Featuring the energetic rhythms of taiko drumming, traditional Japanese flutes, and dance, The NAE Project offers a dynamic experience that introduces audiences throughout Canada to the rich heritage of Japanese culture.
‘Nae’ (which translates to The Rice Seedling) is a new, groundbreaking musical and theatrical work by Toronto-based composer Kokichi Kusano, featuring traditions of Japanese music and theatre for the modern stage. Nae – The Rice Seedling premiered at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre, May 5-7, 2023.
Sofu no Nikkiden (Grandfather’s Journal) is a musical suite of original O-hayashi music uniquely dedicated to celebrating the stories of Issei settlers who migrated to Canada prior to the Second World War.
The work follows the composer’s grandfather’s autobiographical journal across the Pacific, through the war years, internment and resettlement in the discrimination and seclusion of the postwar era in the interior of Canada.
Kokichi Kusano is a creator, writer, and composer, as well as a director, musician, and performer of traditional Japanese music and theatre arts.
He is the Artistic Director of The NAE Project, a collective of musicians and performance artists based in Toronto, ON.
The Nae Project 