Photo by Frederic Aranda from California Elegance

It’s Thanksgiving to us because you helped us raise $19,000 for new works!

Mark and I celebrate our 45th anniversary as performing artists this year and we feel your love & warm wishes as we write, compose, rehearse, produce and perform. Your contributions are powerful. They fill us with so much energy. Thank you!

We want to let you know about:

California Elegance, hot off the presses this beautiful book features Mark and I along with Janice Mirikitani & Cecil Williams, Ruth Azawa & her family, Gavin Newsom and many other people you probably know all from our wonderful state
The Process Series - A storytelling festival I am part of with the University of North Carolina that you can begin watching with your families for Free next week
Mark Mentors - Little Tokyo's Nikkei Music Reclamation Project
Brenda Joins Theater Bay Area Board

Much gratitude and appreciation,

Brenda & Mark

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California Elegance Book

Find Mark and Brenda in the new 'California Elegance' book by portrait photographer Frederic Aranda and writer Christine Suppes, co-creators of Electric Fashion (SKIRA 2015) who have teamed up to bring to life Suppes’ home state of California with portraits and landscapes accompanied by stories of the Californians they met during their four-year journey producing this book. With chapters devoted to the Diaspora Until World War II, Agriculture, Technology, Science and Climate Change, the Arts, Fashion, Lifestyle, Activism, Sports and Recreation, Universities, Unsung Heroes and Politics Aranda and Suppes present a definitive and cohesive picture of California as the leader of change and innovation—and one that is so much more than what once met the eye.

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Brenda’s Performances

Feb. 20, 2021 | 4:30PM PST/7:30PM EST
Feb. 21, 2021 | 1:30PM PST/4:30PM EST

Recognizing the power and potential of storytelling in its many forms at this pivotal moment in American culture and politics, this 5-day festival draws on the skills of some of the nation’s most prominent and diverse storytelling practitioners including our very own Brenda Wong Aoki. The programming will focus on diverse voices, all addressing these ideas: How can storytelling illuminate the world as it exists now?; Can storytelling build community and create cultural and institutional change?; What can a community do to invite a diversity of voices to share personal and cultural stories that have shaped the way they live and the way we understand others?; Can storytelling be an effective platform to battle systemic racism?

Reserve Tickets

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Nikkei Music Reclamation Project

As part of Sustainable Little Tokyo's Nikkei Music Reclamation Project, Mark is mentoring a young Nikkei electronic music composer.

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Brenda Joins the Theatre Bay Area Board

Read Brenda's interview with Theatre Bay Area and how she came to join and what's she's excited about.

Learn more

SHOP

Give a gift of stories this season and purchase a signed limited edition copy of Mermaid Meat or Stories for Children and the People Who Love Them by Brenda! On sale on our website!

buy here

Now Streaming!

Our albums are now streaming and available for digital download on various music platforms including Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify. Listen now!

listen here