Japanese Star MIYAVI To Bring Music To Lake Braddock Secondary School

BURKE, VA — Japanese musician and actor MIYAVI will visit Lake Braddock Secondary School Thursday afternoon for a live performance with his band.

The performance was made possible by a partnership between the Embassy of Japan and Lake Braddock Secondary School to bring Japanese culture to Fairfax County students.

Students interested in learning more about Japanese culture and music will have the opportunity to speak with MIYAVI during a Q&A session after his performance. MIYAVI will discuss his experience as a Japanese musician, as an actor in U.S. movies, and as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The event will take place at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 1 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. on Thursday.

About 250 students at Lake Braddock Secondary School take Japanese as a foreign language. The school is also a regular participant in the U.S. Japan Bowl, in which top-class Japanese language students from across the U.S. compete using their knowledge of Japanese language and culture.

MIYAVI, born Takamasa Ishihara, has gained recognition for his unconventional guitar playing style. He doesn't use a pick, but instead uses a "slap style" that has earned him the nickname "Samurai Guitarist."

MIYAVI is appearing at Lake Braddock Secondary School as he prepares to kick off his 20th Anniversary North America tour, playing in 20 cities to celebrate his two decades in the music industry.

In 2014, MIYAVI appeared in the motion picture "Unbroken," directed by Angelina Jolie. He has contributed voice acting and music to the "Arcane League of Legends" series, appeared in Netflix's "Kate" and acted as Byakuya Kuchiki in the 2018 live-action adaptation of "Bleach."