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We're back again to introduce another team sending their members to join the International Yosakoi Team!

This time it's Canada Yosakoi Team KAEDE from Toronto, Canada!

KAEDE was founded in January 2018 by Emiko Tanaka with the goal of participating in Kochi Yosakoi Festival. Thanks to her dedication and hard work, that dream came true -- KAEDE members banded together with other groups, including Sakuramai Poland, and performed in the 2018 Kochi Yosakoi Festival.

Emiko chose ‘kaede’ as the team name as it means ‘maple’, the national symbol of Canada -- it's the leaf on the Canadian flag! Most of KAEDE’s members were recruited through their Meetup page and e-maple, a forum for Japanese people residing in Canada (that's how Shota joined!).

To help raise awareness and funds for the entire project, KAEDE has been organizing a language exchange for several weeks at Creeds Coffee Bar. The participation fee is donated to this project. If you're in the area, you should check out their Meetup Page!

KAEDE recently held a performance and workshop at McMaster University in Hamilton (source). In the future, they're hoping to perform at the Cherry Blossom festival

Photo credits: Emiko Tanaka

They're really hardworking and nice people. Follow Canada Yosakoi Team Kaede on their Facebook page!

Special message from Emiko:

"KAEDE has been working hard to spread yosakoi around Canada and many Canadians are interested in yosakoi. KAEDE's members are excited to work with other dancers in the International Yosakoi team!"

// Daniel