 30, 2010
Photo by Ken Matsui

The 11th Anniversary
Aurora Benefit Dinner & Gala / Auction
Friday, October 2, 2009
Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens

MASAFUMI AKIKAWA Benefit Concert in LA
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Aratani Japanese America Theatre

Born in Ehime, Japan, 1967; Mr. Akikawa started playing violin and piano at the age of four, and later began learning to be a singer under the guidance of his father.
He was taught music at Kunitachi College of Music by Takeshi Nakamura. After that, he spent four years studying music at Palma, Italy. In 1998, he was awarded best of Canzone and also best of the Japanese Classic music awards. In 2001, he made his major recording debut as the youngest tenor singer with his single “Passione”.

He released “Sen no Kaze ni Natte” in 2006 and became a social phenomenon. He has appeared on NHK’s “Kohaku Uta Gassen” three years in a row since 2006.

October 5, 2009
Photo by Ken Matsui

Sunday, October 5, 2008
Photo by Ken Matsui