Category Archives: International

‘Churasa’ at UH-Manoa Kennedy Theatre 7/23/15 at 7:30pm

Posted on June 17, 2015 by loochoo77
Posted in Culture, Dance, Eisa, International | Leave a comment

30th Anniversary of Hawaii-Okinawa Sister State Relationship; Silver Anniversary of Hawaii Okinawa Center; Eisa Drum Fesitval: July 10-12, 2015

Posted on June 17, 2015 by loochoo77
Posted in Announcement, Culture, Eisa, Festival, Hawaii Okinawa Center, International | Leave a comment

2016 Uchinanchu Taikai Oct. 26-30

Posted on June 16, 2015 by loochoo77

Updated 2/1/16, 6/12/16, 6/15/16 For the latest updates, click here. Update 1/31/16: “The 6th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival,” Okinawa Island Guide, n.d. “Starting with the Festival Eve Parade along Kokusai Street and the opening ceremony held at Okinawa Cellular Stadium, there … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcement, Conference, Culture, Dance, Festival, International, Music, Taikai | 16 Comments

Fumiko Nashiro’s Story of the Battle of Okinawa

Posted on June 14, 2015 by loochoo77

The following excerpts are from Tomomi Tomita’s “Ex-nurse Recalls Battle of Okinawa, Aims to Share Misery of War,” Japan Times,1 Kyodo, 21 April 2015: Fumiko Nashiro, 87, vividly remembers the leader of the nurse corps she belonged to during the … Continue reading →

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

An Architectural Designer’s View of Okinawa and Okinawans

Posted on June 13, 2015 by loochoo77

The following excerpts are from Rachel Preston Prinz‘s “Okinawa: One Island and the Three Cultures that Call Her Home,” Archinia, 2015.1 This article was brought to our attention by Bobby Shimabukuro of Portland, Oregon. Prinz is an architectural designer, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Culture, History, International | Leave a comment

A Student from Hawaii Defends ‘Shimakutuba’

Posted on June 13, 2015 by loochoo77

This video features Collin Michael Hoo, who represented the University of the Ryukyus in the 32nd Japanese Speech Contest by Foreigners. The title of his speech is “Ninufwabushi (The North Star),” and his message is about the importance of maintaining … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Hawaii, Hawaiian, Higher Education, International, Japan, Language, Shimakutuba | Leave a comment

Hawaii-Okinawa Sister State Relationship

Posted on June 4, 2015 by loochoo77

Note: The following report on the Hawaii-Okinawa sister state relationship is from State of Hawaii’s Sister States: A Report to the Hawaii State Legislature, January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008 by the Office of International Affairs, Strategic Marketing & … Continue reading →

Posted in Agreement, Culture, International, Politics | Leave a comment

London Okinawa Day 2015 – June 20 in Spitalfields

Posted on June 4, 2015 by loochoo77

Join us at London Okinawaday 2015 Saturday 20th June 2015 10:00 – 18:00 Admission Free Spitalfields, London E1 6AA http://www.spitalfields.co.uk Nearest tube: Liverpool Street Program: Okinawan Classical & Folk Music Eisa Dancing Okinawa day stall Okinawan Arts and Craft Stalls … Continue reading →

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

‘Please remember that Okinawa’s memorial day is on June 23rd’

Posted on June 4, 2015 by loochoo77

This reminder is from Hachiro on 3 June 2015. The following text and photos are from Wikipedia: “Okinawa Memorial Day (慰霊の日 Irei no Hi?, lit. “the day to console the dead”) is a public holiday observed in Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture … Continue reading →

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Takane Kochihira Concert at OAA Center 3/7/15

Posted on February 13, 2015 by loochoo77
Posted in Announcement, Concert, Culture, International, Music | Leave a comment

OAA Hosting Screening of Chie Mikami’s ‘The Targeted Village’ 2/28/15

Posted on February 13, 2015 by loochoo77
Posted in Announcement, Culture, Film, History, International, Politics | Leave a comment