MC 2022 – Japan Festival CANADA 2023

Khaled Iwamura

Khaled Iwamura is the face and founder behind one of the most popular digital news/media companies in Canada and has been the Emcee for North America’s largest Japan Festival since it started in 2016.

Insauga.com now covers not only Mississauga, but Brampton, Halton, Hamilton, and, as of summer 2021, Durham and the Niagara area as well. Now in 18 communities in southern Ontario.

insauga.com does upwards of 750,000 page views in one day and boasts 12 million views each month.

He is very proud of his Japanese/Egyptian heritage, he was raised in Japanese speaking home by his grandmother and mother and has learned the Japanese language.

Khaled is extremely passionate about his Japanese heritage and culture and was an avid Japanese drummer and instructor as part of a Toronto-based taiko group called Yakudo for over 15 years. Taiko provided Khaled with a global experience through live performances to audiences around the world.

https://www.insauga.com/

Yurika Watanabe Hinkle

Born and raised in Japan and immigrated to Canada in 2004. Studied hotel management and became a hotelier, currently working full-time as a Reservations Manager at The Hazelton Hotel. A mother of one child actively involved in Japanese community. Diligently introducing the beauty of YOSAKOI to Canadians. She has established her YOSAKOI team, “Sakuramai Toronto” in 2011 and has been performing throughout Toronto and nearby Cities. In 2021, she has become the co-host for Virtual Japan Festival Canada and is excited to come back again this year for the in-person, Japan Festival Canada 2022. Her passion towards dance and Matsuri (Festival in Japanese) is endless. Her energy will bring the “Matsuri Damashii” (Festival Soul in Japanese). Dancing brings her joy and excitement and forever growth in her personal life. She is also involved in a Flamenco dance and have been performing in the City.