A smile. Whenever I pick up Lee Tonouchi’s Oriental Faddah and Son, I can’t help but smile. The book’s cover is nicely designed and at 152 pages, it should be a fast read (compared to the 925 pages in Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 which I’m also reading) but in reality, it’s not because I often find … Continue reading
Received an email heads up for Tamagusuku Ryu Senjukai Hawaii’s annual Awamori Fest, a benefit fundraiser for their Okinawan dance school (Tamagusuku Ryu Senjukai Frances Nakachi Ryubu Dojo). Here’s the information from the flyer for the event: The Awamori Fest event is held annually to raise funds for our Okinawan Dance School, Tamagusuku Ryu Senjukai … Continue reading
Ray from Chinagu Eisa Hawaii tipped me off to a way to help their club by eating! On Sunday, 20 November 2011, bring the flyer to any Panda Express or Hibachi-san restaurant on the island of Oahu and 20% of your purchase will be donated to the club. Go eat!
Donna’s BonDance.com website has a schedule up for the 2011 bon dance season. I’m planning on attending a few with her Bon Dance Posse so maybe I’ll some of you there. There’s also an informative video about Obon and eisa up on BonDance.com so be sure to check it out. Here’s the link: What is … Continue reading
The Okinawa Minyo Kyokai Derek Ichiro Shiroma Kenkyusho is selling t-shirts as a fundraiser for a recital that they are planning in late 2012. The Chibariyo! t-shirts can be ordered by emailing Derek-sensei at urizun808 [at] aol [dot] com. The sizes available are: Children’s Medium, Adult Small / Medium / Large / XLarge / XX … Continue reading
Harry Seisho Nakasone, a Honolulu resident who studied in Japan and became a master of classical Okinawan music, died March 19 in Honolulu. He was 99. Nakasone was a grand master of classical uta-sanshin, in which the artist sings and plays the three-string instrument that is Okinawa’s version of the shamisen. [...] “He is well-respected … Continue reading
Okinawan musical instrument, Sanshin players can be a part of the 17th Honolulu Festival Grand Parade! The grand marshal will be Sanshin Master Choichi Terukina-sensei, a National Living Treasure of Japan. Let’s join the parade with Terukina-sensei and play his composition “Mensore.” The goal of SENNIN NO SANSHIN Project is to have as many sanshin … Continue reading
What an exciting time we’re living in if you’re a fan of the sanshin. In the past, those of us outside of Okinawa who play the sanshin would have to either go there or be fortunate enough to know someone who lives or travels there for us to buy the instrument or its accessories (e.g. … Continue reading
The Hawaii International Film Festival gets underway from October 14th to the 24th and we’re in for a treat as they’re screening two films that feature actresses from Okinawa. Official Website “Abacus and Sword (武士の家計簿 Bushi no Kakeibo)” (Japan, 2010) stars Yukie Nakama and will be shown on 10/23/10 at 8:45 PM and on 10/24/10 … Continue reading
More information on the concert can be found on the Ukwanshin Kabudan website. (I’m part of the jikata around the 2-minute mark.) (Via Norman Kaneshiro-sensei)
