Testimonials and Reviews

 

The Most Valuable Doggone (Storytelling Festival) Orator for me was Motoko, and endearing Japanese storyteller… She effortlessly captures and keeps a whole crowd’s attention, blending her quiet speaking voice with blunt American colloquialisms for emphasis and humor.

New Haven Advocate

 

The combination of skill, talent and ability to translate emotion to motion created entertaining and exciting imagery. Motoko puts the audience on an emotional roller coaster. She takes you up, down, upside down and lets you off feeling exhilarated and charged up…Her show was a winner.

Massachusetts Daily COLLEGIAN

 

The entire evening was outstanding! One of the most enjoyable performances…Motoko translates intrinsically Japanese cultural ideas and idioms for an English speaking audience and craft the words to make them understand, laugh, and transported in time and space.

Ranjanaa Devi, Director, the Asian Arts & Culture Program,

Fine Arts Center, the University of Massachusetts Amherst

 

Children of all ages expressed tremendous enthusiasm for their experience with Motoko, noting her traditional way of dressing, her charming mannerisms, her fascinating stories, and the special way in which she combined mime and stories.

Leonard Strauss, Principal, Swift River School, New Salem, MA

 

We were thrilled by your beautiful storytelling, and how you were able to connect with the varied ages of our audiences. You conveyed so much about Japanese culture and language within the program. One mother told me her child was singing in Japanese after the program!

Joey Von Idelstein, Children’s Librarian

Scituate Town Library, Scituate, MA

 

I can’t say enough about how impressed I was with Motoko’s presentation. In a short time, my class learned so much about Japan – a little geography, culture, climate, history, food, sports, and language. Her visuals were terrific, her story engaging, her demeanor perfect for third graders. The children loved it and so did I!”

Ellen Towner, 3rd Grade Teacher

Chandler Magnet School, Worcester, MA

 

The program was rich with terrific material… The behavior management methods were very effective. Excellent rapport with the students. Thank you for your hard work!

Robert Mahler, Principal

Gill Elementary School, Gill, MA

 

From the opening music on, I felt our community was caught up in your story, and growing through your sharing. Williston believes in asking adults to share their stories and function as role models. Your performance did just that, and demanded the audience’s creative involvement in the emotional exploration.

The Williston-Northampton School

Easthampton, MA

 

Motoko included many issues our students are familiar with and interested in, and presented them at their level. She was not talking down to them…I have never seen the kids so focused. You could hear a pin drop! Thank you for such an enriching experience!

Old Saybrook Middle School

Old Saybrook, CT