MUSIC FOR PEACE: Shamisen player Amane Sakaguchi performs with violinist Kei Saotome at the annual Spring Peace Concert held by the Nakashima Foundation for Peace on April 19.
The Nakashima Foundation for Peace Hosts an Afternoon of Japanese tradition, live music and reflection in memory of George, Marion, and Kevin Nakashima on Sunday, April 19, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Nakashima Arts Building, 1847 Aquetong Road in New Hope, Pa.
Inspired by the Japanese tradition of ohanami — the appreciation of blossoms — the event blends music, mindfulness, and community in a serene natural setting surrounded by blooming cherry and dogwood trees. The event includes opening remarks by Mira Nakashima, Jonathan Yarnall, and Miriam Belov. Guests will be guided through a brief meditation prior to the musical performance.
Internationally trained musicians Amane Sakaguchi (shamisen) and Kei Saotome (violin) will take the stage for a unique cross-cultural performance that bridges traditional Japanese music with classical Western influences.
Sakaguchi, known as Kosaburo Kineya in her shamisen career, comes from a Tokyo family that has carried the Naguata tradition (a traditional Japanese music genre performed in Kabuki) for over two centuries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in shamisen performance from Tokyo University of the Arts, and is pursuing her master’s degree in classical composition at the Curtis Institute of Music as its first Japanese composition student.
Saotome was born in Japan and started playing the violin at the age of 4. At the age of 7, she performed with the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. In 2024, she entered the Curtis Institute of Music as a Shaun F. O’Malley Fellow.
Following the concert, guests are invited to a reception featuring sake and an opportunity to gather and reflect beneath the blossoms.
“This event is about more than music — it’s about presence, peace, and honoring the natural rhythms that connect us,” Mira Nakashima said. “Ohanami reminds us to pause and appreciate beauty in its most fleeting form.”
The Nakashima Foundation for Peace is dedicated to promoting peace, creativity, and cultural understanding through events, education, and the legacy of George Nakashima’s philosophy of craftsmanship and harmony with nature.
Attendance is limited, and early reservations are encouraged. Tickets are $150 ($75 for students) Visit nakashimafoundation.org.