STAGE TIMELINE

Pikachu Parade

October 7th, Saturday (1:30pm, 4:30pm)
October 8th, Sunday (1:30pm, 4:30pm)

Did you know there are Pokémon festivals with Pikachu parades in Yokohama Japan?

You’ve seen clips of a parades of giant dancing Pikachu, but it can’t beat seeing it in person! Pikachu Parade is coming to Taste of Japan Phoenix and you don't want to miss it!

MEET OUR MC & COSPLAY GUESTS!

Error Paige

MC and Cosplay Judge: Paige is an avid gamer since the age of five and an active member of the cosplay community for the past seven years, Error Paige is an up-and-coming figure in the Arizona cosplay community. Known for her unique twists and cheeky designs, she uses her craft to pull characters straight off the screen and into reality.

Paige taught herself to sew in 2016 after stumbling upon the world of cosplay. She has been competing in masquerades since 2017 and joined the ranks as a competition judge in 2022. You’ll often find her in League of Legends, Legend of Zelda, or Super Mario cosplays and she’s always ready to talk about gaming lore, character design, or strategy!

Outside of cosplay, Paige is a content creator, digital artist, and Team Captain and Support for a tournament-winning League of Legends team.

Salted Cat / Bre

Cosplay Judge: Since Bre's introduction to the world of anime in 2006, she has been entranced by the colorful characters and intricate narratives. In 2013, she took her first steps into the realm of cosplay, igniting a journey that would fuse her love for anime with her love for bringing anime characters to life.  Beyond conventions and events, she extends her influence through online platforms, where she shares her costumes and engages with fellow cosplayers and fans.

Kymchi

Cosplay Judge: Kymchi is a native to Arizona and has been involved in the local cosplay community for over 10 years. She has competed in masquerades since 2018, with her most recent award being Best in Show at Anime Expo 2023. Her favorite costumes to make are anything with an excess of glitter, ruffles, and rhinestones!

PERFORMERS

Stepanie Yanez
(JPOP Artist)

Stephanie Yanez is a Jpop music artist who has been touring the US and Japan since she won AX Idol at Anime Expo, which led to her working with NBC Universal Entertainment Japan where she recorded music at Paramount Studios and released an album at all major record stores. She has worked with many Japanese, Anime, and Gaming companies throughout her music career. She is also a staple at many local Japanese/Anime festivals, events, and conventions and writes for a local Japanese website. When she is not singing on stage, she is teaching music to children in which she has 15 years of experience. She is also a TV/Radio talent, model, content creator, and writer/illustrator.

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Nadeshikokai
(Kimino Fashion Show)

Nadeshikokai, formally known as Japanese Culture and Traditions, Inc., is a volunteer organization and NPO 501(c)(3) which promotes Japanese culture and traditions.  It was founded in 2011 in Southern California by a kimono master, Ms. Takako Sasaki.

Nadeshikokai honors and serves a culturally diverse community, regardless of background or beliefs. The volunteers and members participate with the understanding that the organization exists to promote and transmit Japanese culture, specifically the kimono culture, to all communities as well as to the future generations.

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Team Kawachi Ondo
Kawachi Ondo (Traditional Japanese Folk Music)

Kawachi Ondo is a kind of Japanese folk song that originates from Yao City in the old Kawachi region of Japan, now part of modern-day Osaka Prefecture. "Team Kawachi Ondo" are BonOdori group, established in 2018, actively performing at popular Matsuri in LA & OC such as 2019 Japan Day at Angeles Stadium in Anaheim, Tanaka Farm in Irvine. We are good at making “Matsuri” Japanese Festival more fun and friendly. Let’s have fun and dance BonOdori together!

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Jasmine (Singer)

I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona where I received my GED at Greenway High School. I am an Arizona state University alumni! I graduated with a Summa Cum Laude in Justice studies, minor in dance, and attained a socio-legal certificate & non-profit management certificate. I am now pursuing higher education to attain my Masters and Doctorates. I am the founder of a nonprofit community Organization called APIDD (Asian Performance Inclusive Dance Diversity). I am extremely passionate about my community, thus you can always find me volunteering my hours at various community events. I intend to create the world I want to see for both myself and the future generations! I feel that I have always meant to serve my community. I just always felt a calling to make a major change in my community. Enduring so much throughout my life thus far has led me to become the person I am. From my greatest traumas and my greatest success so far, I’ve realized that I was meant to be something bigger for the betterment of my environment. I dedicate my life to staying genuine, altruistic, and radiant. Building a life that I want while influencing others to join me in my mission of being selfless and kind is something I find familiar to me. Leading and engaging groups of people has always been my strong suit; therefore, I feel that I was meant to stay involved with the people around me. I have found my power through the entertainment industry. Performing and bringing my energy has influenced various communities and will continue to do so for as long as I'm here!

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Tune in Tokyo
(DJ)

Founded 15 years ago in 2008, Tune in Tokyo is a promoter & DJ Team specializing in City Pop, Jpop, Kpop, & more in Los Angeles, around the world, and online! Founder of Los Angeles' premiere City Pop event, Plastic City. Tune in Tokyo produces a range of monthly music events in Los Angeles as well as co-produces AAPI Creators Market, Kazoku Festival.

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Chioukou / 知凰光
(Calligraphy Artist)

Japanese Calligraphy Artist and Master of Japanese Calligraphy.

She’s been doing calligraphy for 27 years and teaches calligraphy in class, and participate in festivals to showcase and sell he art. She accepts requests for art works too.

“I would be happy if my calligraphy made you smile!”

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Kenkoshio (Taiko drumming Artist)

Taiko Japanese drumming artist, Ken Koshio, specializes in Taiko, the ancient Japanese drumming art form, Japanese Folk Artist, singer and songwriter. 

​Our Mission is to make the Earth a better place by bringing Peace into the Community and by creating a healthy environment for people to live in, through the healing power of ancient sounds and music.​

​Ken Koshioh shares his Japanese spirit of WA taiko at his dojo WAKONKAN , offering  Koshio Ryu, Taiko- Do Classes and he has been producing cultural events as K2Enterprise from 2013.

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Tamuken (Japanese Comedian Kenji Tamura)

Kenji Tamura is a Japanese comedian, host, and businessman. Since 1992 , Tamura has been working professionally as a duo called `` LaLaLa '' with Takahiro Ohkita, a classmate at Osaka Prefectural Izumi High School , but the duo disbanded in August 1999 . In October of the same year, he changed his stage name to hiragana, and has been working as a pin comedian ever since. He has many regular appearances on Kansai local programs produced by stations in Osaka .

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