GALA KANSAI 2026

Chef Christian Garcia has served at the Prince’s Palace of Monaco since 1987 and has been Executive Chef to H.S.H. Prince Albert II since 2005. As President of the Club des Chefs des Chefs, he is recognized worldwide for his culinary expertise. A long-standing friend of Japan, he has led several charitable Gala Dinners in Tokyo supporting disaster-affected regions. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Monaco and Japan, Chef Garcia will return to Tokyo to create an exclusive Gala Dinner, offering guests a rare opportunity to experience the cuisine of the Prince’s Palace while honoring the friendship between the two nations.

Yumiko TANIMURA (Soprano)

Born in Kyoto, she graduated from Kyoto City University of Arts and the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP).

An award winner at numerous international competitions, she is the first Japanese singer to win both the International Lily & Nadia Boulanger Competition and the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition. Her repertoire spans from Baroque music to contemporary works, and she performs throughout Europe and Japan with distinguished conductors while pursuing an active career as a recitalist and educator.

In 2018, she founded Atelier Lyrique Kyoto, promoting musical and cultural exchange between Japan and France.

Tsubasa TATSUNO (Piano)

Born in Kobe, he graduated top of his class from Kyoto City University of Arts before continuing his studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP) and the École Normale de Musique de Paris.

A prizewinner at numerous national and international competitions, he performs widely as a recitalist, concerto soloist, and vocal accompanist in Japan and abroad.

He currently teaches at Tokyo College of Music and serves as vocal accompanist at Kyoto City University of Arts and Osaka College of Music.