Category Archives: Culture

The Floor Plan of Houses in Old Okinawa

Posted on October 2, 2014 by loochoo77

Last updated 10/13/14 My curiosity about the old Okinawan house began with a drawing that my Dad made about 2 to 3 years before he passed away. While visiting him at his house, out of the blue, he took my … Continue reading →

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Literature, Maui, Uchinaguchi, Kina, ‘Map It!,’ Comfort Women, Must-See, McDonalds

Posted on September 30, 2014 by loochoo77

Last updated 10/1/14 Umushirikutu Ryota Shimabukuro, “Event introducing Okinawan literature held at US Library of Congress” (Ryukyu Shimpo, 9/14/14): On September 9, an event introducing Okinawan literature titled “Living Spirit” was held at the US Library of Congress in Washington … Continue reading →

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Rare Ryukyu Documents

Posted on September 29, 2014 by loochoo77

From Ryukyu Shimpo: “Chinese classic documents from the Ryukyu Kingdom era published” (4/1/14): The curator of the Uruma City Library Atsushi Enokawa, who took part in the project, said, “We took 20 years to research documents lost during the Battle … Continue reading →

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Okinawa Association of America Annual Bazaar 10/12/14 (Gardena)

Posted on September 29, 2014 by loochoo77
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Tobe! Uta Sanshin 10/18/14 – Hawaii Okinawa Center 3PM

Posted on September 29, 2014 by loochoo77
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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 →

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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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‘Sunrise Restaurant’ in Kapahulu – Okinawan Cuisine

Posted on September 20, 2014 by loochoo77
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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 →

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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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‘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
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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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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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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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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).

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‘Asadoya Yunta’ – A Common Bond for Okinawans the World Over

Posted on June 25, 2014 by loochoo77

Last updated  2/26/20  11:50 PM I found the following YouTube video on Rodney Inefuku’s Facebook page. It’s the best version I’ve heard thus far. [Update 3/16/16: It’s among the best I’ve heard.] Removed from YouTube. “Asadoya Yunta” [安里屋ユンタ] is a … Continue reading →

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Video: ‘Okinawa 1950s to 1960s’

Posted on June 24, 2014 by loochoo77

This video, comprising still photos, was created and uploaded to YouTube by Donn Cuson (aka “Desert Donn”) on 5/12/13. The images are among the best I’ve seen from this period. I especially like the Okinawa minyo in the soundtrack. I … Continue reading →

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Lynne Yoshiko Nakasone: Master of Okinawan Dance

Posted on June 23, 2014 by loochoo77

Lynne Yoshiko Nakasone is a 2012 U.S. National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellow. Following are some excerpts from the NEA site: Born in Naha, Okinawa, Japan, in 1933, into a family that appreciated classical Okinawan music and … Continue reading →

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6th Worldwide Uchinanchu Taikai in 2016

Posted on June 23, 2014 by loochoo77

Updated 6/16/15 (A message from Minami Tamamoto, president of the World Association of Youth Uchinanchu. The emphasis in this announcement is the 3rd youth festival, but it also mentions the 6th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival.) Haitai, from Okinawa, I am Minami … Continue reading →

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