2026 Matsuri Music Festival

Matsuri Music Festival Brings Japanese Music and Culture to Kimberley

July 13–16, 2026

This July, Kimberley residents will have a unique opportunity to experience Japanese music, arts, and culture through the inaugural Matsuri Music Festival, a community-based event bringing together artists from Japan and Canada.

Organized by Shinobu Murata V. and Randy Marchi, the festival will welcome three professional musicians from Japan: master taiko drummer Keita Kanazashi, shamisen performer Shiori Sato, and shinobue flutist Tomoko Takeda.

Throughout the festival, the visiting artists will collaborate with local musicians, performers, and community groups, creating a cultural exchange unlike any previously seen in Kimberley.

On Monday, July 13, the festival opens with an advanced taiko master class led by Kanazashi, offering experienced drummers the opportunity to study traditional Japanese performance techniques directly from one of Japan’s leading taiko artists. The master class workshop is supported by Columbia Basin Trust and CKCA.

On Tuesday, July 14, the visiting musicians will join local performers and Calgary-based Midnight Taiko for a collaborative workshop and rehearsal before presenting the festival’s main evening concert at Centre 64. This special performance will showcase the powerful energy of taiko drumming and the beauty of traditional Japanese music, while also featuring unique collaborations created during the festival with local musicians. Audiences can experience an evening where Japanese musical traditions meet new artistic connections and community spirit through rhythm and sound.

For ticket information, please contact Randy & Shinobu at 778-481-5423.

On Wednesday, July 15, taiko drumming will be featured as part of the re-opening ceremony of the new gazebo at Cominco Gardens. The ceremony will open with performances by the Alphorn and the Kimberley Pipe Band, followed by a commemorative tree planting celebrating the friendship between Canada and Japan. Musical performances will also be presented by Happy Feeling (Tim, Randy & Shinobu).

That evening, Flix C64 will present a screening of the acclaimed Japanese film Drive My Car.

On Thursday, July 16, the festival concludes with public taiko workshops, Kitsune mask painting for children led by Olivia Roberts, and a final outdoor concert featuring the visiting artists alongside local musicians including Lennan Delaney (violin), Tim Plait (piano), Jim Cameron (bass), members of the Kimberley Community Chorus led by Marta Zeegers, and local Aikido practitioners led by Hector Rodrigues from Ikigai Dojo. Thursday is the final day of the festival, coinciding with Kimberley's popular Farmers Market (held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m) and takes place during the city's annual Julyfest celebrations. Every third Farmers Market of the season features a special community event, and this July the market's featured event will be the Matsuri Festival. Visitors will be able to enjoy Japanese cultural activities, music, and performances as part of one of Kimberley's most vibrant summer weekends.

The event is part of the Tsumugu Project. In Japanese, tsumugu means "to weave," reflecting the organizers' vision of using music and art to bring people together across cultures. Through performances, workshops, and shared experiences, the project aims to weave lasting connections and cultural understanding between communities in Canada and Japan.

More information and tickets:

Contact Randy & Shinobu at 778-481-5423 or shinobulk@gmail.com