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Speaking of the Los Angeles Dodgers
As a bonus to one of our recent posts (Okinawa Everywhere All at Once), we wrote a bit about a large number of Japanese pro baseball players from Okinawa to kind of tie it in with the big baseball news of Otani Shohei signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now their manager, Dave Roberts, who…
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Brandon Ufugusuku Ing’s “Chijuyaa” on the DisOrient 2023 Film Festival
We think we first saw the video for Brandon Ufugusuku Ing’s “Chijuyaa” during one of the HUOA’s YouTube channel livestreams and thought it was an amazing arrangement of “Hamachiduri” and a very beautiful video. Now we’ll have a chance to watch it again as it’s been selected to be streamed on the DisOrient 2023 Film…
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Cesar Farro Yamaguchi & His Grandfather’s Sanshin
(via Twitter) Here’s a heart-warming story about a 3rd generation Peruvian-Okinawa, Cesar Farro Yamaguchi, who brought his grandfather’s sanshin to Okinawa. Currently studying sanshin craftsmanship in Okinawa at Naha’s Shoukoubou (尚工房) under sanshin maker Kishimoto Naoto, Cesar had his grandfather’s sanshin appraised by the Ryukyu Sanshin Musical Instrument Preservation and Development Association and it was…
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November 1st is Luchu History & Culture Day
November 1st is designated as Luchu History and Culture Day (琉球歴史文化の日) and a special website has been created that has information on workshops and special contests. For the contest portion, the logo mark design has already been decided but there are three other contests that run until the end of the month (9/30 Uchinaa time):…
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2nd Okinawan FEASTival
We’re so happy to see a return of Shari’s Okinawan FEASTival! This year it’s running from September 1st to the 14th and there’s a lot of food 🍱 and drink 🍺 to be excited about. 😋 From the opening of American Cafe in 1923 to today, there has been over 350 Okinawan owned restaurants in…
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Miss Okinawa’s Popular YouTube Channel
Due to the pandemic, the three 39th Miss Okinawa Iwamoto Kana (Sky Blue), Yamazato Hikaru (Cobalt Blue), and Shinzato Mizuki (Clean Green Gracious), looked to YouTube to fulfill their duty of promoting and showcasing many of Okinawa’s businesses and locations. Their work has paid off as they have grown their channel to over 2K subs…
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Okinawa Memorial Day
Today (June 23rd Okinawa time) is our Okinawa Memorial Day (Irei no Hi). 🙏 … During the occupation of Japan, in 1961, Okinawa Memorial Day was made a holiday by the Government of the Ryukyu Islands in order to remember and pray for their family members and relatives who were killed during the Battle of Okinawa. In 1972,…
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Koh Flippin with the Ryukyu Golden Kings
My Twitter feed exploded with news of Koh Flippin joining the Ryukyu Golden Kings team. The 25 year old 6’2″ Torrance, California native (his mother is from Naha) comes to the Kings from the Chiba Jets and plays guard. I love his tweet announcing his joining the Kings: “Haisai! I’m Koh Flippin. Yutashiku!!” A comment…
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Ichariba Choodee Podcast
A recently launched podcast called “Ichariba Choodee” gives a new voice to our community. There are many more names for the peoples of these islands. Hear the many voices and stories of those identifying as Shimanchu (or Uchinachu). Celebrating and preserving our culture, connecting the diaspora, and both proudly and humbly educating and learning along the…
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Floating Room’s Upcoming EP “Shima”
Floating Room was recently featured in an NPR article for 11 Oregon Artists to Watch in 2021 and this little bit got me really excited: Floating Room is set to release an EP called Shima on Famous Class Records in November. https://www.npr.org/2021/06/02/1002272360/11-oregon-artists-to-watch-in-2021 I’m looking forward to listening to Shima and I have so many questions about it…
Karakui 