Adrienne Reiko Iwanaga
Photo Credit lwanaga Family
Bio
Adrienne Reiko Iwanaga is a teacher, performer, preserver, and cultural ambassador of Bon Odori, a centuries old Japanese folk dance rooted in the Buddhist tradition of communal gathering to honor and celebrate the memory of ancestors. Iwanaga’s dedication to community outreach, education and inclusivity, as well as her innovative, accessible and joyous choreography have helped to revitalize and increase participation in this spirited communal art form both within and outside the Japanese American community.
Iwanaga was born in San Jose, California, in 1938. At age four, while incarcerated with her family at the Granada Relocation Center (Amache) in Colorado, Iwanaga was introduced to odori, classical Japanese dance. After WWII ended, she continued her studies and, in 1965, underwent a rigorous testing process in Japan to be certified as a natori dance master, earning the professional dance name Hanayagi Reimichi.
While continuing her training in classical odori, Iwanaga became involved with Bon Odori folk dancing through the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin. By coincidence, Iwanaga’s future father-in-law, Reverend Yoshio Iwanaga, a first-generation Japanese immigrant, had been responsible for introducing Bon Odori dancing to West coast Japanese American communities in the early 1930s.
In 1998, Iwanaga became the San Jose Buddhist Church’s head Bon Odori teacher. Driven to further her father-in-law’s legacy and inspired by the universal appeal of joyous dancing, Iwanaga began choreographing new dances that, though still historically relevant, were fun, simple to learn, and appealed to all ages. Remembering her experience of incarceration and excited by a changing multicultural population, Iwanaga envisioned using Bon Odori as an inclusive art and began making efforts to reach new communities, cultures, and people outside of the Japanese American population. Today, more than 2,500 dancers of all demographics annually participate in the San Jose Buddhist Church’s Obon Festival, considered the largest such celebration in the United States.
Iwanaga’s work perpetuating Bon Odori expands beyond Obon festivals. She lectures, runs workshops, and leads demonstrations through partnerships with educational, community, and cultural organizations including the University of California, Rotary Club, elementary and Japanese cultural schools, and the Buddhist Churches of America. Additionally, Iwanaga co-founded the American Bon Consortium to ensure that the history of Bon Odori is documented and perpetuated, while moving forward into new expressions.
In 2016, Iwanaga was inducted into the Hokka Nichi Bei Kai (Japanese American Association of Northern California) Cultural Hall of Fame, which honors those who have strengthened the Japanese American community by preserving and sharing Japanese cultural practices. Other honors include Saratoga Citizen of the Year, San Jose Japanese American Citizens League Award, and congressional commendations. In addition, Iwanaga has created commemorative choreography to celebrate the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin’s 100th anniversary and San Jose Taiko’s 50th anniversary.
Iwanaga remains committed to furthering her family’s legacy while continuing to evolve American Obon Odori, ensuring that it remains relevant, approachable, and fun for a contemporary audience.