Blog for The Okinawa Cultural Association of Texas

Lets Blow the Ryukyu Wind Here.

琉風 is the name of the classical music group of the Okinawa Cultural Association of Texas. 

琉(Ryu) 風(Fu) = Ryufu… meaning “Let’s blow the Ryukyu wind (spirit) here.”

On the morning of Sunday 5-6-2012, Albert and Jim met at RMDTexas’s dojo to practice their sanshins.  Ordinarily this would have meant they were getting ready to appear at the Japan Festival as part of RMDTexas’s performance.  But this was no ordinary meeting because the Japan Festival had already taken place four weeks earlier. 

Establishing a music group within the Okinawan Cultural Association of Texas was the last piece of the puzzle needed to complete their dream.   To share all of the Okinawan performing arts in their new home of Texas had been the goal of the  five founding members since they first met.  Now some five years later, the eisa and classical dance pieces of the puzzle are in place through OCAT’s involvement with RMDTexas and Miyagi Ryu.  So there was just one more piece floating around.

As Albert and Jim finished their practice and started to pack their sanshins, the last piece of OCAT”s original dream was put into place; Ryufu had taken its first step as the Okinawan music group for the Okinawan Cultural Association of Texas.

A little about Ryufu;
Albert is an avid and very proficient sanshin player.  Being a native Houstonian; it was during his military service while stationed in Okinawa that he became enthralled with the culture and sanshin.

Jim is a novice player.  A native Houstonian also, his first contact with the Okinawan culture came when a music friend invited him to be part of the festivities surrounding the U.S. mainland premier of the stage musical “Pigs from the Sea” in Torrence, California.  With a background in professional music, Jim was first drawn to the sanshin more as a musical curiosity.  But through his association with Albert has become equally enthralled with the instrument. 

When asked about trying to get Ryufu off the ground at this time in OCAT’s development Jim said, “It is going to very challenging considering all that is going on within the organization; but OCAT’s growth is on a roll right now, and as my Daddy always told me, “Strike when the iron is hot, son.”  So that’s what we intend to do and then just see what happens.”

Right now Ryufu’s plans are to practice and develop a play-list that includes all of the old standard Okinawan songs.  Then maybe by the end of year they will hold a sing-a-long gathering where anyone can bring their sanshin and join in - an Okinawan hootenanny as Jim calls it.  Eventually they want to grow to where all of the classical Okinawan instruments are included and do performances of all kinds.

This is an exciting time for the Okinawan Cultural Association of Texas; a time where puzzle pieces are starting to fit and dreams are becoming reality.  They have some very big, wonderful and exciting plans in the works for the near future… plans, that if successful, will show a side of Japan to Houston the likes of which they have never seen before.  Albert and Jim are just hoping Ryufu and their sanshin playing can be a part of it all.

Miyagi Ryu; End of Year Practice and Party

NIHONGO

OCATexas is proud to say that several of its members are now part of the Miyagi-Ryu NoSho Kai of Austin.    On December 18^th 2011 Miyagi Ryu held its End of the Year Practice and Party at the home of Sensei Setsuko Kuniyoushi.  

2011 has been a very important year for Okinawan classical dance in Houston.   In February, Yuri-san from the Okinawa Cultural Association of Texas, made her official debut as a member of the Miyagi Ryu NoSho Kai at the Austin Okinawan Tomonokai’s New Year’s celebration. 

In April the Miyagi Ryu NoSho Kai, including several more OCATexas members, made their official debut at the Houston Japan Festival. 

With the New Year approaching, everyone at the party was in good spirit and full of hope for the upcoming year.  A year in which they were looking forward to keeping the joy of Okinawa classical dance alive and well in today’s world.

Alex, Yuri, Sensei Setsuko, Michiko, Ayako, Mitsue

Tracy and Melissa

Miyagi Ryu NoSho Kai of Austin

Japanese translation by Keiko Yamauchi

宮城流：練習納め－忘年会

ENGLISH

OCAキサスには、オースチン・宮城流能松会に所属しているメンバーもいます。12月18日は、宮城流能松会の2011年の踊り納めでした。練習後には、国吉節子先生のお宅で、忘年会も行われました。

2011年は、ヒューストンの琉球舞踊グループにとって、とても重要な年でした。2月には、OCA テキサスの有里さんが、宮城流能松会のメンバーとして、オースチン・沖縄人友の会の新年会で、初舞台を踏みました。

4月に行われたヒューストン・ジャパン・フェスティバルが、宮城流能松会としての初舞台となりました。ジャパン・フェスティバルでは、何人かのOCAテキサスのメンバーも初舞台を踏みました。

忘年会に参加したメンバーは、新年の抱負と希望に満ちていました。新しい年も、琉球舞踊の喜びと素晴らしさを現在の世界に広めることでしょう。

アッレクス（Alex）, 有里、 節子先生, 通子, あや子, 美津枝

トレーシー（Tracy ）、 マリッサ（Melissa）

オースチン・宮城流能松会

日本語訳：山内圭子

Goodbye 2011 - Okinawan style

The last day of 2011 found RMDTexas scrubbing down the dojo during a traditional 年末大掃除 / nenmatsu oosouji (Year End Deep Cleaning). 

2011 was a good year for the Okinawa Cultural Association of Texas as a whole.  Some of the highlights for the year included;

RMDTexas’s first Road Trip in February for the RFMS Band “Asian Fantasy” Concert performing as the featured guest artist.

At the Austin Okinawan Tomonokai’s New Years celebration Yuri-san took to the stage for the first as a member of Miyagi-Ryu NoSho Kai.

                                                                                                               Miyagi-Ryu NoSho Kai had their Houston debut performance at the Japan Festival.

                                                                                                            Taking a big step up into the professional theater ranks of Houston, RMDTexas and the Houston members of Miyagi-Ryu NoSho Kai performed in front of Jones Hall for the Houston Theater District Open House event.

And one of the most special events for the year was hosting an Esia Workshop for the visiting Lilly Choir from China.

                                                                                                                        Yes, a good year it was for the Okinawa Cultural Association of Texas and all of its associated performing groups.  But the way we see it; this is just the beginning.                                                                             In celebration of the past year and the one to come, RMDTexas ended its          年末大掃除 / nenmatsu oosouji (Year End Deep Cleaning) with a 打ち納め / uchiosame (Year End drumming).

May everyone have a happy, safe and prosperous New Year.

http://jimfromtexas.typepad.com/jim_from_texas/2011/11/lily-choir-workshop-a-royal-reunion.html

Merry Christmas Ya'll

In Texas, Christmas and the 1st day of the New Year is a great festive time.  We here at the Okinawa Cultural Association of Texas would like to share the joy and good tidings of this time of year with everyone, even if it is not part of your cultural background.

Merry Christmas everyone; and have a happy, safe and prosperous New Year

Lily Choir Workshop - A Royal Reunion

It just had to be a day where the Chinese ancestor’s from the Ming Dynasty reunited with the Okinawan ancestor’s from the Ryukyu Kingdom; a reunion that took place in Texas on September 17, 2011 at the Sound Box Dance Studio; although, it didn’t seem like a reunion for those in attendance because they had never met before.

In the international scheme of things Shenzhen China and Houston Texas USA are sister cities.  So when the world renowned Lily Choir form Shenzhen was planning a tour of the USA, performing in Houston seemed almost inevitable.  Well, that and the fact Worldwide Stage, Inc. who sponsored the tour is also located in Houston.

As a break from the grind of touring; RMDTexas was more that happy to provide the members a little Saturday afternoon diversion with a fun filled Eisa Workshop.

After performing Kudaka for the choir, so they could get an idea of what they were going to learn, instruction began.

They started with the basic Eisa moves and positions.  Then moved on to learning the first eight bars of the routine, then the next eight and putting them together; continuing in that manner they worked their way thought the entire routine in a surprisingly short amount of time.  The members of RMDTexas were very excited to see how fast their new Eisa co-hearts from China had pick-up the dance and learned an entire routine.

Here is the video of RMDTexas and the Lily Choir performing Kudaka together for the first time.  Although, with the instant camaraderie felt between the two groups and the ease in which the routine was taught and learned, one might wonder; was this the first time? 

After the workshop, as the joyous sounds of laughter and conversation filed the room; the big picture of what was happening here started to become a little clearer.  And with that realization one began to understand that, indeed, there was a reunion of a truly royal nature taking place that day; but it wasn’t between those in attendance.  The reunion was between the two cultures represented by those in attendance; two cultures that had first forged a bond almost a thousand years ago; a bond in which China’s Ming Dynasty recognized the autonomy of the Ryukyu Kingdom and gave them the support needed for the Ryukyu Islands to become a strong independent seafaring nation.  In this the Ryukyu Kingdom was able to find its place in the world as a bridge between all nations.
The bond forged all those years ago was so strong that even today, almost a thousand years later; its descendants still carry within their cultural DNA an affinity for each other.  Making collaborations between two groups of total strangers, like this one, seem as if they have been working together for a thousand year - which, in a way, they have.

(To see all the pictures from the workshop, Go to the “Lily Choir Workshop” Photo Album on the sidebar.)

OCATexas – ever expanding

During day two of their first Texas Road Trip OCATexas made great strides in its desire to become more involved in the ever expanding areas of Okinawan culture in Texas.  In the first day of the trip RMDTexas took Okinawa Eisa to the small Texas town of Rockport performing as part of their Asian Fantasies Junior High Band Concert.  As much fun as it was sharing the joy of the Okinawa culture with a brand new audience through Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Drum and Dance, day two of the Road Trip was to be very special for all members of OCATexas.

Day Two was centered around Yuri-san’s first official performance as a member of Miyagi Ryu NoSho Kai. It took place during the Austin Okinawan Tomonokai’s New Year’s celebration.  Okinawan classical dance had been a part of OCATexas, but they were just learning from videos.  Then several of the members decided to take there efforts to the next level and started making regular trips to Austin and personally study with Setsuko Kuniyoushi.

Yuri-san had put a lot of time an effort in learning everything she could about Okinawa classical dance from Setsuko sensei.  On the weekends she wasn’t in Austin, Yuri would pass on what she learned during OCAT’s classical dance practices to the members not able to make the trip to Austin.  Now, this was Yuri-san’s big day to become an official member of Miyagi Ryu NoSho Kai herself.

Austin is little over a two hour drive from Rockport, where RMDTexas performed the night before.  The Rockport Junior High provided motel rooms for the troupe so they could get a good night rests before making the trip from Rockport to Austin.  Everyone awoke excited about seeing Yuri’s performance later on that day.  But when they walked out of the motel into a grim and dreary Gulf Coast of Texas morning greeted then.  By the time everyone made it to Texas Hill Country of Austin the rain was coming down steadily and traffic was backed up for miles on I-35 outside of Austin.  The OCAT staff photographer was able to get a picture of the traffic jam because he was in the middle of it.  Unfortunately, that is also why he didn’t get any pictures of Migagi Ryu’s performance and we have none to show here.  In fact, the entire troupe was delayed by the traffic and no one was able to be there for Yuri’s debut.  But because of what was in store for the OCATexas members the rest of the day their disappointment was soon replaced with excitement.

Sharing the joy of Okinawa with all other cultures has been what OCATexas was about since its inception.  Although, for the native Okinawan’s in the group interacting with other Okinawan organization has been a dream that brings them closer to feeling like they are home again.  Once everyone arrived at the New Year’s celebration it was time for OCATexas to become a part of the bigger Okinawan picture in Texas.

The Austin Okinawan Tomonokai proved to be a wonderful group of people and welcomed OCATexas with open arms.  They have a fantastic organization dedicated to preserving the Okinawan culture and heritage by keeping alive all of the islands traditional art forms.  Their Eisa performances were splendid and the sanshin group had everyone remembering the happy days back in their homeland.

Day two of the Road Trip was everything everyone had hoped it would be.  At the end of the celebration there was still a two and a half hour drive back to Houston to deal with.  But at least it could be done with hearts full of wonderful memories from their day with the Austin Okinawan Tomonokai.

Now, the next big dream for the Okinawan Cultural Association of Texas is to sponsor an Okinawan event in Houston and have all of the other Okinawan groups come on over to our house.

SEE YOU THEN!!!!

Eisa in the Park

If one goes to Arthur Story Park in Houston Texas on a weekday afternoon they will be treated to a pleasant diversion from the everyday big city life; nice green wooded expanses with large stretches of grass; several play area for kids to swing, slide and climb; gazebo’s for social gatherings; jogging/walking paths around a large lake that provides seasonal lodging for a host of migratory water foul.  One is also enveloped in the sounds of nature that usually accompany these visual pleasantries; birds chirping in the trees, quacking of ducks on the pond and the laugher of kids playing all throughout the park.

But on Wednesday evening, October 5th 2011, the urban jungle refugees gathered in Arthur Story Park were surprised by a new sight and sound.  Sights and sounds that did not convey the essence of nature’s tranquility; but, instead, the excitement of experiencing the multi-cultural diversity one finds in Houston.  In this case it was the sights and sound of Okinawa Eisa drum and dance.

At the last minuet, RMDTexas was given a chance to submit a video to be included as part of the opening ceremonies of the 5th Unchinanchu Festival.  Since this was for the Unchinanchu Festival, Tomoe-san, the director, wanted to do something a little more special than just record the video at the dojo.  So, the morning of the shoot, she secured permission to record the video in Arthur Story Park.

That evening in the park around six pm; amongst the tee shirts, tennis shoe and jogging shorts appeared a lone young lady dressed in the Chinese style black pants and shirt of Ryukyukoku Matsuri Diako.  With long straight black hair pulled back into a pony tail, red sash around her waist, gold ribbon head band and big red O-Daiko slung over her shoulder, her bright white jikatabi’s maintained a steady walking pace as she headed towards the duck pond.  The assemblage of the RMDTexas troupe had begun.

Within the next fifteen minutes most of the members had arrived; the sound equipment was being set up and all drums were stacked on a picnic table.  Everyone shared a nervous anticipation as they started to figure just exactly how to shoot the video.  You see; because of the late notice, they had only had a week to learn the routine.  The members knew what to do individually, but up to this point they had only two sessions to work as an ensemble.

But the lack of preparation was not the biggest challenge facing RMDTexas that evening.  One stipulation the parks officials set for being able to use the park was that there could not be any drum playing until 7:00 PM.  And that evening the sun was setting at 7:13 PM.  They did as much practicing as they could without using their drums.

Seven O’clock approached and they still weren’t comfortable with how things were going.  After all, this video was going to be shown at the biggest event for all expatriate Okinawans in the last five years.

Unfortunately, the last rays of sunlight filtering through the trees at Arthur Story Park that evening just did not provide enough light to make a suitable video.

 

Fortunately though, the lights in the gazebo did!!!

 

RMDTexas was faced with a lot of challenges in making this video, from having only one week for preparation to just 13 minutes of light for filming.  But RMDTexas loves to take on overwhelming challenges.  By the end of the evening everyone was able to say; no matter how the video turns out or whether or not it gets shown at the Festival, we took on the challenge and did the very best we could.

The payoff for RMDTexas that evening was seeing the crowd of people that gathered to watch their efforts in Arthur Story Park - just everyday Houstonians who decided to take their family to the park and relax a little.  In return they received the surprise of seeing the Joy of Okinawan Eisa drum and dance right in there own neighborhood.

OCATexas - Japan Festival 2011

Like never before, the riches of the Okinawa culture were experienced by Houston and its Japanese community during the 2011 Japan Festival.  Sitting proudly as Japan’s southern most prefecture, Okinawa blends well with the Japanese culture, but it does carry a very distinct identity.  An identity developed in the days of it’s sovereignty as the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Before; the Okinawa Cultural Association of Texas has participated in the Japan Festival with a merchandise booth and members performing traditional music and Eisa festival dance.  In the last few years Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko – Texas Branch has emerged, trilling crowds with its high powered performance style of Eisa drum and dance.  But this year their effort to share the Okinawa culture has flowered to new levels.

The Okinawa Cultural Association of Texas took on the chore of running a food booth.  As in an all ventures of this sort, the main objective was making money to put toward special projects.   But OCATexas wanted to do this with a distinctive Okinawan flare.  So a menu of Taco Rice and Okinawan donuts was decided on. 

Then Yuri-san crafted aprons and head covering for the ladies out of material with a very colorful Okinawan print.  Posters and banners were also displayed showing all sorts of Okinawan heritage and things of interest.  On top of all this a real live sanshin player was stationed in front of the booth playing traditional Okinawan music.

Everyone will now admit that; with getting permits and passing daily city inspections running a food booth was more detailed and required more work than anyone could have imagined.

But everyone walked away with a good feeling; a good enough feeling that all profits were donated to the Japan tsunami relief fund.

Ganbarre Nihon.

Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko – Texas Branch had wanted to get back to their traditional Eisa roots for quite some time.  And there seemed no better time that at the 2011 Houston Japan festival.  So prior to their performance, they assembled on the other side of Hermann Park from where the stage was located.  Houston’s Japan Festival was about to be treated to a good old fashion Eisa procession; the way it is done back in Okinawa.  For more about RMDT’s performance see “RMDTexas - Japan Festival 2011”.

But the crowning jewel of the Okinawan culture in this year’s Japan Festival was the Houston debut of Miyagi Ryu NoSho Kai - a particularly momentous event for the members from Houston.  This was the first showcase performance in Houston for the classical dance of Okinawa.  The Houston members had performed here before but it was always as part of an RMDTexas performance or just the entertainment portion of another event.  Here, Miyagi Ryu NoSho Kai was the show; they would be able to take their time and set the stage properly for the classical dance of Okinawa.  For more on Miyagi Ryu’s performance see “Miyagi Ryu NoSho Kai - Japan Festival 2011”.

The Japanese community in Houston totally embraced and cherished the vibrant culture of their southernmost prefecture at Houston’s Japan Festival 2011.  And with the presentations of Okinawan food, music, Eisa and classical dance; OCAT, RMDT and Miyagi Ryu must have made the ancestors of the Ryukyu Kingdom very proud that day.

A special thanks to our contributing photographer;
Allison - allison_b216's photostream

Miyagi Ryu NoSho Kai - Houston Debut at Japan Festival 2011

  Classical dance from the Ryukyu Kingdom now has a place in Houston.  It was a splendid day at the Japan Festival on April 10th, 2010.  White fluffy summertime clouds billowing up into the powder blue sky; paddleboats cruising the lake and a large attentive crowd provided the setting for the Houston public début of Miyagi Ryu NoSho Kai.

This was a big event for the members living in Houston.  It had been over a year since several intrepid Okinawan souls started traveling to Austin in order to learn the art of Okinawa classical dance.  They had been performing in Houston throughout all that time but it was always as part of an RMDTexas performance or just the entertainment portion of another event.    At the 2011 Japan Festival, Miyagi Ryu NoSho Kai was the show.  Here, they would be able to take their time and set the stage properly for the classical dance of Okinawa. 

It was in the tiny Ryukyu Kingdom of the 15th century; now know as Okinawa, where this classical dance style started.  Although tiny by itself, Ryukyu had some might big friends.  With its ideal location between China, Korea and Japan; the Ryukyu Kingdom established strong trade relations with that part of the world through its seafaring prowess.  The classical dance style of the Ryukyu court was developed to entertain visiting Chinese envoys sent to approve the installation of new rulers.

Today, Ryukyu dance is divided into three types; Koten buyo (classical dance) zo-odori (popular dance) and so-saku buyo (creative dance). 

Koten buyo is the style developed at the Ryukyu royal court. 
Zo-odori came about after Okinawa became a prefecture of Japan.  With the abolishment of the Ryukyu court, dancers started to create dances that portrayed images of ordinary people’s lives and sentiments.  
So-saku buyo are creative and new dances combing modern elements with traditional dance.

Performed that afternoon were;
Yotsudake, a dance is from the Koten buyo style.  This is one of the Seven Principal Classical Women’s Dances from the Ryukyu Court.  In this dance each dancer also plays castanets.  The ringing of the castanets expresses the joy and pride of those selected to perform.

After that, Miyagi Ryu chose three songs from the zo-odori style.  In this style the dances are usually up tempo and energetic.

Hatoma bushi cleverly incorporates the comic Kappore style of mainland Japanese dance choreography.  The lyric of the song, along with its nimble and dynamic dancing, foretells of a fertile rice harvest and is very familiar to many Okinawans.

Hamachidori is a well loved song in Okinawa.  The dance features delicate finger movements, soft hand movements and nimble footwork.  Hand gestures such as the rolling of hands, pushing hands and moon viewing hands, along with positioning and other fundamental techniques are abundantly incorporated, giving the piece and overflowing grace.

Tanchame is about the daily life of young couples in fishing villages.  This dance expresses pleasure for work and the joy of life.

The dancers of the Miyagi–Ryu Kai Okinawa dance school of Austin study under Setsuko Kuniyoushi.  The school has ten branches across the USA, including four in California and others in New Mexico, North Carolina, Tennessee, New York and Texas – making it the largest Ryukyu dance school in the USA.

With Setsuko-sensei on the left of the picture; Yuri-san, on the right, gives her closing remarks about Okinawa classical dance and Miyagi-Ryu NoSho Kai, everyone on stage had a deep sense of satisfaction about the performance.  They were able to show something so dear to their hearts to a brand new audience; an audience that now had a deeper appreciation for the individual culture that Okinawa brings to Japan... a splendid culture that is now part of the patchwork of Houston’s multi-cultural identity.

To see how the day went for OCATexas and RMDTexas see;
OCATexas - Japan Festival 2011