Ukon Nishikawa

My hero is my grandfather, Ukon Nishikawa. He is the headmaster of the largest traditional dance company in Japan, the Nishikawa-ryu, stretching from northern Hokaido, all the way down the southern Kyu-shu. He has taught me everything, from how to be a great dancer, and how to play Black Jack. He is the reason for where I am right now. He has brought me out of the shadows and into the bright lights of the public. He has made the Nishikawa-ryu dance company what it is now, with over 5000 students nation wide. He has made many of his students into great dancers, and now has his autobiography published.

What he has done for me and for the company isn't the only reason he is my hero. He is also a great dancer himself, one of the best this country has ever seen. He can dance as elegant and swift as a fox when dancing a role such as a crane or a man in love. His dances are powerful and magnificent when he plays the role of a lion. He plays both men and women roles, and both magnificent when he does. He is an inspiration to every dancer in Japan, including myself.

I find it a privilege to be his grandson, and to dance under his wing. He is, to me, the Don of this company. I say this not only because he is the headmaster, but in our company, once someone has passed the natorishiken (License test), that person is given the name, Nishikawa, and enters our “Family." For those reasons, he is my role-model, my Don, and my Hero.

Nishikawa-ryu Dance Company performing in Alberta, Canada