Shihan Yukari Tamagusuku
Ryukyuan dance artist and instructor of Ryubu Tamagusuku-Ryu Tedano-Kai
She began learning Ryukyu dances at the age of 3 from her mother, Chie Tamagusuku Iemoto, who is a distinguished artist and master of Tamagusuku-Ryu Tedano-Kai, and from Tamagusuku Setsuko Iemoto, who is also a distinguished artist and master of Tamagusuku-Ryu Shosetsu-Kai. She studied Ryukyuan dance arts at Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts under Shizue Matayoshi Iemoto and Kumi Odori under Noho Miyagi, who is the holder of the Ningen Kokuho title.
- In 1993, she received an award of the Best Dance Artist Award at the Ryukyu Performing Arts Competition organized by the Ryukyu Shimpo Newspaper.
- In 1997, she obtained the title of instructor in Tamagusuku-Ryu Tedano-Kai.
- In 2003, she joined the Kumi Odori group of the Urazoe City Cultural Association.
- In 2004, she achieved the rank of Shihan in Tamagusuku-Ryu Tedano-Kai.
- In 2004, she performed in the opening ceremony program of the National Theater Okinawa and participated in numerous other performances.
- In 2018, she presented a solo performance series at the National Theater Okinawa.
- She graduated from Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts in Ryukyuan dance and Kumi Odori course.
- She is a distinguished master of Tamagusuku-Ryu Tedano-Kai, which is the successor of Ryukyuan dances which is an important intangible cultural asset of Okinawa.
Shihan Satoko Matayoshi
Ryukyuan dance artist and instructor of Ryubu Tamagusuku-Ryu Izumi-Kai
She started learning Ryukyuan dances at the age of 5 from her mother, Shizue Matayoshi Iemoto who is a distinguished artist of Tamagusuku-Ryu Izumi-Kai and has earned the title of master. She is a master of Tamagusuku-Ryu Izumi-Kai, she is the holder of the title of distinguished artist of Ryukyuan dance, which is an important intangible cultural asset of Okinawa. She has performed in Okinawa Prefecture, as well as in Japan, Asia, Europe, and South America.
- In 2004, she received an award of the Best Dance Artist at the Ryukyu Performing Arts Competition organized by the Ryukyu Shimpo Newspaper.
- In 2007, she obtained the title of Ryukyuan dance instructor.
- In 2008, she began learning Kumi Odori from her aunt, Iemoto Chie Tamagusuku.
- In 2009, she opened a branch of Tamagusuku-Ryu Izumi-Kai.
- In 2014, she achieved the rank of Shihan in Tamagusuku-Ryu Izumi-Kai.
- In 2017, she presented Ryukyuan dance and Kumi Odori under the title “Hakuuchi no Izumi” at the National Theater Okinawa.
Iemoto: A present house leader of the founder of a school of traditional Japanese art
Soke: Leader of the true line of the style
Kumi Odori: A form of narrative traditional Ryukyuan dance
Kokuho: National Treasure (Japan)
Ningen kokuho: A Japanese popular term for those individuals certified as Preservers of Important Intangible Cultural Properties by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as based on Japan’s Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties
Shihan: Master rank
