Author Archives: loochoo77

Choko Takayama: A VIP and a Family Friend

Posted on September 27, 2014 by loochoo77

My meeting with Choko Takayama was an amazing happening. Three years ago, a friend working at the Okinawan Festival at Kapiolani Park wasn’t feeling well so she was told to rest in the VIP tent. There, she talked with Mr. … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Culture, Festival, History, International, Politics | 1 Comment

Loochoo Identity Conference 2015 – March 20-22 on Maui

Posted on September 26, 2014 by loochoo77

Forwarded by Rodney Inefuku on 9/26/14 From: Ukwanshin Kabudan Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2014 1:26 AM Subject: Conference on Okinawan Identity and Cultural Sustainability 沖縄アイデンティティコンフレンス Gusuuyo Chuuganabira, We are happy to announce the first LooChoo(Ryukyu) Identity Conference to be held … Continue reading →

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Shimakutuba, Standup Paddle Boarding, Ryukyu King & Queen, Ogimi, Underweight Babies, Hula, Tourism Boom

Posted on September 23, 2014 by loochoo77

Umushirikutu Yaeyma Standup Paddle Boarding Association launched to promote the sport in Okinawa (Ryukyu Shimpo 9/8/14): It plans to hold training sessions and competitions, and train instructors. It will promote SUP as a new marine sport in Okinawan tourism, and … Continue reading →

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‘Residual Sovereignty in Practice: Japanese Law and Government in the US-Adminstered Okinawa, 1952-1972’ – Lecture on 9/30/14 at 3pm – UH-Manoa, Moore 319

Posted on September 21, 2014 by loochoo77

Forwarded by Rodney Inefuku on 9/21/14

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‘Sunrise Restaurant’ in Kapahulu – Okinawan Cuisine

Posted on September 20, 2014 by loochoo77
Posted in Culture, Food, Restaurant | Leave a comment

Okinawan Festival 2014: Good Food, Good Friends, Good Fun

Posted on September 17, 2014 by loochoo77

Hi Folks! Finally getting around to talking about my own experience at the Okinawan Festival. Wife and I met daughter and her boyfriend at KCC. We’all took the bus shuttle to Kapiolani Park. First thing, we went look’n for food. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Fair, Festival, History, International, Karate | Leave a comment

110 Titles Added to University of Hawaii and University of Ryukyus Digital Archives

Posted on September 13, 2014 by loochoo77

Announcement forwarded by Rodney Inefuku 9/13/14 The University of Hawaii at Manoa Library and the University of the Ryukyus Library are pleased to announce the availability of the digital archives site for the Sakamaki/Hawley Collection.Over hundred items of 218 digitized … Continue reading →

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Okinawa Wins Men’s Team and Individual Kata at Karate 1 Premier League Championships 2014

Posted on September 11, 2014 by loochoo77

Okinawa — Ryo Kiyuna (Ryueiryu and Kobudo-ryuhokai), Arata Kinjo (Ryueiryu and Kobudo-ryuhokai) and Takuya Uemura (Okinawa International University) — won the team kata title at the Karate 1 Premier League Championships held on 31 August 2014 at the Okinawa Prefectural … Continue reading →

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Bet You Didn’t Know This About David Ige

Posted on September 11, 2014 by loochoo77

Liuchiuan received an email tip about Denby Fawcett’s “Who the Heck Is David Ige?” (Honolulu Civil Beat, 2 Sep. 2014) from Rodney Inefuku on 9 Sep. 2014. The article is a refreshing personal glimpse into the Democratic gubernatorial candidate. The following … Continue reading →

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Are the Taira in Okinawa Descendants of the Heike?

Posted on September 10, 2014 by loochoo77

By Rodney Inefuku Electrical and Computer Engineer, retired Facebook Last updated 9/11/14 In Okinawa: History of an Island People,1 George Kerr writes about the feud between the Taira Clan and the Minamoto family in Japan during the 9th century (pages 47-49). … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Op-ed | 7 Comments

‘Typhoon of Steel’ – All-Okinawan MIS Unit in Battle of Okinawa

Posted on September 1, 2014 by loochoo77

Typhoon of Steel, a 19-minute video released on 7 May 2013, was directed by Gena S. Hamamoto with support from the Center for Ethno Communications of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center and many other sources that are listed at … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Film, History, International, Language, Video | 1 Comment

Okinawan Women, Karate, Ta-Taki, etc.

Posted on September 1, 2014 by loochoo77

Umushirikutu “Okinawa women score high as business leaders,” Japan Update, 8/27/14: A survey by Teikoku Databank Fukuoka says Kyushu and Okinawa areas are strongest in female leadership in Japan, scoring 8.5% of the presidencies. The national average is 7.4% female … Continue reading →

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Juuguya, Moon Festival and Grandparents Day Festival (Honolulu) 9/7/14 at 5pm

Posted on August 31, 2014 by loochoo77

From: Rodney Inefuku Date: 8/31/14 From: Ukwanshin Kabudan Sent: Friday, August 29, 2014 1:13 PM Subject: Juuguya, Moon Festival and Grandparent’s Day Festival Gusuuyo Chuuganabira! Just a reminder that next week Wednesday is the LAST day to RSVP for the … Continue reading →

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‘Tukeeya Hizamitin’ & Grandparents Day Festival (Honolulu) 9/7/14 at 2pm

Posted on August 31, 2014 by loochoo77

From: Rodney Inefuku Date: 8/31/14 Hello Folks! Grandparents Day, Sunday 7 Sept. at Ryukyuan Music and Dance Tukeeya Hizamitin at Mamiya Theatre (on the campus of St. Louis School). Cost:  $30 for general seating, $20 for Awamori, Shochu, Soju & Wine … Continue reading →

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Okinawan Festival 2014 – Photos

Posted on August 31, 2014 by loochoo77

Last updated 8/31/14 These photos were shot between 2:50pm and 3:40pm on Saturday, 8/30/14, at the annual Okinawan Festival in Kapiolani Park, Honolulu. Thus, they capture only a brief 50-minute slice of the 2-day event. Still, they capture some of … Continue reading →

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2014 Okinawan Festival Program (Honolulu) Aug. 30-31

Posted on August 17, 2014 by loochoo77

(See photos from the 2014 festival.) Source: Okinawan Festival Program, sponsored by the Hawaii United Okinawa Association. Accessed 8/17/14. This schedule is subject to change. Visit the festival’s official website. Saturday, 8/30/14 9:00am – RYUKYU SOKYOKU KOYO KAI HAWAII SHIBU … Continue reading →

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Get a ‘LooChoo Identity’ Sports Bag

Posted on August 14, 2014 by loochoo77

Source: “‘LooChoo Identity’ Sports Bag Available.” Ukwanshin Kabudan, 5/22/14. “The kanji characters going down reads ‘LooChoo nu Kwa’ (child/descendant of Ryukyu). In the highlighted area we have the words in English and Okinawan, ‘Protect Our Language, Protect Our Culture, Protect … Continue reading →

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Okinawa Association of America (Gardena, CA): Aug-Oct 2014

Posted on August 14, 2014 by loochoo77

Okinawa Association of America (Gardena, CA): Aug-Oct 2014 Events Mensore! Please join us at these upcoming events: Monthly Activities Volunteer Day • August 5 • 10:00 AM Karaoke Club • August 16 • 5:00 PM Uchinaaguchi Class • August 22 … Continue reading →

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Autumn Okinawa Dance Matsuri Sep. 20, 2014 on Oahu

Posted on August 14, 2014 by loochoo77
Posted in Culture, Dance, Festival, International, Music, Travel | Leave a comment

Okinawan Festival 2014 – Aug. 30-31 in Honolulu

Posted on August 14, 2014 by loochoo77

Update 8/17/14: Click here for the program.

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Widget Archive

Posted on August 13, 2014 by loochoo77

Uchinanchu Taikai 2016 About the Taikai Taikai 2016 Latest Information Sponsored by Hawaii United Okinawa Association Sep 5-6, 2015 WYUF 2015 Mark Your Calendar

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Obon Season in Okinawa

Posted on August 9, 2014 by loochoo77

A Japan Update article on 5 August 2014, “Flight Reservations for Okinawa Obon Season Surpass 520,000,” drives home the extent of the dispersion of Okinawans throughout mainland Japan. Obon is the season when Japanese return to their hometowns for family … Continue reading →

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Okinawans in the Philippines

Posted on August 8, 2014 by loochoo77

In the Mintal district of Davao in the Philippines, there’s a Japanese cemetary, and in the cemetary is the Monument of Okinawa. Every year, a memorial service is held at the monument, which was “built by the Okinawa prefectural government … Continue reading →

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Himeyuri: A Story of Angels in the Battle of Okinawa

Posted on August 3, 2014 by loochoo77

Updated 2/4/16 The Ryukyu Shimpo ran a story on 18 July 2014, “Himeyuri Peace Museum Marks Its 25th Anniversary,” and it was about the success of the museum in attracting visitors. Curious, I searched YouTube for a video that might … Continue reading →

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Working List of Okinawan Surnames

Posted on July 27, 2014 by loochoo77

This post has been moved to “Surnames“: A – J K – R S – Z  

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Okinawan Bon Dance Video Lessons; Hiroshi’s ‘Classic Burger’; Yuugao Recipe; Yonabaru Tug-of-War

Posted on July 24, 2014 by loochoo77

Umushirikutu Hiroshi Uechi’s “Classic Burger” in the Uehara district of Ginowan: “He makes all buns, beef patty and smoked bacon by himself daily. The patty is made of the beef from Japanese black cattle and bacon is smoked with cherry … Continue reading →

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Proof That the Ryukyus Were an Independent Kingdom at the Time of Annexation

Posted on July 21, 2014 by loochoo77

Many writers assume that the Ryukyus were an independent kingdom in 1879 when it was forcibly annexed by Japan. Prior to annexation, or “Ryukyu Shobun,” they operated as an independent kingdom, entering into tributary relationships with the Ming and Qing … Continue reading →

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

In the Early-20th Century, Ryukyu Clothing Banned in Schools

Posted on July 19, 2014 by loochoo77

The following photos and quoted caption are from Valerie H. Barske’s “‘Dancing Through’ Historical Trauma: Okinawan Performance in Post-Imperial Japan” (Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific, Issue 24, June 2010).

Posted in Culture, Education, History, Images | Leave a comment

USAF Sabre Crashed into Miyamori Elementary School in 1959

Posted on July 19, 2014 by loochoo77

On 30 June 1959, a United States Air Force F-100 Super Sabre crashed into Miyamori Elementary School and the adjoining neighborhood, “killing 11 students and six other people in the neighborhood and injuring 210 others, including 156 students…. The pilot, … Continue reading →

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Video – ‘Nike SB Presents Destination Okinawa’

Posted on July 1, 2014 by loochoo77

This video, described as “a Nike SB travelog starring Donovon Piscopo, Kevin Bradley, Maxime Geronzi, Denny Pham, Kyron Davis, Fran Molina and Kilian Zehnder,” was uploaded to YouTube by Nikeskateboarding on 30 June 2014. It was shot in Okinawa.

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