西川佳洋について
Nishikawa Kayo
Photo by Koichi Saito
西川 佳洋 / 日本舞踊西川流師範 （略歴）
Nishikawa Kayo / Master teacher and dancer of Nishikawa-ryu
松野洋子 (西川佳洋) 岐阜県出身。
4歳から踊りを習い始め、のちに西川流二代家元 西川鯉三郎に師事し、1962年に苗字内「西川 佳洋」の名を許される1978年に師範となる1973年に長唄三味線名取「杵屋 勝由哉」を取得。
カナダに1974年移住。1976年から日系人に日本舞踊を教え始め、古典はもとより民謡他、盆踊りにも力を注ぎ、カナダにおいて日本芸能の精神や文化を伝えることで、日本文化の認識向上に貢献した。以降、40年に渡る個人指導からグループへの指導を請われ、2011年に「彩月会」を発足、主宰、現在に至る。踊りを通してEXPO86’ジャパンシアターへの出演。４０年以上に渉るパウエル祭への参加と盆踊り指導、各地域仏教会での盆踊り指導、数多くのシニアホームからの踊りの依頼にも応え、在バンクーバー日本総領事館監修のタッチオブジャパンは３０年近く参加、日系文化センターでは、２０００年より要望のある小・中・高校生対象の教育プログラムとして、踊りと着付けで日本文化を紹介するなど、学校、企業各団体の国際文化交流企画にも貢献している。近年、踊りと着物ファッションショー等新たな試みで「踊りを楽しむ」を心に日々精進している。
日系プレースコミュニティアワード 日本文化賞 受賞（2016）
企友会ビジネスアワード 日系社会功労賞 受賞 (2018)
Yoko Matsuno was born in Gifu prefecture, Japan and started taking dance lessons when she was 4 years old. She liked it so much that she decided to proceed with the intensive study to master the art form through the Nishikawa school of Japanese classical dance. In 1962, she received her “natori” (professional dance name), Nishikawa Kayo .
Yoko not only dances but also plays the shamisen, a three-stringed instrument used for accompanying dance. In 1973 she became a certified shamisen player specializing in the “nagauta” style and received another stage name, Katsuyuya Kineya.
In the same year she immigrated to Canada.
In 1976, she started teaching Japanese dance to members of the Japanese-Canadian community. The following year, she began teaching “matsuri-ondo” (festival dancing) for the Powell Street Festival and the Japanese-Canadian Centennial celebration. (She has lead the cultural impact of this art and introduced it to virtually people all over Canada.)
Yoko has been volunteering, not only as an instructor of dance, but also for kimono dressing. All the kimonos and accessories used are donated by her. The volunteers helping in this particular program are her dance class students, members of the Satsuki Kai. The Satsuki Kai dance group was established in May 2011 with the purpose of introducing Japanese folk dance to a broader audience. Her most recent project has been to integrate dance in a kimono fashion show.
Through dance and kimono dressing, Yoko has been introducing Japanese culture to the Canadian community for many years, and has contributed to the enrichment of the greater community. As recognition for her 40 years of activity, Yoko was the recipient of the 2016 Nikkei Place Community award and 2018 Kiyukai Distinguished Services Award.
Nikkei place community award (2016）
Kiyukai Distinguished Services Award (2018)