Category Archives: International

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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‘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 →

Posted in Culture, Dance, International, Music | 5 Comments

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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‘The Targeted Village’ – A Lightning Rod for Okinawans’ Discontent

Posted on June 12, 2014 by loochoo77

The Targeted Village (標的の村) is a 91-minute documentary based on Chie Mikami’s 2012 award-winning TV program produced for an Okinawa station. Mikami, 48, is a newscaster at Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting. The village, Takae, is in northern Okinawa. At issue is … Continue reading →

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OkiNinjaKitty’s YouTube Videos on Okinawa

Posted on June 12, 2014 by loochoo77

“Poem of Sorrow – Yomitan Village Okinawa, Japan,” uploaded to YouTube by OkiNinjaKitty on 5/29/14.

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Surfing Okinawa

Posted on June 11, 2014 by loochoo77

The following is a partial list of surf breaks in Okinawa. (Source: Magic Seaweed/Stormrider Surf Guide) Aha Point Kudaka Castles Sunabe Seawall Mainside Buma Sunabe II Aja Bowls Maeda Suicide Cliffs Turtles Ikei Ko Chan Other sources: Surfing Japan – … Continue reading →

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Junko Fisher: Ryukyu Dance and Music Lessons in NYC, Summer 2014

Posted on June 9, 2014 by loochoo77

For details, see Susan Miyagi Hamaker’s “Ryukyu Dance and Music Lessons with Junko Fisher,” Japan Culture NYC, 6/3/14.

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Okinawa Day 2014 in London, June 21

Posted on June 2, 2014 by loochoo77

http://www.okinawaday.org.uk/

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Chinese Influence in Naha – Late 14th Century

Posted on April 20, 2014 by loochoo77

Updated 4/21/14 The following is an excerpt from Katrien Hendrickx’s The Origins of Banana-fibre Cloth in the Ryukyus, Japan, Leuven University Press, 2007.

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Yafaiian Music Concert 2014 in Hawaii – May 18

Posted on April 20, 2014 by loochoo77
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Okinawan-Americans in Hawaii Targeted for WWII Study

Posted on April 20, 2014 by loochoo77

Updated 4/21/14 According to the Ryukyu Shimpo (10 Apr 2014), “the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) will carry out a project to interview and collect the stories of Okinawan Americans who worked for the U.S. military during the Battle of Okinawa.” … Continue reading →

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‘Karakara’ – 2012 Canada-Japan Film Set in Okinawa

Posted on April 4, 2014 by loochoo77

Updated 5/3/14 Karakara is a joint Canada-Japan film, released on August 31, 2012. It was written and directed by Claude Gagnon and stars Gabriel Arcand, Youki Kudoh, and Megumi Tomita. At the 2012 Montréal World Film Festival, it won the … Continue reading →

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Miss International 2012 Contestants Visit an Okinawa High School

Posted on March 22, 2014 by loochoo77

The following HD (1280×720) video was uploaded to YouTube by missinterokinawa on 10/15/12. The central focus is the Miss International contestants, but just as if not more fascinating is the glimpse at Okinawa’s high school students. Note appended to the … Continue reading →

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Miss Universe Japan 2014 Originally from Okinawa: Karate Champion in High School

Posted on March 22, 2014 by loochoo77

Last updated 10/31/14 Okinawa High School Sports Competition 30 May 2011, the final of karate do individual kumite, female. First Place Winner: Keiko Tsuji (Koza Highschool, Okinawa City). Second Place Winner: Erika Spina (Koza Highschool, Okinawa City). At Naha International … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, International, Karate, Video | 2 Comments

London Okinawa Day 2014

Posted on March 22, 2014 by loochoo77
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‘Okinawa Hai’ Blog – All About Okinawa in English

Posted on January 14, 2014 by loochoo77

Okinawa Hai blog was started by Meredith Novario. Here’s a brief excerpt from their about page: This is a blog for all of you in or on your way to Okinawa, Japan.  Most of us are connected, in some capacity, to … Continue reading →

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Matt Gillan: ‘Imagining Okinawa: Japanese Pop Musicians and Okinawan Music’

Posted on November 22, 2013 by loochoo77

Excerpts from Matt Gillan’s “Imagining Okinawa: Japanese Pop Musicians and Okinawan Music,” Perfect Beat, Equinox, 2009. Gillan is an art and music faculty member at International Christian University, Tokyo. In addition to Okinawan popular music being used to construct Okinawan … Continue reading →

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Ryukyu Underground – Okinawan Fusion Duo Jon Taylor & Keith Gordon

Posted on November 22, 2013 by loochoo77

The following are excerpts from Stephen Mansfield’s “Putting Down Roots with Ryukyu Underground” (Japan Times, 11/22/13). The Englishman, who hails from Newcastle in the northeast, met his future wife, an uchinanchu, or Okinawan, while backpacking in Australia. He confesses to … Continue reading →

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Uta no Hi 2013 Photos: A Mahalo to Hawaii’s Okinawan Community

Posted on June 30, 2013 by loochoo77

Updated 1/2/16 I did it. I watched the entire 7:00PM to 1:30AM live webcast, beginning Friday evening and ending early Saturday morning, of the “Uta no Hi” concert from Kadena, Okinawa, Japan. The annual event, I learned, was developed and … Continue reading →

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Gackt

Posted on June 27, 2013 by loochoo77

Last updated 3/28/19 8:16 am In the video1 below, Gackt2 and Wang Lee Hom perform “Orenji no Taiyou,”3 theme song from the film Moon Child4. Their co-stars Zeny Kwok and Yamamoto Taro also appear on stage. Missing is Hyde, who … Continue reading →

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