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
Sunday October 3rd was a day of past, present and future for the Okinawa Cultural Association of Texas. It started out with a general meeting. After a hectic September it was now time to reflect on the year up to this date, assess what had been accomplished and what could be done better in the future. By the end of 2010 RMDTexas will have performed in some twenty events throughout the year. But as busy as this year was, next year is already lining up to be busier. So getting all the committees lined up for the various 2011 events was a main priority.
In April 2011 is Japan Fest which is the biggest event for the Japanese community in Houston. Two days of fun visiting the different booths and watching all of the entertainment. For years this event has been drawing
20,000 visitors over the weekend. Last year OCAT had a booth and provided entertainment for both days. Next year we are planning on adding a food booth to the mix.
The first Sunday in August 2011 RMDTexas will once again be participating in Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko simulcast performance of the Eisa Pageant in Okinawa – which, in Texas, is actually the Saturday night before. Having the 2010 Eisa Pageant at our Dojo proved to be a big success but RMDTexas is set on holding this event at a public venue next year. With this, there is a concerted effort at getting an early start to securing a performance venue. This will probably prove to be the most time consuming committee to be on, but several members stepped up to the plate with an energetic attitude to get the job done.
An “extra” major event on the Okinawan calendar of Festivals will take place in 2011; the 5th World Uchinanchu Festival in Okinawa from October 13th through the 16th. There has been talk of a group of members going to partake in all the festivities but nothing has been decided at this point. Waiting to hear a finalized word from Okinawa on some of the planned activities has been one of the holdups. No committee was officially formed but everyone was put on notice that something might materialize in the future.
Another area under “new business” discussed was the restructuring of Ryufu – the Ryukyu classical dance part of OCAT. The current situation was only allowing this important part of the Okinawa Cultural Association to progress to a certain point. It was felt that in order to continue to grow and get better a different approach was needed. Several options were brought up in the meeting. It was determined that further discussion on the matter was needed before any action was to take place.
But the most delightful discussion of the meeting was about the future of the Okinawa Culture in Texas – not the Okinawa Cultural Association of Texas but the passing on of the culture itself. A new Eisa kid’s class was starting that very day and securing teachers and a leader needed to be finalized. Even though everyone’s daily schedules were already full, several members made room for this so important aspect of getting the young ones actively involved in their cultural heritage.
With all the old, present and new business being addressed the meeting adjourned. The Sanshin class went off to their room and RMDTexas took the main room for practice while the kids energetically waited for their turn. Then after years of watching their parents playing the drums and dancing it was finally the kids turn to take the floor.
After learning the respectful way of entering a Dojo, shoes off and bowing, the kids with eyes twinkling and nervous feet hopping rushed on to the floor. Although, I don’t think they saw learning Eisa drumming and dance as their part in preserving and furthering the Okinawa culture in Texas; they wanted to learn just because it looked like a whole lot of fun.
One might ask; is the Okinawan culture alive in Houston, Texas? Well, if you were at the IMA Shotokan Karate Dojo on July 18th 2010 the answer would be very apparent. On that day the Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Texas Branch Drum & Dance Troupe’s Eisa Pageant was only two weeks away. Taking a break during practice they gathered around to discuss the details a major performance like this imposes. The coordination of getting set up for the performance is just as demanding as the performance itself.
While the RMD rehearsal had been going for a while in the main room, the sanshin class started to get underway in the smaller room. Going over the music and getting their instruments ready, an enthusiastic group was preparing to begin a musical journey into Okinawa’s cultural past by learning how to play the sanshin.
After the sanshin class concluded; the smaller room was taken over by a few from RMD who wish to put an extra effort into refining and perfecting their dance moves.
You can be sure of one thing when you see Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Texas Branch perform; everyone on stage is dedicated to giving their best.
At that point it was time for the grace and pageantry of Okinawa’s tradition dance to take over the main room. The booming drums and enthusiastic Eisa chant Hi-Ya-Sa-Sa replaced by the soft and gentile clicking sounds of bamboo sticks... the high stepping Eisa dance by the slow and patience steps of the Yotsudake.
With all this in evidence the answer would have to be YES. In Houston, Texas all aspects of the Okinawa culture and heritage are wholeheartedly embraced , practiced and cherished.
