Category Archives: Music

Warabi-gami 童神

Posted on December 4, 2014 by loochoo77

Updated 12/5/14, 6/5/15 “Warabi-gami,” like “Hana,” reaches deep into the soul of Okinawa. 童神 (Warabi-gami) – 古謝 美佐子 / God Child – Misako Kojya Eng Sub. Uploaded to YouTube by Kazu H on 3/16/12. “Warabigami” (Children of God) performed by … Continue reading →

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Jake Shimabukuro & Friends Concert, Honolulu, 12/5/14

Posted on December 4, 2014 by loochoo77
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2015 Okinawan Festival (Honolulu) – Sep. 5 & 6

Posted on December 2, 2014 by loochoo77

Updated 8/13/15, 9/5/15 Okinawan Festival Hours Saturday, SEPTEMBER 5, 2015 Festival Festivities begin at 9:00 am Most food booths & tents close at 6:00 pm Only select food booths open until 8:00 pm Live Entertainment at Kapiolani Park Bandstand: 9:00 … Continue reading →

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Center for Okinawan Studies: Spring 2015 Course Offerings

Posted on December 2, 2014 by loochoo77

Center for Okinawan Studies University of Hawai‘i at Manoa ASAN 320O Asian Nation Studies: Okinawa: Multidisciplinary examination of Okinawa; cultural, social, economic, and political lives of its people. Prerequisite: 201 and 202, or consent. JPN 472 Okinawan Language and Culture … Continue reading →

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Vancouver, BC, Okinawa Taiko 2014

Posted on October 21, 2014 by loochoo77

The title of this YouTube video is “ミルクムナリ (Mirukumunari), Vancouver Okinawa Taiko, 2014 Chinese New Year Event.” It was uploaded by Okipri14 on 2/3/14. Description: “Feb.02, 2014 Okinawan Drum Dance performance for Chinese New Year Event at Landsdowne Center in … Continue reading →

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Grant Murata, Andagi, Tobe! Uta

Posted on October 9, 2014 by loochoo77

Hi Folks! Fun event coming this Sunday. See below. I see Grant Sundee Murata in the picture below – center back row, looking so serious. I met Grant at Ward Centre Marukai a coupla months ago. Really down-to-earth good fun … Continue reading →

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Lawrence Downes – An Uchinanchu on the NY Times Editorial Board

Posted on October 4, 2014 by loochoo77

Last updated 10/5/14 The excerpts below are from Jerry Kammer’s “Sulzberger’s Voice.”1 Kammer, a nationally recognized journalist and a senior research fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, is openly critical of Downes, but he provides essential background on Downes … 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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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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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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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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‘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

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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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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Introduction to Okinawan Dance at Leeward Community College, Oahu, July 6-Aug 3, 2014

Posted on June 9, 2014 by loochoo77
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Hanagurumu: Ryukyuan Fashion Show and Dance 7/26/14

Posted on June 9, 2014 by loochoo77
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Tamashiro Market – A Gabby-style Band in Okinawa

Posted on June 2, 2014 by loochoo77

The Okinawa Botanical Gardens in Chibana, Okinawa City, was the setting for the second “Uchina-Hawaiian Meets Jazz” event yesterday. One of the featured attractions was an Okinawan group called Tamashiro Market.1 See the video below, which was uploaded to YouTube … Continue reading →

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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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‘Ryukyu Song’ by Aria Asia

Posted on May 31, 2014 by loochoo77

“Ryukyu Song ~ Aria Asia Live Rock” uploaded to YouTube by Watashitokimi on 7/20/09. The performer is Aria Asia (Aizawa Aria), from Fuefuki, in Yamanashi Prefecture. The genre is street rock violin.

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Cocco: Singer, Songwriter, Author, Actor – Genius

Posted on May 19, 2014 by loochoo77

She goes by Cocco, and she’s a multi-gifted songwriter, singer, author, and actor. Her name is Satoko Makishi (真喜志 智子), and she’s from Naha, Okinawa. Her works and performances are edgy, and she’s socially and environmentally conscious. She’s a one-off, … Continue reading →

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4th Eisa Drum Festival 5/17/14 at Kapiolani CC

Posted on May 13, 2014 by loochoo77
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‘Tinsagu nu Hana’ Is Okinawa’s Official Favorite Song

Posted on May 3, 2014 by loochoo77

Updated 6/2/18 Daiichi Hirata, Okinawa Prefectural Government’s director general of the Department of Culture, Tourism, and Sports, announced the selection of “Tinsagu nu Hana” (てぃんさぐぬ花 Rose Balsam Flower) as the official favorite song of the prefecture at the Okinawa International … Continue reading →

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‘The Power of the Sanshin’ – Exhibit Ends 5/11/14

Posted on May 2, 2014 by loochoo77

From Japan Update 5/1/14: This exhibit at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum ends on 11 May 2014. Here’s more from the article: The sanshin program takes visitors through how the sanshin has changed its form from the Chinese three-string instrument, which … Continue reading →

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Okinawa-Related Courses at University of Hawaii-Manoa

Posted on April 20, 2014 by loochoo77

The following are courses that are available at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus. Please check the class schedule to see what’s offered for the upcoming semester. ANTH 487 Okinawa and Its Diaspora – (3 credits) Explores the ties … Continue reading →

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