Following on the success of The

World tour, the Yanai Initiative is thrilled to partner with three new venues to offer audiences a rare opportunity to experience the mesmerizing artistry of Japan’s celebrated benshi—“movie orators” who, since the days of Thomas Edison’s Kinetoscope, have been breathing life into silent film. Master benshi Ichiro Kataoka will be joined by pianist Makia Matsumura for the Art of the Benshi Western U.S. Tour, 2026.

February 25

250 KMBL
5:35 PM
A Page of Madness (Teinosuke Kinugasa, 1926)
Liberty (Leo McCarey, produced by Hal Roach, 1929)
Chongire hebi (A Snipped Snake, Jun’ichi Kōuchi, 1930)

 February 27

Egyptian Theater
7:00 PM
Apart from You (Mikio Naruse, 1933)
Every-Night Dreams (Mikio Naruse, 1933)

 February 28

Pollock Theater
2:00 PM
A Page of Madness (Teinosuke Kinugasa, 1926)
Liberty (Leo McCarey, produced by Hal Roach, 1929)
Chongire hebi (A Snipped Snake, Jun’ichi Kōuchi, 1930)

Please see the individual venue websites for tickets and program information.