OREGON CHINA COUNCIL
CHINA, JAPAN, KOREA
Annual Three Nations Cultural Series
The Chinese, Japanese and Korean communities in Portland, Oregon have been cooperating to present joint cultural performances each year since 2015. It began with Strings of Three Nations, followed by Dances, Drums, Voices, Flutes, and Masks Dances of Three Nations. Our goal is to unite the three communities and to expose the public to the beautiful cultures of all three countries.
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Stringed Instruments and Flutes of The Three Nations - 2024
(Chinese) Ms. Kunlu Wen, who studied the Chinese “Guzheng” in both China and the U.S. and is the founder of Lulu Guzheng Studio. She will team with Ms. Jenny Hung on the piano. The Chinese team will also include Mr. Qingquan Kong, who began playing the Chinese flute at the age of nine and has been active in the Chinese music community in Portland for 40+ years and Huishao Zhen on the Chinese yangqin. (Japanese) Ms. Yumi Torimaru, the founder and artistic director of the Japanese instrumental group Takohachi, will perform on the Japanese "Shamisen" and ”Shinobue" accompanied by Jin Nakajima on the shinobue bamboo flute and and Shoko Oba on percussion and Truman Wilson on the Tsugaru Shamisen. (Korea) Ms. Doyeon Lim, a skilled musician and founder of Korean Music Institute of Oregon, will showcase both the traditional and modified (more modern) versions of the Korean “Gayageum.” She will perform three songs: Sung Geumyeon Kayageum Sanjo, Legend of the Moon, and Snow Flower.
Children Choirs of The Three Nations - 2023
The Portland Mandarin Children's Choir is an after school learning program started in 2022 to help children learn Mandarin songs while improving music fundamentals and embracing cultural diversity. Students will perform "Jasmine Flower"; "Painting & Little Pond," and "You Look Beautiful When You Smile." The Nozomi Music School is a private school opened in 2019 by Nozomi Imade, a long-time music teacher in Japan, where both adults and children learn a variety of music, including Japanese songs. The students perform "Sukiyaki," "Sakura & Summer Festival & Momiji," and "Hometown." The Oregon Korean School is a community language school providing Korean language and cultural education to over 200 students from diverse cultural backgrounds, ranging in age from pre-k to adults. The student sing "New Arirang with an instrumental accompaniment," and "Butterfly" with a Taekwondo performance.
Dances of The Three Nations - 2022
The 2022 Three Nations performance was the first in-person cultural exchange event since the Pandemics. The new Chinese Consul General of the Chinese Consulate in S.F, Mr. Jianmin ZHANG, and his delegation, the Japanese Consul General in Portland, Mr. Masaki SHIGA, and Korean Deputy Consul General in Seattle, Mr. Hyonsang AHN, local dancers, and over 300 audiences joined together for the performance.
Performers: PORTLAND CHINESE DANCE TROUPE, TSUBAKI BUYO DOUKOUKAI, and OREGON KOREAN PERFORMING ARTS TROUPE
Mask Dances of The Three Nations - 2020
The 2020 performances were performed and viewed virtually – a necessary departure from the impressive live performances of the past. Participants enjoyed video performances of Pacific Northwest dance groups performing mask dances from China, Japan, and Korea. Sponsored by the Oregon China Council, Consular Office of Japan, and South Korean Consulate
Performers: Yu Long with Goodtime Dancers (China), Buyo Doko Kai (Japan), and Seattle Songpa Sandae Nori (Korea).
Virtual performance recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-cK5aNBres
Flutes of The Three Nations - 2019
The performance at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Portland featured flutists and melodies from the three nations.
Flutists: Henry Huang (China), Larry Tyrrell (Japan), Si Hyeung Kim (Korea)
Voices of The Three Nations - 2018
The Voices of Three Nations performed at Portland's World Trade Center.
Vocalists: Ruan Qiuling (China), Kohgetsu Aoki (Japan), and Da-Hyang Kwon (Korea).
Drums of The Three Nations - 2017
A vibrant and colorful performance at Portland's World Trade Center. "High energy!"
Performers: Lin Li (China), the Lee Association Lion Dancers (China), Portland Taiko (Japan), and Seung-Hee Ji (Korea).
Dances of The Three Nations - 2016
Excellent performances by all three countries at a beautiful venue -- the Kridel Grand Ballroom of the Portland Art Museum
Dancers: Oregon's Principal Ballerina Xuan Cheng (China), Diana Hinatsu (Japan), and Seung-Hee Ji (Korea)
Strings of The Three Nations - 2015
Portland serves as a model of cooperation and friendship, sharing Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cultures with the citizens of Oregon.
The musicians for the concert: Emily Deng (China), Mitsuki Dazai (Japan), and Myung-Ja “Donna” Jang (Korea).