From March 16 to April 16, 2026, Min-On presented “Sunshine Mexican Music,” a month-long nationwide tour that brought Latin music inspired by the legacy of Los Panchos to audiences across Japan. The tour featured 19 performances in 18 cities, concluding to consistently enthusiastic receptions.
The tour featured Mexican ensemble Trio del Angel and dancer Norma Blancas, together with guitarist Irving Koji, who also appears in Japanese television as a cultural bridge between Japan and Mexico, and vocalist Takako Ota. Together, the performers presented a program centered on Latin music, highlighting a repertoire of well-known songs and collaborative performances.
Trio del Angel continues the tradition of the iconic Mexican trio Los Panchos, and performs their well-known repertoire, which has been passed down through the group’s musical legacy. The program included signature songs such as “Bésame Mucho” and “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás,” performed with the warm and delicate sound of the requinto guitar and beautiful vocal harmonies.
Alongside the performances by Trio del Angel, Irving Koji and his group presented a range of lively and cheerful Latin music, allowing audiences to fully enjoy a wide selection of the genre’s repertoire. The stage was further enlivened by dancer Norma Blancas, whose performance added a visual element to the concert.
Audience members said the concert conveyed a sense of musical connection between Japan and Mexico, with one attendee noting that they were so moved they could not help but join friends in shouting “Bravo,” and that the experience left them feeling energized. Another attendee said they became fully absorbed in the music, moving continuously to the rhythm throughout the performance, and added that they came to feel deeply that music serves as a symbol of peace.
Following the tour, Trio del Angel leader Fernando Flores reflected on the group’s experience in Japan, noting the steady attentiveness of audiences and the consistently warm reception they received throughout the series. He said that performing in Japan provided a meaningful context in which the ensemble’s music was received with sincerity and openness, and expressed his appreciation for the cultural connection formed through the tour. He added that the group would take with them the warmth, kindness, and goodwill they received from audiences in Japan as they return to Mexico.
During the project’s schedule, the performers also visited the Min-On Cultural Center on March 18, touring the Min-On Music Museum’s historic piano room, a space that preserves instruments and musical heritage from different eras.
The tour concluded on April 16 in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture. Members of Trio del Angel and Norma Blancas departed Japan the following day from Narita Airport.
Min-On extends its heartfelt appreciation to the sustaining members, partners, and many attendees who contributed to the success of this tour.
Performers – Sunshine Mexican Music Japan Tour
〇 Trio del Angel
• Fernando Flores / leader, vocals, requinto guitar
• Jair Animas / vocals, bass
• Diego Martinez / vocals, guitar
〇 Irving Koji / vocals, gitar
〇 Takako Ota / vocals
〇 Norma Blancas / dancer
〇 Atsuko Takao / violine
〇 Charlie Ishizuka / bass
〇 Naohisa Hatanaka / drumNorma Blancas — dancer
〇 Atsuko Takao — violin
〇 Charlie Ishizuka — bass
〇 Naohisa Hatanaka — drums
