Jan 15 2007
Nostalgia
Dancers from Tamagusuku Ryu Senju Kai
perform “Shikikuduchi”
Yesterday, we went to the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii to check out their New Year’s `Ohana Festival. The festivities were spread across the grounds of the JCCH and Moiliili Field with cultural activities for the kids, entertainment, craft vendors and food booths.
Teru Teru Bozu
It was a cool, blustery day with gusts that blew the rain clouds clear out of the sky. Teru Teru Bozu dolls hung from trees in the courtyard in hopes of keeping the showers away. Whenever I see Teru Teru Bozu, I feel nostalgic for my youth — even though my homemade kleenex Teru Teru Bozu had failed me and I learned not to put my hopes in a wad of kleenex and a rubber band.
A young Okinawan dancer from Tamagusuku Ryu Senju Kai
performs the children’s song: “Akata Sun Dunchi”
Another thing that never fails to fill me with nostalgia is seeing Okinawan dance performed. Two local dance groups were featured on the JCCH stage. Sensei Frances Nakachi of Tamagusuku Ryu Senju Kai featured her younger students (pictured above) who performed the very same dances that I learned and performed as a child. Having started in the endeavor of learning traditional Okinawan dance at age 5, the songs and dances of my culture have always been an integral part of my life.
In recent years, with a demanding work and school schedule, I had put all of my extra-curricular activities aside. Since finishing my schooling in November, I have been eyeing the calendar to plan my return to the dojo. However, with the added complication of my infertility treatments, it looks as though dance will need to take a backseat again, at least for now.
Nevertheless, whenever I hear the ten-tun-ten of the sanshin, my feet start to tap and I want to jump up and join the dancers onstage. It is my hope that I may return sooner rather than later. Who knows, maybe someday I can encourage our daughter (or son!) to pursue this great tradition as well.
What makes you nostalgic?
A 30-something Christian girl, blissfully wedded to her perfect match (the yang to her yin) of 14 years. Living life in Hawaii, less than 5 miles from her hometown, a slave to her mortgage payment, but seeking balance in her pursuit of family, faith, recreation, and rest.
We’re bummed we missed this year’s, but love that the ‘Ohana Festival is still going strong. Katie’s “fish painting” from last year is proudly hanging on our wall… giant red “X” and all. It’s amazing how much I want to expose my kids to all the cultural and ethnic stuff that used to annoy me as a kid. I’m glad to say that they’re much more receptive to it than I was.
Will there be an accompanying vlog entry? I gave it a shot in 2006.
you could’ve visited me @ the mochi house! my mom took my niece to check out the festival and then we all walked to waiola’s from my place for some shave ice. if anything, i would’ve gone for the waffle dogs, but i heard the line for that was insane…
let me know when you go back to dancing - i want to tag along too (though it looks like all my extracurricular stuff, including sanshin, *sniff* is gonna be put on hold for a while)…
You got the shots of the two cutest kids in the class
the first is shiki Kuuduchi the second is kajimaya well the second art of it… i was googling and came upon this…
the kids are megan and stephanie… man.. these are old photos… nice to see them again… thanks for taking their pictures.. they both still dance