Category Archives: Activities

WUB in South America – 2018

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Working the Net Together

In August 2018, a group of WUB Hawaii delegates traveled to Brazil to attend WUB Network’s 22 anniversary conference and to take part in the 118th anniversary of the arrival of immigrants from Okinawa to Brazil. Through these visits the worldwide network among Uchinanchus is strengthen through friendship and collaboration.  Below are some pictures of this visit.

L to R: Jin-kichi Uezu, John Tasato, Issamu Teruya, Julie Higa, and John Toguchi

At the Brazil Okinawa Festival, held at Villa Carrao, August 4 and 5, 2018, the Hawaii delegation got to meet with Jin-Kichi Uezu, President of WUB Okinawa, and Issamu Teruya, President of Cofema, distributor of construction materials and supplies.

 

L to R: Kenji Oshiro, John Tasato, and Yuichiro Harry Masuda

Goodwill Ambassador meeting.  At left is Kenji Oshiro, President of WUB Brazil and WUB Network’s next president (term begins 2019), John Tasato, and EWC grantee Harry Masuda.  Harry is wearing the distinctive Okinawa-inspired Bokunen Naka block-print shirt.

 

WUB Network Cake.  The golden ’22’ on the cake celebrates twenty-two years of WUB’s existence

The WUB Network meeting was held at Churrascaria Nova Pampa, a Brazilian BBQ restaurant.  WUB Brasil’s website

 

Steve Kishaba Sombrero with Carla Taba, President and owner of Invel Goen3

 

Carla Taba is President and owner of Invel’s subsidiary in Orlando, Brazil — Invel Goen3. The company sells products made from materials that increases circulation, combines Japanese technology and research with Brazilian fashion.  She is married to Mario Hirata. This is one of the companies WUB visited. Carla’s Linked in

 

Steve Kishaba Sombrero with Issamu Teruya and his wife.

Steve presenting Issamu Teruya and his wife with a plaque from WUB Network after our visit at Cofema.

CNPJ M.N TERUYA COMERCIAL DE FERRAMENTAS LTDA COFEMA ATACADISTA

 

 

Greeting Miyakojima Students

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In August 2018, a group of middle school and high school students from Miyakojima Island spent a few days in Hawaii to improve their English and learn about Hawaii and American culture.

East-West Center student Yuicihi Harry Masuda and I drove over to the Hawaii Tokai International College out in Kapolei to greet the students and give them a box of ono Leonard’s malasadas.

Robert Arakaki and Yuichi Harry Masuda with Miyakojima students. We gave them a box of ono Leonard’s malasadas.

The Ryukyu Kingdom (present day Okinawa prefecture) comprised many islands and multiple languages.  The Miyakoan language also Sumafutsu is a language distinct from Nihongo (the language of mainland Japan) and Uchinaaguchi (the language of Okinawa island).  Where the people of Okinawa island say “nifedebiru” for “thank you,” the people of Miyakojima say “tandigatandi.”  Since coming under Japanese administration, the indigenous language of Miyakojima has been slowly dying out.  Today most people in Miyakojima below the age of 60 do not speak Sumafutsu.

Originally from mainland Japan, Harry Masuda moved to Okinawa and learned about Okinawa’s distinctive culture and history.  When he attempted to speak to the Miyakojima students in their mother tongue, they waved their hands in embarrassment saying that they spoke Japanese.  This cultural and linguistic assimilation presents a serious challenge to the future of Uchinanchu identity in the Uchinanchu/Shimanchu homeland as well among the  worldwide Uchinanchu diaspora.

Note: “Uchinanchu” means “people of Uchina or Okinawa Island.”  “Shimanchu” means “island people” implying those who belong to the Ryukyus but not necessarily Okinawa Island.

See “Okinawa’s Endangered Languages” also published on the WUB Hawaii website.

 

 

Gov. Takeshi Onaga 1950-2018

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Gov. Onaga at 20th WUB Network Conference 2016  Credit: WUB Hawaii

Takeshi Onaga, the governor of Okinawa, passed away on 8 August 2018 from complications of pancreatic cancer.

He was born in 1950 in Naha into a  political family. His father, Josei, was mayor of Naha at the time of his birth. Although his mother discouraged him from following in his father’s footsteps, Onaga decided, while in elementary school, that he wanted to become a politician. When he studied at Hosei University in Tokyo, Onaga needed a passport from American-occupied Okinawa to enter mainland Japan.

Onaga was a rare conservative politician who stood up to the leaders of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party. In 2014, he ran for the governorship on a platform that opposed the relocation of the Futenma Air Base to Henoko in northern Okinawa and called for the ending of American occupation of Okinawa. He won the governorship and in October 2015 Onaga revoked the land reclamation permit needed for construction in Henoko.

On 11 August 2018, 70,000 people attended a rally in Okinawa in honor of Governor Onaga’s memory and his struggle against the relocation of Futenma Air Station to Henoko in northern Okinawa.

Onaga enjoyed close ties with Hawaii and was a strong supporter of WUB Network. In a statement read at WUB Network’s 21st Conference, Governor Onaga expressed that “WUB’s engagement in business throughout the world holds immense significance in Okinawa.” (source) Governor Onaga was named Honorary Chair of the 20th WUB Network Conference held during the 2016 Taikai.

During the 2016 Taikai, Governor Onaga joined Hawaii’s Governor David Ige and WUB Network President Steve Kishaba Sombrero.

Gov. David Ige,  Steve Sombrero, and Gov. Takeshi Onaga at 2016 Taikai

 

References

Motoko Rich. 2018. “Okinawa governor criticized U.S. military base presence.” Honolulu Star-Advertiser/ New York Times

Shannon Tiezzi. 2015. “It’s Official: Okinawa Governor Withdraws Permission for US Base Construction.” The Diplomat.

Wu Li Jun.  “Celebrating 20 years of bonds built through business, the WUB vow to “Work the Net Together” at conference in Hawaii.” Ryukyu Shimpo, 3 September 2017.

 

 

Irei No Hi – June 24, 2018

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WHERE  Jikoen Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
1731 N. School Street  Honolulu HI

DATE      Sunday – June 24, 2018  9 AM

Open to the public

Irei no Hi – “the day to console the dead”

The Irei No Hi Memorial Service remembers all of those, American and Japanese soldiers and Okinawan civilians, who lost their lives during the Battle of Okinawa that raged from April through June 1945.

Over 240,000 lives were lost with Okinawan residents, among them children, accounting for half of the war victims.

On June 24, Jikoen Temple members will honor not only the victims of the Battle that ended 73 years ago but all of the victims of all wars.

Program

  • A report on how Okinawa changed their understanding of peace by Lisa Grandinetti, labor organizer for Aikea/Local 5, and by a member of Women’s Voices Women Speak.
  • Poetry reading by Aiko Yamashiro, UH Manoa instructor, and Delaina Thomas, M.F.A. in Poetry Writing from UC Irvine.
  • Hula to an Okinawan favorite “Hana” by Shelby Oshiro, Pete Doktor, and Chantel Ikehara.
  • Traditional Buddhist chant honoring the dead by the Rev. Shindo Nishiiyama.

For more information: 808-845-3422 or dok@riseup.net

Co-sponsors: Jikoen Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, Hawaii Okinawa Alliance, and Women’s Voice Women Speak.

 

July 24 – The Dawn of Ryukyu

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Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Hawaii (RMD Hawaii) is delighted to present “The Dawn of Ryukyu” on July 24, 2018 at the Hawaii Okinawa Center. This special event can be enjoyed by all ages, and will feature a medley of Okinawan performing arts to tell the story of ancient Okinawa. General Admission tickets are just $35 and $40 at the door. Please contact Brianne Yamada at yamadabri@gmail.com or (808)285-3905 for ticket purchases. Thank you!

❖ Reserved VIP tickets each for $100, includes and early entrance at 6 pm, reserved seating, and an okashi gift box. With the purchase of each pair of tickets, a parking pass will be provided.

❖ Preferred Seating at $50, which includes early entrance at 6 pm, and preferred seating (first come, first serve).

❖ General Admission at $35, or $40 at the door, providing seats in the open seating area (first come, first serve).

 

Akemi Martin with Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko       source


WUB Hawaii Vice President, Akemi Martin, founded Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko’s Hawaii chapter that includes branches on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Hawaii Island.   Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko originated in Okinawa in 1982.  It combines traditional Eisa and Karate forms with contemporary influences and music creating a new and unique taiko style.

 

STEM Education and Research in Hawai`i and Okinawa

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Panelists: OIST Pres. Peter Gruss, UH Pres. David Lassner, Prof. Kenneth Kaneshiro, Mr. Glenn Lee, and Gov. David Ige

On 26 March 2018, a distinguished panel spoke on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and research in Hawai`i and Okinawa.  On the panel were Hawai‘i Governor David Ige and University of Hawai‘i President David Lassner, with Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology President Peter Gruss.  Also on the panel were prominent local biologist Kenneth Kaneshiro and outstanding educator Glenn Lee, whose students have won numerous robotics competition titles.

Uchinanchu Talk Story VII “Views From the Cutting Edge” was sponsored by WUB Hawai`i chapter, the East-West Center, Okinawa Institute for Science and Technology, and the Center for Okinawan Studies of the University of Hawai‘i.

Keynote speaker Peter Gruss said that with the growth of knowledge and information complexity in the world accelerating at an exponential rate, scientific research and education are vital for communities to ensure future economic opportunity. STEM knowledge is also the key, he said, to addressing what he called  global “mega-challenges,” including food, water and energy supplies; climate change; urbanization; and health care.

Dr. Gruss heads the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) which was founded by the government of Japan to be Japan’s MIT – a world class center for research and education.  His visit to Hawaii was for the following purposes:

  • Develop stronger relations between Hawaii and Okinawa,
  • Explore ways to encourage more students to consider careers in STEM, and
  • Encourage Hawai`i students to consider studying at OIST.

Governor Ige, a former engineer, said:

The challenge in our economy going forward is really about creating high-quality jobs that allow our young people to find challenging, successful careers here at home. And I truly believe STEM education is fundamental to achieving that.

UH President David Lassner cited San Diego as an example of a city with similarities to Honolulu that has transformed its economy from being tourism-dependent to being an innovation hub, and that the key to the change has been “collaboration between the government, the private sector and a great research university.” Lassner notes:

We used to talk about luring great companies here. Now we talk more about growing them here.

 

Uchinanchu Talk Story VII — March 27, 2018

 

2018 Shinnen Kai Picture

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WUB-Hawaii 2018 Shinnen Kai at Natsunorya Tea House – 2 February 2018

WUB-Hawaii’s 2018 Shinen-kai: WUB-Hawaii President John Toguchi, Hawaii Governor David Ige, Japan Consul Norimasa Yoshida, HUOA President Courtney Takara, Honolulu Chamber of Commerce VP Glenn Higa, Akisamiyo students (Rika, Yuichiro) attended our party.