Author Archives: loochoo77

UH, University of the Ryukyus, Meio Sign Agreement

Posted on May 25, 2015 by loochoo77

The following excerpts (and caption above) are from Tracy Matsushima’s “International Okinawan Studies Agreement Signed” (University of Hawaii News, 12 May 2015). The University of Hawaiʻi, the University of the Ryukyus and Meio University signed a memorandum of understanding at … Continue reading →

Posted in Agreement, Higher Education, International | Leave a comment

OAA Members Picnic & Bon Dance 2015 – July 12

Posted on May 25, 2015 by loochoo77
Posted in Bon Dance, Culture, Food, Games, International, Picnic | Leave a comment

OAA Bazaar & Fundraiser 2015 – Oct. 4

Posted on May 25, 2015 by loochoo77

Updated 9/23/15

Posted in Bazaar, Culture, Dance, Food, Fundraiser, Music | Leave a comment

70th Anniversary of Battle of Okinawa: OAA June 2015

Posted on May 25, 2015 by loochoo77
Posted in Battle of Okinawa, History, International, Lecture, Memorial | 1 Comment

‘Introduction to Okinawan Dance 2015’ at UHM July 5 – Aug 9

Posted on May 25, 2015 by loochoo77
Posted in Class, Culture, Dance | Leave a comment

Children’s Okinawan Cultural Day Camp June 2015

Posted on May 25, 2015 by loochoo77

This event is sponsored in part by the State Foundation of Culture & Arts and Hawaii United Okinawa Association. Dates are subject to change. Contact HUOA for updates. Okinawan Summer Day Camp for Children Camps are scheduled for all major … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Craft, Culture, Day Camp | Leave a comment

Shimakutuba Class via Live Stream

Posted on May 25, 2015 by loochoo77

From Eric Wada: Gusuuyo Chuuganabira! Just a reminder for our shimakutuba class this Monday [5/25/15] at 7:30 pm at Jikoen. We will be practicing more useful conversational vocabulary as well as reviewing so bring friends and family! If cannot attend … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, Culture, Language, Livestream | Leave a comment

Meet Okinawa Governor Onaga at Hawai`i Okinawa Center on May 28, 2015, at 7pm

Posted on May 25, 2015 by loochoo77

From Eric Wada: Gusuuyo Chuuganabira, Governor Onaga from Okinawa will be visiting O`ahu from next Wednesday-Friday, 27-29th, then leaving to Washington DC to take the Okinawa people’s voice to Congress and Department of Defense concerning the Henoko mega base construction. … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Politics, Protest, Rally | Leave a comment

Cherry Blossoms in Japan

Posted on May 14, 2015 by loochoo77

Viewing cherry blossom trees was not the primary purpose for our trip to Japan, but we hoped to see them in full bloom, hoping that the migration of the bloom from south to north would cross our path somewhere along … Continue reading →

Posted in Cherry Blossoms, Japan, Photos, Travel | Leave a comment

Taira Village Orphanage and Uncle Hoichi

Posted on May 4, 2015 by loochoo77

Below is an old photograph of Hoichi and his dad, Hoyei Inafuku, among a group of Okinawan men. Hoichi is the young man in the middle sitting on the floor. His father, Hoyei, my grandfather, is sitting on the chair … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Haneji, Hawaii, History, International, Kauai, World War II | 1 Comment

OAA Scholarships for 2015 HS Graduates

Posted on April 30, 2015 by loochoo77
Posted in Announcement, Scholarship | Leave a comment

Baker and Shimabukuro: Two Views of WWII

Posted on April 30, 2015 by loochoo77

Excerpts from Eric Talmadge’s “Iwo Jima Vet, Okinawa Survivor Wrestle with WWII Legacy,” Japan Times, 21 Apr. 2015: In Norman Baker’s mind, the Japanese were fanatical, brutal animals with no respect for life. To Yoshiko Shimabukuro, Americans were long-nosed demons … Continue reading →

Posted in Battle of Okinawa, History, International, World War II | Leave a comment

HUOA Senior Health & Fitness Fair 6/19/15, 9am-1pm

Posted on April 30, 2015 by loochoo77
Posted in Announcement, Culture, Fair, Health | Leave a comment

2015 Hawaii Okinawan Golf Tournament May 23-24

Posted on April 30, 2015 by loochoo77
Posted in Announcement, Culture, Tournament | Tagged | Leave a comment

Ichi Hanno, Okinawan Band from Santo André, Brazil

Posted on April 30, 2015 by loochoo77

Visit their site, Ichi Hanno, and listen to samples of their work, “Kui Nu Hanna” and “Uminchu.” Ichi Hanno is a band that describes their style as world music because its essence is basically traditional and modern music from Okinawa … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcement, International, Music | Leave a comment

Prefectural Rep. Itokazu to Speak on Okinawa Issues at UHM Hawaiian Studies Center 4/27/15 at 6:30pm

Posted on April 20, 2015 by loochoo77

I know most of you won’t be able to make it, but I thought I would pass this on so you know what Okinawa is presently up against, especially Nago where the US wants to build a new base. Okinawa … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcement, Culture, International, Lecture, Politics | Leave a comment

Medical Students Sasaki and Tamura to Share Okinawa Experiences on 5/1/15

Posted on April 19, 2015 by loochoo77

FYI Folks! Jennifer and Aileen will be sharing their wonderful experiences of their time in Okinawa — from a medical student point of view. They are the future . . . Event: Center for Okinawan Studies Monthly Lecture Series: Jennifer … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcement, Culture, International, Lecture, Medical, Travel | Leave a comment

Uchinaaguchi Livestream on 4/13/15 at 7:30pm HST

Posted on April 13, 2015 by loochoo77

Here’s an announcement from Ukwanshin’s Norman Kaneshiro and Eric Wada: Ukwanshin Kabudan just went live If you can’t make it down to Jikoen, you can tune in to the class via your computer! Norman Kaneshiro: Hi all. Just wanted to … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcement, Culture, Instruction, International, Language | Leave a comment

My Trip to Okinawa in March 2015

Posted on April 9, 2015 by loochoo77

Below is a photo of me with my friends Kazuo Kubo and Take Gima. We spent a Saturday together when my wife, Wei Wei, and I were in Tokyo, on the first part of our Japan-Okinawa-Taiwan trip. Take, who is … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | 1 Comment

The Overriding Emotion of Okinawans in WWII Was Patriotism

Posted on April 8, 2015 by loochoo77

On 1 June 2015, the contents of this article were combined with an article originally published a day earlier on 7 Apr. 2015. See the expanded article, “The Romantic View of Okinawans as Pacifists.” -JS

Posted in Battle of Okinawa, History, International, Op-ed, Review | Leave a comment

OAA Upcoming Events for 2015

Posted on April 7, 2015 by loochoo77

16500 South Western Avenue, Suite #203 Gardena, California 90249 OAA Family Bowling Event April 19th • 10:00 AM Check-In (11AM Start) @ Covina Bowl 1060 W. San Bernardino Rd., Covina 91722 $35 for adults (18 & up) • $25 for … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcement, Dance, Fundraiser, International, Music, Picnic, Recreation, Schedule, Scholarship | Leave a comment

The Romantic View of Okinawans as Pacifists

Posted on April 7, 2015 by loochoo77

Expanded 6/1/151 Stephen Mansfield’s article, “Okinawa: In the Crosshairs of War” (Japan Times, 4 Apr. 2015), is troubling in the sense that it perpetuates a romantic myth about Okinawans that is repeatedly used for propaganda. For example, he claims that … Continue reading →

Posted in Battle of Okinawa, History, International, Op-ed, Politics | Leave a comment

2015 Kauai Okinawan Dance Festival May 8-9

Posted on April 7, 2015 by loochoo77
Posted in Announcement, Bazaar, Culture, Dance, Food, Music, Travel | Leave a comment

Mitsushima Hikari – Gifted Actress from Okinawa

Posted on March 22, 2015 by loochoo77

I first saw her in the 2013 NTV series Woman. See Heisui’s review, “Woman: Ep 1.” This afternoon, I watched the last episode of the 2014 Fuji TV series All About My Siblings. In Woman, you suspect she’s an exceptional … Continue reading →

Posted in Actor/Actress, Film, Review, Video | 2 Comments

Utayabira Wuduyabira – Okinawan Performance in Torrance, CA 5/17/15

Posted on March 16, 2015 by loochoo77

Updated 4/7/15 Sunday, May 17th at 2:00 PM James R Armstrong Theatre 3300 Civic Center Drive Torrance, California 90503 Tickets: $20 Organized the OAA Geinobu (Performing Arts Committee), this biennial show features traditional and contemporary Ryukyu minyo (Okinawan folk music), … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcement, Concert, Culture, Dance, International, Music | Leave a comment

‘The Okinawan Koto Tradition in Hilo, Hawaii’ 4/10/15

Posted on March 15, 2015 by loochoo77

Updated 4/7/15 Center for Okinawan Studies Monthly Lecture Series Presents: “From ‘Tachiutushi’ to ‘Old Macdonald’: The Okinawan Koto Tradition in Hilo, Hawaii” The presentation discusses Okinawan cultural continuity in the diaspora as well as the So-shin Kai Midori and efforts … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcement, Culture, History, International, Lecture, Music | Leave a comment

US Olympian with Roots in Haneji, Okinawa

Posted on March 15, 2015 by loochoo77

Yoshinobu (Yoshi) Oyakawa represented the United States at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helinski, Finland. There, he won the gold medal in the 100 meter backstroke setting a new record in the process. Yoshi is considered the last of the great … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, History, Images, International, Sports | Leave a comment

Students from Okinawa Visit the Hawaii State Capitol

Posted on March 13, 2015 by loochoo77

Note: The text, photos, and captions in this article are from a post by Lopaka Baptiste in 21maile on 13 March 2015. Baptiste is on Senator Maile Shimabukuro’s staff. In June of 1985, the State of Hawaii and the Prefecture … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, International, Travel | Leave a comment

An A’ala Street Story

Posted on February 23, 2015 by loochoo77

Gladys Sui Bun Young, my mother, was born on November 28, 1917, at home at 1071 A’ala Street bordering A’ala Park and across the river from Chinatown. Gladys was one of six girls born into the Young family. In their … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Culture, History, Images, International | 3 Comments

Marathon, Miss Okinawa, Sogo Hospital, Nakasone Endowment, AmerAsian School, Karate & China

Posted on February 13, 2015 by loochoo77

Sunday’s Okinawa Marathon is a wide open event, as more than 11,000 runners toe the Okinawa City starting line for the kick off of the 26.2-mile event…. The Okinawa Marathon begins at Awase, then carries runners through Takahara, near Koza, … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcement, Culture, Education, History, International, Karate | Leave a comment