The MIDWEST BUDDHIST TEMPLE MINYO GROUP started in July 1965 by the temple’s nisei, or second-generation Japanese-Americans, has kept this style of Japanese folk dancing alive at the temple and devotes many hours of practice to lead MBT’s annual Obon Odori and to perform at its Ginza Holiday Festival.

Minyo is a genre of traditional Japanese folk music and dance that originally was sung and danced as people worked, the rhythms synchronizing and easing the labor physically and mentally. In addition to representing regional occupations (harvest dances, fishermen’s and
coal miner’s dances), minyo dances and songs also represent celebrations and legends of Japan.

CHOYOKAN KENDO DOJO began over 40 years ago and has 7 high level sensei (5th Degree Black Belts aka “Dan” or higher) who are instructors.  Choyokan is known for its senior level instructors and clean martial art style. Choyokan is a member of the Midwest Kendo Federation (MWKF)and affiliated with the All United States Kendo Federation (AUSKF) and the International Kendo Federation (IKF).

Kendo, the Japanese martial art of swordsmanship, is more of a self-discipline rather than a self-defense. Its practices are vigorous and demanding; the art is challenging and fun to learn. Kendo is practiced by over 2 million participants worldwide.

HO ETSU TAIKO is a premier Taiko ensemble in the Chicago area with a fresh take on the art of Japanese drumming. Ho Etsu pushes the envelope through collaborations with other taiko groups, musicians, and culturally-focused performance artists while staying grounded in the rich tradition of kumi-daiko. Through their music, Ho Etsu blends the culture of Japanese-American taiko with influences that celebrate the diversity of the ensemble.

CHICAGO AIKIKAI is an aikido dojo currently based in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago. It was started in 1961 as Illinois Aikido Club in a Lakeview Clark Street basement by a group of Nisei, and since the late 1970s has been under the umbrella of Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU) founded by Mitsugi Saotome, Shihan (Master Instructor). Its now diverse membership is led by Chief Instructor and Dojo-cho Marsha Turner.

The MIDWEST BUDDHIST TEMPLE TAIKO GROUP was started by the Kinnara Taiko Group of Los Angeles in 1977 to bring Japanese American Buddhist Taiko to Chicago. A self-taught group, the MBT Taiko Group embraces the Buddhist concepts of harmony and oneness.

The members come from many different backgrounds and, being a temple group, make performance and participation in the Obon Odori and Ginza Holiday Festival their priorities. The drumming equipment is made by the group from wine barrels and skinned with un-tanned cowhides. The music they play is from many different sources and groups—all committed to spreading this form of artistry.

The CHICAGO KOTO GROUP was founded in 1984 by Akiko Sugano in order to serve the greater Chicago community by introducing it to Japanese culture and music (Koto and Sakuhachi). They hold several public performances a year responding to requests from various organizations such as the Chicago Botanic Gardens and the Consulate General of Japan. They also serve to educate students at elementary schools and colleges about Japanese culture through music (particularly the music of the Koto).

The Mikoren Awa Odori group was formed in 2015. This community group performs Awa Odori, a folk dance and music from Tokushima, Japan.

The name Miko translate to “beautiful lake” (Lake Michigan) and Ren translates to “group”. They perform at a variety of cultural outreach events around the Chicago area.