Residency and Outreach Activities
(1) A Year in Japan
A 5 day residency that focuses on national holidays, festivals, and seasonal children’s activities in Japan throughout the year.
(2) Creative Writing: Our Own Folktales
A 5-8 day residency. Students write original folktales that express their own beliefs and values. Emphasis on originality and non-violent problem solving.
(3) The Storyteller’s Process
Students select or write stories that explore and express who they are. Emphasis on identity, community, and respect.
Audiences Served
School children, Teens, Immigrant populations, General public, Adults, Families
Languages Performed (Other than English):
Japanese
Grade Levels Served:
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Higher Education, Adult Education, Pre-K
Curriculum Areas Your Program(s) address
Arts, English Language Arts, Foreign Languages, Health, History and Social Science
Awards
Motoko has been awarded numerous grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and New York State BOCES. Her debut CD, “The Promise of Chrysanthemums” won a 2002 Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award and a 2003 Storytelling World Award.
Education/Training
A graduate of International Christian University in Tokyo, Motoko worked as a Japanese language instructor at UMass for ten years. She trained with late master mime Tony Montanaro (1927-2002) and has been performing professionally since 1993.