Sakura Tango Festival

Leonardo Pastore : He is an Argentine lyrical tango singer.
At the age of eight he was already singing tangos, milongas, waltzes, boleros, Argentine folklore and, since then, he has not stopped producing popular hits, performing before various audiences throughout the country. Over time he became a tenor and was the protagonist of the most important operas of the lyrical repertoire and countless concerts.
His repertoire as a popular singer is very broad and includes around 700 popular songs by different authors and composers such as Yupanqui, Gardel, Piazzolla, among others, in addition to the famous songs and boleros by Agustín Lara, María Grever or the Italian and Neapolitan repertoire so spread by the great voices of the world.
In opera he is the protagonist of titles such as Faust, Werther, Rigoletto, Tosca, La Boheme, La Traviata, Elixir de amor, Pagliacci, Lucia di lammermoor and Cuentos de Hoffmann among others, singing in important theaters in Argentina and abroad.
Leon Gieco, who upon hearing him the first time felt that he was close to Gardel and assures that after the Morocho del Abasto and Mercedes Sosa, Leonardo is the best singer he has ever heard in his life.
Together with León as artistic producer, in 2015 he released an album dedicated to Carlos Gardel, re-versioning his original musical arrangements. In 2016, Leonardo Pastore was nominated with this album “Carlos Gardel Original” in the “Best Tango Album” category for the seventeenth edition of the Latin Grammy Awards.

Hernán Malagoli : Argentine musician. He studied piano, composition and orchestration at the “Alberto Ginastera” Conservatory, Morón, Buenos Aires. He worked on the musicalization of various plays, documentaries and short films.
Together with the tenor Leonardo Pastore they presented the concert “Canciones Memorables” in provinces such as La Pampa, Neuquén, Córdoba, Rio Negro and the interior of Buenos Aires such as Tandil, Bragado, Junín, Ascensión, Mar del Plata, San Antonio de Areco, etc. He also participated in Pastore's album “Recordtamos”, a tribute to Alfredo Zitarrosa in which he participated as a music producer, pianist and arranger, presented in Argentina and Uruguay. Together they traveled to Ecuador, for a tribute to Mercedes Sosa, sharing the stage with León Gieco, Víctor Heredia and Piero; and then for a month-long tour, providing orchestral arrangements, orchestral direction and performance as pianist.
He participated as a pianist and in the collaboration of the transcription of the arrangements of the new album by Leonardo Pastore titled “Carlos Gardel original” which was part of a special on Public TV and obtained the nomination for the “Latin Grammy” presenting it in Argentina and Ecuador . They participated in Art for Peace invited by León Gieco, whom he accompanied along with Ligia Piro at the ND Teatro. He also accompanied the singer Marcelo Pastore at Luna Park. Together with Leonardo Pastore and the soprano Andrea Schor they performed at various stages in the country, including the Teatro Colón in Mar del Plata, at the “Septiembre Musical” in Tucumán and the Audi Lounge spaces in Cariló and Bs As.
He is currently working on projects for new recording materials as an artistic producer and performer; and together with Leonardo Pastore working on pre-production for his European tour in April of this year.

Naoko Iwatsu (accordion), Taeko Akimoto (Piano), Aogu Tanimoto (violin)

Since its formation in Fukuoka in 1999, they continues to thoroughly representing the dynamism and fun of Argentine tango.

Their dynamic and lively performances, centered around famous pieces from the golden age of tango, are especially popular at milongas, where people who love tango gather and dance.

So far, he has toured Argentina five times in Buenos Aires, as well as performed at festivals and milongas both domestically and internationally.

CDs "1" to "7", 20th anniversary CD "Selección", and latest work "8" released in November 2023.

Born in Munakata City, Fukuoka Prefecture. He is the winner of the 1st Che Bandoneon World Championship. She entered Tokyo College of Music from the Fukuoka Jogakuin Music Department. She studied piano, her major, at university, and learned the bandoneon outside of school. She met Eri Watanabe, a playwright and actress, and she appeared on the stage play ``Ribon.'' Since then, she has co-starred with Hideki Saijo, Kenji Sawada, Tsurube Shofutei, and Tsuyoshi Ukaji. She also appeared in ``Untitled Concert'' and ``New Window Open Kyushu.'' In the summer of 2020, she formed "Tango Three Sisters +" in her hometown of Fukuoka. In the summer of 2021, she won first place in the ensemble category at the "Astor Piazzolla International Music Competition Kanoha Torani 2021" held in Italy.

Born in Fukuoka City in 1990. He started playing the piano as a child and the double bass at the age of 13.
He graduated from Fukuoka Daiichi High School's music department. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, double bass department in 2013.
He studied under Katsuki Yoshiura, Yoshio Nagashima, Shinji Nishiyama, Saku Kimura, and Neil Swainson.
In 2013, he returned home. He is currently active in many fields including classical music, jazz, and tango.
He also puts effort into teaching the brass band.
He is a double bass instructor at Wako Music Academy.

Born in Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture. She started playing the violin at the age of 3. She graduated from the Faculty of Music at Tokyo University of the Arts. She won 2nd place at the 59th All Japan Student Music Competition in Fukuoka. She won the gold medal at the 31st High School Music Competition in Kyushu. She won the 22nd Fukuoka Prefecture Cultural Award with the Acros String Orchestra. Performed with the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra at the 2015 Oga Pharmacy Christmas Concert.
In 2020, they formed "Tango Three Sisters+" and won the grand prize at the Astor Piazzolla International Music Competition Torani 2021. Currently, he performs in various places including solo, chamber music, and guest performances with orchestras. She is a member of the Acros String Orchestra and the Nagasaki OMURA Chamber Ensemble.

Received classical music education from an early age.
In 1997, after experiencing Carlos García’s performance, she has sympathized to the rhythm and sentimentalism of Argentine tango since then, and has devoted herself to tango performances.
In 2010, she studied in Argentina under Horacio Salgán.
Also received instruction from Raul Monti and Eduardo Malaguarnera.
Has done a Tango Duo with guitarist Leonardo Bravo in "TANGO ELEGANTE".
In 2012 and 2015, she performed concerts in South Korea.
In 2017, she performed in concerts held in Taiwan.
In 2004, she performed Chinese music at Carnegie Hall in New York with kokyu player Zhao Guo Liang and koto player Koushu.
Currently, she is active mainly in solo performances. Aiko is especially enthusiastic about playing the hidden masterpieces of Argentine tango.
Graduated from the Faculty of Music, Ferris University. Completed the diploma course at the same university.

Kaori Orita traveled to Buenos Aires for the first time in 2014. At that time, she fell in love with tango as music while dancing in a milonga, and decided to become a tango singer. And with a lot of passion and with nothing she returned to Argentina.
In 2019, she is a finalist in the Boedo Tango Festival and 3rd place in the Flores Tango Festival, neighborhoods of Capital Federal.
In 2020 she obtained 5th place in “Cantá en el Festival” which is part of the Tango World Cup.
In 2021 she began to be interviewed by various media, including CNN in Spanish, a program that was broadcast throughout the three Americas and the Caribbean. Orita has sung accompanied by Pablo Valle (quintet) in virtual mode for milongas in Japan where her talent was highly appreciated. She also performed another concert with the Ariel Pirotti Quartet for the Japanese public and has in mind to continue her task of presenting Argentine Tango both in Japan and in other parts of the world. Over the course of this year, she will make her biggest dream come true: to present her first album to the Argentine and foreign public.
Kaori Orita is the owner of an attractive personality. Friendly and surprisingly communicative, she accompanies her conversations with friendly smiles. These qualities, together with the sweetness of her voice, have produced sympathy and love among Tango lovers.

Born in the city of Shimonoseki.
He graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts and completed the master's program at the same university's graduate school.
He specialized in double bass and studied with Asahiko Eguchi.
He joined the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra in 1987.
He performed several recitals in the city of Fukuoka.
He also works actively as a keyboard player, composer, arranger and conductor.

Born in Mar del Plata, Argentina. He has been involved with Tiempo Iberoamericano´s project in Fukuoka, Japan since 2002.
He is a key-player in the development of tango in Fukuoka being undoubtedly the local main tango DJ for 15 years.
He is one of the organizers, producer and has played as DJ in Sakura Tango Festival since the first edition.

The floor where DJ TOMO plays always has a good atmosphere.
When asking Tomo what his secret to DJing is, he replied, "When I look at the floor, the air on that floor tells me which song to play next."
In 2002, he studied a number of domestic and foreign dances, including Argentine tango.
In 2003 he started DJing at Yokosuka's long-established Tango Club Manatee.
After that, he was first seen by a famous dancer and advanced to Tokyo, and thus began his nationwide popularity.
He mainly works in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Yokohama. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, he played more than 70 plays a year, and all the floors where he DJed lit up.
During these sad times of the pandemic, Tomo decided to go active online, planning and executing various projects including the "We can support project", "Esperanza", "Tecleando Virtual Milonga", etc., thus connecting Tango artists, organizers and Tango lovers. Moreover, he dedicated all profits raised in these projects to the artists. He has been working with the motivation and goal of preventing the decline of the tango culture during this pandemic period.
In addition to the above, Tomo is often invited to various events such as openings, anniversaries, and other special events.
In recent years, he has been active in "La Milonga" sponsored by JTFA, 2017-2019 Sakura Tango Festival, Tokyo Tango Festival, Kansai Tango Festival, etc.
One special event he participated in was the 2020 Mayday Virtual Milonga hosted by BsAs DNA online. Tomo has also served as the main DJ of many other events.
Needless to say, Tomo is the most extensive and recognized DJ in Japan today.
He is highly trusted by many professional dancers, and they say, "I want TOMO to create the sound of the performance."
The selection of songs is not limited to just the golden era, but includes a wide range of eras and many Orchestras. Music that are easy to dance are selected according to the atmosphere of the place.
He has a good reputation for how to play music , and it is often said that "his music play is different from other music plays that one usually hears because he leads one to hear sounds that one usually does not hear.”
He has fans in a wide range of ages and in many countries, especially from women.
The milonga he plays is never dismissed until the end.

Born in Yokohama and started Tango in Sapporo.
She has taken classes from a number of maestros at Cafetin de Buenosaire in Osaka and has studied under artists including Pablo & Noelia, Jorge Torres, Analia & Luiz, Gabriel Misse, Daniel & Cristina, Ernest Borgonovo, Ernesto & Paola, Roberto & Lam, Yuki & Dani. DJ Fukky started her work as a DJ at Milonga in Sapporo.
She learned piano and was initially attracted to classical music. Since then, she has totally fallen in love with Tango music and has been involved with dancing romantic selections of traditional music from the golden age of Tango. DJ Fukky currently works mainly in Osaka and Sapporo and has participated in this Sakura Tango Festival in both 2017 and 2018.

DJ IKE always liven up the Milonga at most with old and new tango music and vivid cortina.
He prepares more than 200 times DJ selection per year, as well as organizes tango events, which nobody did in the same way and everybody wishes.
Contributing himself to develop new enjoyment in Tango for Covid period, he was awarded FJTA Tango Award 2022 as DJ.

[Organize]
■ Milonga EXPRESS @Daimon Caminito Studio
■ EXPRESS Chique @Yotsuya Chique Studio
■ ICA EXPRESS Plus@Sugamo Studio ICA Plus
Toyosu Tsukiji event, etc

[Festival / Marathon]
■ 2019 "Tango Addict Marathon" (Manila)
■ 2017 "Oriental Tango Festival" (Osaka)
■ 2017 "Tokyo Tango Festival" (Tokyo)

[Award]
■ 2022 FJTA Japan Tango Award DJ section

Started tango 2001,
Organizer of Carlos Tango DJ School Milonga ("Milonga Sonemos"), organizer of Korea United Milonga ("Union Milonga Cita"), organizer of All Night Milonga in Seoul ("Night Milonga"), and organizer of Philippines Tango Marathon ("Tango Adicto Marathon")

DJed at Milonga Sonemos, Korea United Milonga, Mong Milonga, All Night Milonga, Cafetin de BuenosAires Milonga(Osaka), Riverside Milonga, Milonga Doble Caminito, Milonga de Paris, Komorebi RADA Milonga, Milonga Express, Ritmo Milonga(Tokyo), Cho Milonga(Seoul), OZ Milonga, Solo Tango Night Milonga, Tango Origin Milonga, Milonga Vida Mia, Viernes Milonga, Milonga Corazon, Tango Nuevo, Milonga VOLVER, El Viento Milonga, a private wedding/birthday milonga abroad(Tokyo), Essa Milonga, Milonga Tarde, GeumBoom Milonga, Saturday Milonga, Friday Potluck Milonga, Ignox Tango Milonga, Yeappeu Milonga, Dulce Milonga, Solo Tango Milonga, Tango Vuelo Milonga, Hue Milonga, CUCU Milonga, Hoonhoon Milonga, ToRa Milonga, Azucar Sunday Milonga (First milonga studio in Korea), Cuba Milonga, Dalbit Milonga, Con Milonga, TodoTango Milonga, Gentango Milonga, Lovely, Valsamix Milonga, Saturday Milonga(Hochiminh), Milonga Argentina, Dr. Wine Milonga(Manila), Milonga Con Amor, TakiTango Milonga, Milonga at a hotel in Conron Island, After milongo at Taiwan Tango Festival, Boracay Tango Encuentro, Pre/Grand/Post milonga at Phillipines Tango Marathon, Milonga X(HongKong), Vietnam Tango Festival, .

Will DJ at Chicago tango, California tango (LA, San diego), Texas tango, Sakura Tango Festival 2024, Turkey/Greece Cruise Tango Festival 2025, Boracay Tango Encuentro 2024, Phillipines Tango Marathon 2025, Vietnam Tango Festival 2024, Phillipines Tango Festival, Paris tango, Canada tango

Play Golden Age/Traditional, Alternative, and Nuevo/Neo tango music.
Tango is my life, spirit, and soul.