Haisai OAA NewsJune 2014 ● No. 83

北米沖縄県人会四季報2014年6月 ● No. 83

In This Issue:

Cover Images

President’s CornerMartial Arts Committee与那嶺恵子さんに2014年ウーメン・オブ・ザ・イヤー賞 Uchinaaguchi Class - More than Learning Our Mother TongueUchinaaguchi 101婦人部60周年を祝う記念式典、盛大に催す北米沖縄県人会Battle of Okinawa Lecture and Mov-ie Screening創立３５周年を祝う記念式典並びに祝賀会を盛大に催すサンディエゴ沖縄県人会Hanafuda Hawaii StyleOAA Members in the NewsDonationsCalendar

223

4

45

5

6

6778

Reasons to Attend the Annual OAA Picnic By Joseph Kamiya

• Greatplaceforreunions• $7pre-orderedbento/lunch(teriyakichicken,kaluapork,rice,tsukemono)

• Complimentarydrinks&snowcones• Highschoolscholarshipawards(deadline:June13)

• Freeperformances(traditionalandcontemporary)

• Freegamesforthewholefamily• TheonlyOkinawa-styleBonDanceinLosAngeles

• All-dayraffledrawings($1perticket)

The Okinawa Association of America (OAA)‘s Annual Picnic will be held on Sunday, July 13, 10 AM - 4 PM, at the Whittier Narrows Recreation Park. Teriya-ki and kalua pork bento orders ($7 each) and raffle tickets ($1 each) are now avail-able to purchase until June 27 (pre-sale only). There will be no orders or raffle tickets sold at the picnic. Please contact the OAA office at (310) 532-1929 or men-sore@earthlink.net for more information.

The Annual Picnic has been a tradition for OAA members since its first inception in the 1930′s. The picnic has always been a highly anticipated event for families and friends, offering a summer afternoon of food, games, and cultural performances. It has also become the venue for the OAA to award its annual scholarships to mem-

bers who are qualified high school gradu-ates.

2014 will mark the eighth year of Oki-nawa-style bon dancing at the OAA Pic-nic. Regardless of age or experience, everybody is invited to participate! The movements are repetitive and everybody dances in a large circle, with experienced dancers leading in the center. Live music is provided by sanshin musicians and ei-saa drummers. The origin of bon dancing is a Buddhist ritual to soothe the souls of ancestors during the summer Bon (or Obon) Festival.

Bon dance practice videos available at oaamensore.org!

OAA Annual PicnicSunday, July 13, 10 AM - 4 PM

Whittier Narrows Recreation Park750 Santa Anita Ave., Area E-1

South El MonteParking $6

Bento $7 (pre-sale only)

Please see insert formore information andbento/raffle order form

A number of OAA members including Kyoko Naka-hara and Mariko Bringentoff (pictured) volunteered to cook and sell saataa andaagii at El Marino Language School's Children's Day festival (photobyAliceHoriba);Visitors from Okinawa: Choichi Terukina, National Living Treasure of Japan for Ryukyu Classical Music (center-right), and spouse Eiko Terukina (left) with OAA Presi-dent Shingi Kuniyoshi (center-left) and office manager/student of Terukina-sensei Yuko Yamauchi (right) (photobyJosephKamiya); Kachashii at Fujinbu's New Year's Party/60th Anniversary (photo by Yukikazu Nagashima); Mieko Shima (Women's Club chairperson), Hanafuda Hawaii's Helen Nakano, and Jane Kuniyoshi (Women's Club member and organizer of this workshop) (photobyJosephKamiya);Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Los Ange-les Branch members (L to R) Ai Teshima, Sora Kime and Clarence Watanabe performing at the Torrance-Kashi-wa Sister City Bunkasai at the at Ken Miller Recreation Center (photobyStevenIhde)

2 Haisai OAA News No 83 www.oaamensore.org ● Okinawa Association of America

President’s Corner Shingi KuniyoshiWe are sur-

rounded by fresh spring colors. As plants renew life in spring, we ponder our past and commit for future growth. I hope our mem-bers have been in good health and enjoying

spring and OAA’s events. I report here the recent decisions of the

board of directors, officers and committee chairs. The board meets every month to report, discuss and decide important mat-ters related to the OAA.

We decided to have an orientation for board members on June 14. We will spend the entire afternoon to learn about each other and our mission, study our bylaws and parliamentary procedures, clarify or-ganizational structure, and define and un-derstand responsibilities and duties of the board members and officers.

We hired a professional property man-agement company that provides service of rent collection, lease negotiation, emer-gency service, and account reporting. This reduces our administrative workload and potentially increases rental income by

adjusting rent to market value and by fully renting our available spaces.

We have had several accounts with dif-ferent banks for committees and for spe-cial purposes. We recently transferred our accounts to Union Bank and some ac-counts were consolidated. Some large ac-counts have been earning very little inter-est. CFO Vicky Nishiuchi, and her finance team are working hard to streamline our finance management. We are forming a budget committee headed by the CFO, and our spending will be planned and con-trolled.

Our bylaws specifically mention three objectives: (1) to promote mutual benefit of the members; (2) to promote and per-petuate the Okinawa culture; and (3) to promote community involvement of the members. I think we have been fulfilling all three objectives. Our past presidents have been involved with the Nanka Ken-jinkai Kyogikai as president or officers, and our Geinobu teachers and students regu-larly volunteer and perform at community events. Our member Keiko Yonamine was recently awarded “2014 Women of the Year” for her outstanding community service by the Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California and the Downtown Los Angeles Chapter of the JACL. Many of our members attended the luncheon to

support Yonamine sensei. We are busy planning and preparing for

upcoming major events such as Minyo no Yuube, picnic, Nisei Week parade, and bazaar.

I hope all of our members stay safe and enjoy summer!

会員の皆様、お元気ですか。樹木は新緑に輝き、このロサンゼルスでもうりずんの季節を感じるこの頃です。

皆様のサポートのおかげで、県人会は行事を遂行し、順調に成長し続けています。最近の理事会の決議を報告します。

県人会本館の一部と去年購入した建物はテナントに貸してあります。賃貸物件や家賃の管理をするため、管理会社と契約して管理を頼んでいます。家賃を相場並みに上げ、無駄なスペースを貸して、収入を増やすつもりです。これで、事務局の負担も減るでしょう。いくつもの銀行口座がいくつかの銀行にありましたが、すべての口座をユニオンバンクに移しました。

県人会は（１）会員の親睦や扶助、（２）沖縄文化の継承と普及、（３）地域社会への貢献などを目的としています。私たちは、この３つの目的をすべて遂行していると思います。最近、与那嶺恵子さんは長年にわたる地域社会へ奉仕に対して　JACLと南加婦人会から”2014 Women of the Year”の表彰をもらいました。おめでとうございます。

國吉信義

会長メッセージ

Martial Arts Committee (MAC) By Michael GeorgeSensei Nurys Saldana hosted a seminar

recently in Ontario featuring Sensei Neil Stolsmark and Sensei Kinjo. Sensei Stols-mark did a fine job of teaching Kobudo for the entire weekend. Sensei Kinjo came in on Saturday and taught the katas. Both men did a great job. That same Saturday eve-ning Sensei Saldana held a banquet which consisted of entertainment and some great food. Great job, Sensei Saldana.

Sensei Jerry Figgiani has informed me that he just found out that this July "Karate Masters-Volume 5" by Jose Fraguas will be available for purchase. Three of Sensei Figgiani interviews with Okinawan Karate Masters Kensei Taba, Takeshi Tamaki, and Masahiko Tokashiki will be featured in this publication. Sensei Figgiani will also be fea-tured in this publication. This will be the last book in this five-volume set. Some of the martial arts top masters have been featured

in this publication.Sensei Loeffler's group has participated

in the Carnival and the Cinco de Mayo pa-rade in the City of Gardena. This is two of their yearly events promoting Okinawan Karate. On May 17th his group did a karate showcase at the St. Anthony of Padua Fes-tival. Also on May 17th, Sensei Evans hosted her annual California State Karate Tourna-ment in Perris, CA.

UPCOMING EVENTS• June 8th - MAC Seminar in Gardena.

Presenters will be Sensei DeDonato, Sensei Tackett and last but not least, yours truly Sensei Mike George.

We invite you to come out and enjoy these great events and we truly appreciate your support of the MAC! We look forward to seeing you.

For more information on any of the up-coming events, or for local MAC dojo in-formation, please contact the Martial Arts Committee.

OKINAWAN FOLK MUSICAN EVENING OF MINYO

(MINYO NO YUUBE)「民謡の夕べ」

Sunday, July 20th at 1:00 PMJapanese-American Cultural Center

of Vista150 Cedar Road, Vista, CA 92083

Tickets: $25 (includes bento lunch)

Organized by the Ryukyu Minyo Kyokai Hokubei Shibu of the OAA Geinobu, this bien-nial recital features traditional Ryukyu minyo (Okinawan folk music) by Southern California-based instructors and their students.Tickets available through performers or the OAA office at (310) 532-1929.

Haisai OAA News No 83 3www.oaamensore.org ● Okinawa Association of America

与那嶺恵子さんに2014年ウーメン・オブ・ザ・イヤー賞 森田のりえ 記ジャカランダの花が満開になり、薄紫の花を

散らす５月４日、ロスアンゼルス郊外のクイエットキャノンで２０１４年ウーメン・オブ・ザ・イヤーの表彰式が開催された。

主催は日系市民会ダウンタウン・ロサンゼルス支部と南加日系婦人会。表彰されたのは、日系コミュニテの発展と融和、日本文化の紹介や日米交流に素晴らしい活動をしているとして選ばれた四人の女性リーダーである。

４人のうちの１人は、金武町金武出身の与那嶺恵子さん。宜野湾高校時代はバスケットの選手として活躍し、卒業後はレストランで会計の仕事にたずさわる。そのころドイツ系米国人と知り合い結婚。１９７２年に玉城流冠千会(当時は玉扇会)池原シズ家元に入門し、子どものころから慣れ親しんでいた琉球舞踊を本格的にはじめる。夫の転勤で１９８４年に渡米し、加州オーシャンサイドに移り住み流舞

道場を設立。現在ではオレンジ郡とアリゾナ州ツーソンに支部を持つ。

今年で創立３０周年を向かえる冠千会は、沖縄芸能コンクールで新人賞、優秀賞、最高賞、などを獲得した将来性のある多くの若い門下生の育成に努めている。また、カリフォルニヤ、ユタ、ワシントン州などで各地の大学で沖縄芸能の紹介と継承、発展に尽力するかたわら、サンディエゴやオレンジ郡の子共病院でチャリティショーを催し、東日本大震災の復興支援チャリティーショーを行い全収益を寄付しているなど社会や人のために役立つ貢献をしている。

沖縄県人会芸能部メンバーとして多くのイベントに参加し活躍されていることはいうまでもない。

ちなみに今回開催された南加日系婦人部の創立は１９０４年、日露戦争勃発と同じ年で

ある。大国ロシアと小さな日本の戦争を憂いたアメリカに住む日本婦人が母国を支援すめために自発的に組織された会であると、ロスアンゼルス在住の古老からうかがった。終戦後、ハワイや本土の沖縄出身者たちが団結して故郷の救援活動に立ち上がったことを思い出す。

――ふるさとは遠くにありて思うもの――室生犀星の詩は故郷を後にした者のみが

共通して感じる愛郷心である。今回、栄誉ある賞を受賞された与那嶺恵子さんも故郷の素晴らしい伝統文化を後世に引き継ぐため、また、故郷との絆を深めるために心血を注いでおられる。一家の主婦が芸事をつづけられるのも家族や門下生など多くの人たちの理解があってこそ成し遂げられることだと話しておられた。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Keiko Yonamine (seated center), one of the recipients of the 2014 Women of the Year awards from the Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California and the Downtown Los Angeles Chapter of the JACL, surrounded by a number of her students and supporters at the reception hosted at Quiet Can-non (Montebello). (photoprovidedbyShingiKuniyoshi)

Keiko Yonamine, headmaster of Tama-gusuku-Ryu Kansen-Kai Yonamine Kei-ko Ryubu Dojo.

(photoprovidedbyShingiKuniyoshi)

OAA Scholarship Applications forGraduating High School Students DUE JUNE 13, 2014!

Applications for the OAA’s annual scholarship awards for 2014 high school graduates are now available and due soon!

Applicant requirements:• Must be graduating high school in 2014• Must be of full or partial Okinawan descent• Parents or applicant must be OAA member(s)• Minimum 3.0 GPA

The awards will be based primarily on academic accomplishments with due consideration given to extra-curricular and community activities and financial needs. The scholarship awards will be presented at the OAA’s Annual Picnic at Whittier Narrows Recreation Park on Sunday, July 13, 2014 (Date subject to change). Please contact the OAA for additional informa-tion at (310) 532-1929 or mensore@earthlink.net.

4 Haisai OAA News No 83 www.oaamensore.org ● Okinawa Association of America

Uchinaaguchi 101 by Chogi Higa, Instructor

ウチ グチナ ー

Wattaa heya ya nankai nkai aibiiga.Unju-naa heya ya nikai nkai aibiin.

Heya ya nangoo yaibiiga.Nihyaku-go-goo yaibiin.

Dialogue Practice

Chiruu:

Taruu:(ahotelworker)

Chiruu:

Taruu:

Wattaa heya ya, nankai nkai aibiiga.On what floor is our room located?

Unju-naa heya ya, nikai nkai aibiin.Your room is on the 2nd floor.

Heya ya, nangoo yaibiiga.What is the room number?

Nihyaku-go goo yaibiin.It is room 205.

ワッターヘヤ　ヤ、ナンカイ　ンカイ　アイビーガ。ウンジュナーヘヤ　ヤ、ニカイ　ンカイ　アイビーン。

ヘヤ　ヤ、ナンゴー　ヤイビーガ。ニヒャクゴゴー　ヤイビーン。

Uchinaaguchi Class - More than learning our "mother tongue" By Victoria Nishiuchi

What’s it like to be a student in the Uchi-naaguchi class? What is the draw for us to meet once a month to learn not only about Okinawa, but also the language or the history?

On April 11, Rachel Inafuku visited our class. She is originally from Hawaii, at-tending Loyola Marymount University and is taking an Asian American Stud-ies class. For her Asian American Stud-ies class, she came to our Uchinaaguchi class to interview us and explore whether we identify ourselves as Japanese or Oki-nawans. Why is it important to take a class like Uchinaaguchi? Why is it important to be active in the OAA? These are all great questions and makes all of us think about why we drive through the Friday night traf-fic to be in class or even volunteer for the many activities at the OAA.

As a long-time volunteer, I have often heard other members talk about how they fondly hear the voices of their parents when they hear Uchinaaguchi; younger members who have sentimental memo-ries of their grandparents or parents speaking Uchinaaguchi or finding their “spirit” in music or dance to Uchinaagu-chi. How do you identify yourself, as Jap-anese or Okinawan? Rachel Inafuku, the niece of Eddie and Janet Kamiya, cousin of Joey Kamiya, and a fellow Uchinaan-chu, is exploring this important question

Higa Shinshii and his students at the April 2014 class. Seated (L to R): Michelle Akamine, Chogi Higa (shinshii), Rachel Inafuku, Edward Kamiya. Standing (L to R): Dina Yogi, Jane Kuniyoshi, Herb Asato, Rosa Yakushi, Julian Ely, Tamiko Yoneda, Don Akamine, Joan Oshiro, Victoria Nishiuchi, Janet Kamiya, Mitsuo Nishiuchi. (photoprovidedbyVictoriaNishiuchi)

and I’m sure she found some answers at the Uchinaaguchi class.

We would also like to welcome new stu-dents, Tamiko Yoneda, Don Akamine and his daughter, Michelle, who is a young koto student of Shinshii (Sensei) Katsuko Teruya.

We had a special guest at our May 9th class! Dr. Robert Walker, who gave a short slide show and spoke about his comprehensive travel guide, "Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands." Unfortunately, he didn't have his recently published book

available that night because he sold out at the JCI book signing earlier that week, however, his book is available from Ama-zon.com. He will be back in Los Angeles in August and said he would be more than happy to sign books at that time.

Come join us each month and partake in the generosity of Higa Shinshii as he shares his knowledge of Uchinaaguchi and Okinawa. You will discover why the Uchinaaguchi class is more than just learning about our “mother tongue”.

Haisai OAA News No 83 5www.oaamensore.org ● Okinawa Association of America

Battle of Okinawa Lecture and Movie ScreeningBunka-Bu (Culture Committee) Presents

Saturday, June 21, 2014 • 1 PM - 3 PMOAA Room #103 • FREE with RSVP

Please call the OAA to reserve a seat

Guest Lecturers: Representative Keiko Ito-kazu (live video from Okinawa, schedule per-mitting), House of Councillors of Japan, past Okinawa Prefecture assembly member • Ay-ano Ginoza, Research Scholar at the UCLA Center for the Study of Women, lecturer at UC Riverside.

On June 21 (Saturday), the OAA Culture Committee (Bunka-bu) will be hosting a free

"Irei no Hi" lecture and movie screening. The purpose of this event is to provide an introduc-tory lecture focusing on the Battle of Okinawa, its historical context, and the lasting effects on Okinawa and its people.

June 23 is a prefectural holiday in Okinawa called "Irei no Hi," commemorating the end of the Battle of Okinawa. Every year, Okinawans pray for the lives lost during the devastating battle from which approximately 150,000 civil-ians were killed or committed suicide.

We will also be screening two short docu-mentaries at our June 21 event:

In "Typhoon of Steel" (20 min-utes, English), local filmmaker Gena Hama-moto interviews two Uchinaan-chu "kibei" (nisei who were born in America and received their primary education in Japan or Okina-wa). Takejiro Higa and Frank Seiyu Higashi, OAA member, served as linguists and interpreters in the United States Military Intel-ligence Service (MIS), saving countless lives during the Battle of Okinawa.

"Himeyuri" (30 minutes, Japanese with Eng-lish subtitles) recounts the harrowing experi-ences of the 222 high school students and 18 teachers who were forced to work as nurses for the Imperial Japanese Army during the Battle of Okinawa. This documentary was pro-duced by the Himeyuri Peace Foundation in Okinawa.DisclaimerfromCultureCommitteechairperson

JosephKamiya:Okinawa'srelationshipwithJapanandtheUSishistoricallycontroversial,butitisnec-essary toexploreanddiscuss.Thoughpolitical innature,thiseventwillpresentfactsnotagendas.

Okinawans were directly affected by the Battle of Okinawa with an estimated 150,000 civilian deaths.

(photobyT.Sgt.GlenA.Fitzgerald,MarineCorps,Public

Domain)

The Himeyuri Peace Foundation's documentary is narrated in Japanese with English subtitles over a sequence of beautiful paintings by Ken Kaizu. (photoprovidedbytheHimeyuriPeaceFoundation)

婦人部60周年を祝う記念式典、盛大に催す北米沖縄県人会 比嘉朝儀 記　１９５４年発足の北米沖縄県人会婦人部（

島美恵子部長）は、創部60周年を祝う記念式典をこのほど、ガーデナの沖縄センターで盛大に催した。県人会から国吉信義会長をはじめ来賓と一般会員ら１３０人以上が参加し、60年にわたる歴史を振り返り、戦中、戦後のさまざまな艱難辛苦を背負い、それを乗り越えた先人会員にあらためて敬意を表すとともに、婦人部のさらなる団結と発展を誓った。

　国吉ジェーンさんの司会で開会し、物故会員に黙とうが捧げられた後、国吉・県人会長が祝辞を述べ「婦人部が今日まで県人会の活動を支えてきた」と謝意を表した。島部長があいさつに立ち、婦人部創部の目的について「個々の教養と価値観を高めるため」と強調。「料理やクラフト講習会、フラワーアレンジメント、講演会、旅行など、多岐にわたる活動を展開してきた」と力強く説明した。

　表彰式では、長年にわたって婦人部の発展に貢献した県人会の芸能部と、顧問の比嘉朝儀さんに表彰状が贈られた。芸能部は、婦人部の諸イベントに余興を提供してきたことが認められた。比嘉さんは、料理講習会で、琉

球の宮廷料理や庶民料理の歴史を紐解きながら、料理デモンストレーションの品々を紹介した。さらに、恒例の新年親睦会では、その年の干支について、琉球の昔物語の中から基調講演を行っている。今年は、八重山編の「赤馬節の由来」について昔話をし、参加者に往時の赤馬の面影を彷彿させた。

　ステージでは、芸能部の琉球舞踊、民謡、太鼓、健康体操などが次 と々披露され、会場は沖縄

の雰囲気に満ち溢れ、参加者は故郷へ思いを馳せた。のど自慢の新垣達夫さんが「ありがとう」を熱唱し、会場は熱気に包まれた。最後は、参加者全員で午年にちなんで、童謡「お馬」を合唱し、カチャーシーで佳境に達し、祝賀式典のプログラムを締めくくった。

Afuso Ryu Kenkyuu Choichi Kai Los Angeles (pictured left) entertain the ladies of the Fujinbu. Fujinbu Chairperson Mieko Shima presents certificates of appreciation to Chogi Higa and Geinobu (accepted by Jane Kamiya).

(photobyHirokoHiga)

6 Haisai OAA News No 83 www.oaamensore.org ● Okinawa Association of America

創立３５周年を祝う記念式典並びに祝賀会を盛大に催すサンデイエゴ沖縄県人会 比嘉朝儀　記ロサンゼルス市ダウンタウンから南へ約

１２０マイル離れたサンディエゴ日系人仏教会ホールでサンディエゴ沖縄県人会（富着保雄会長）は、２月２３日、創立３５周年記念祝賀会を催した。当日はサンディエゴ地域の各界の代表者が集うなか、ロサンゼルスの沖縄県人会からの５０人の参加者は、心地よい爽やかな天気に恵まれたオーシャンサイド・コースの２時間余のドライブを楽しみながら仏教会に到着した。

会場に集まった来賓や会員、家族や友人・知人ら約３００人は、苦難を乗り越えて県人会を創立した物故会員や県人会創立当初からの会員にあらためて感謝と敬意を表すとともに、同会のなお一層の発展を誓いあった。

上原千明さんの愉快な司会で進行し、先亡者への黙祷につづき、富着保雄会長の挨拶、國吉信義・北米沖縄県人会長が祝辞を述べた後、比嘉朝儀顧問がウチナーグチで祝辞を述べ、そして乾杯をリードした。

昼餐を挟み、幕の内弁当に舌鼓を打ちながら表彰式には、県人会創立以来、長年にわたる献身的なサポートで同会の発展に顕著な貢献をされた北米沖縄県人

会顧問の比嘉朝儀、サンディエゴ会員の米子ヒリンスキの両氏に感謝状 が贈呈された。

周りの参加者と歓談をしながら余興プログラムに移り、玉城流冠千会の与那嶺恵子琉舞道場の「踊りくわでいさー」で開幕、舞踊、民謡、琉球国祭太鼓、カラオケ、寸劇、若者のアメリカンダン

ス、日舞など、実にバライエティーに富んだ余興プログラムが繰り広げられた。会場は恒例のカチャーシーで沖縄ムードの雰囲気が漂い、最高潮に達し、午後４時頃、３５周年の祝賀プログラムを終了した。

Photo Above (L to R): San Diego Kenjinkai's Presi-dent, Yasuo Fuchaku presenting Certificates of Recognition to Yoneko Hilinski and Chogi Higa; and a member of San Diego Kenjinkai present-ing flowers.Top right: Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Los Angeles Branch entertains the crowd. (L to R) Stephanie Ajifu, Roland Kazu Tang, and Kristin Yamauchi. Bottom right: Dancers from Tamagusu-ku-Ryu Kansen-Kai Yonamine Keiko Ryubu Dojo.

(photobyHirokoHiga)

Hanafuda Hawaii Style (Fujinbu Workshop) by Jane H. KuniyoshiOn Friday, May 9, 2014, the OAA Fu-

jinbu (Women’s Club) held a Hanafuda Hawaii Style workshop with presenter Helen Nakano from Hawaii. Mrs. Nakano, a retired teacher, now has a passion to bridge generations together by playing this ancient Japanese flower card game called Hanafuda. She came to realize that this game could be a catalyst for bringing families closer. She also found benefits for the elderly by providing the mental stimulation and social interactions they need to keep alert and engaged. On the other hand, the young ones today are so bombarded with electronic devices that they no longer have face-to-face interac-tion with their family members or even friends. This is why Mrs. Nakano is driven to change that by reintroducing this card game to families of all generations.

Unlike the old deck of cards that the is-sei brought with them from Japan to Ha-waii, Hanafuda Hawaii Style’s decks are brighter and more colorful, with points on

them as well as their suit (Hiki) identification in Japanese and characters to identify Yaku combinations. At the work-shop, Helen explained the significance of certain cards such as the only man in the deck of 48 cards called “Ono no Tofu.” She also talked about the significance of the crane and the story of the “Rabbit in the Moon.” The game is easy to learn and fun to play for persons ages 5 to 95 years.

Those who attended -- including board members, OAA president Shingi Kuniyo-

shi, and Fujinbu chairperson Mieko Shima -- enjoyed themselves playing and having fun. There were smiles and laughter ev-erywhere. If you’re interested in purchas-ing cards, contact Mieko Shima at (310) 532-1929 (OAA Office). For more infor-mation about Hanafuda Hawaii Style, log on to hanafudahawaii.com

Hanafuda workshop attendees learning to play the game with the new cards.

Haisai OAA News No 83 7www.oaamensore.org ● Okinawa Association of America

AUTOBIOGRAPHY PUBLISHEDOAA member Masako Kimura Streling has published

an autobiography titled "I Thought The Sun Was God," now available through Kinokuniya in Little Tokyo, Ama-zon.com, and BarnesAndNoble.com. A donated copy is available at the OAA Kamiya Library. Subtitled "The Spiritual Journey of a Descendant of the Last Satsuma Samurai Clan," Masako's book recounts her early years in Ishigaki (part of the Yaeyama Islands), marrying an American soldier, the racism she faced in the United States, and their struggles as Christian missionaries in Japan. All of these life events are strung together by her discovery of faith, purpose, and self. She also includes many aspects of Okinawan history, culture, and life in the first half of the book.

The book was reviewed by Mark McLaughlin at For-ward Clarion Reviews (4 out of 5 stars). He writes: "Moving among these many worlds makes her story an intriguing, engrossing, and eye-opening tale, one that deserves a special place in any Women's Studies course or any class on modern Japan."

In January, Masako was a speaker at a TEDxYouth lecture series hosted by Val Verde High School. The full 21-minute video can be seen on YouTube (search "Masako Kimura Streling TEDxYouth"). Congratulations to Masako!

DONORS CORNER: We apologize if we missed anyone. Please let us know, so we can acknowledge your dona-tion in a future issue. (As of May)In memory of Shinki & Matsu Asato - $100 Stanley AsatoKajimaya Club - $200 Hiroshi YamauchiMembership $20 - Ethel AsatoGeneral $2,000 - Choichi & Eiko Terukina • $200 - Ethel Asato • $75 - Miyoko Shima • $50 - Ukwanshin Kabudan • $20 - Robert Okazaki • Carmen Ikemiyashiro • $10 - Ray Uchima

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

CHARLESM.KAMIYAANDSONS,INC.DBA: KAMIYA INSRUANCE AGENCY

Edward K. KamiyaPresident373VanNessAvenue,#200Torrance,CA90501CDI#0G93824Telephone: (310)781-2066Direct: (310)781-2069Facsimile: (310)961-9516Email:edwardk@kamiyainsurance.comWebsite:www.kamiyainsurance.com

Uchinaanchu at Tule Lake:The OAA History Committee con-

tinues to work on the next publication (dubbed History Book II).

The History Committee is currently looking to interview people of Okinawan decent who were interned at Tule Luke during WWII. If you or someone you

know is interested in sharing their sto-ry with the History Committee, please contact the committee at:

English/Japanese Emailnagashima@earthlink.netEnglish Preferred Emailmensore@earthlink.net

OAA Members in the NewsTheHaisaiOAANewsletterwritersdonotalwayshavetimenorspacefor

full articles about recent OAA member achievements. We welcome shortwrite-ups and/or pictures with captions of OAA members describing theirachievements.Pleasesendyoursubmissionstooaa.newsletter@gmail.com.

"KEMPI" SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTCongratulations to OAA member Collin Hoo, one of the recipients of the

2014 Okinawa Prefecture International Student Program (formerly Kempi Scholarship)! Collin arrived in Okinawa on April 5th and is currently studying Japanese language and Okinawan culture at the University of the Ryukyus (or "Ryudai," located in Nishihara, Nakagami District on Okinawa Island).

Collin Hoo was welcomed in Okinawa by friends he met at the Wakamono Taikai! (Stand-ing) Mano Taira, Karina Sa-tomi, Mr. Kugai, Collin Hoo, Takatada Kinjo, Mr. Goya. (Kneeling) Chiho Higa, Akino Oshiro, Minami Tamamoto, Ki-zuku Nitta, Munehiro Nitta.

Masako Kimura Streling, author of "I Thought The Sun Was God"

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Disclaimer:TheOAAdoesnotendorseorsponsoranyofthebusinesses,services,orproductsadvertisedhere.

www.oaamensore.org ● Okinawa Association of AmericaHaisai OAA News No. 83 www.oaamensore.org ● Okinawa Association of America

Okinawa Association of America, Inc.501(c) (3) non-profit organizationOAA Center16500 S. Western Avenue #203Gardena, CA 90247

Phone: (310) 532-1929Fax: (310) 808-9280E-mail: mensore@earthlink.netWebsite: www.oaamensore.org Okinawa Association of America

IchinuIchimadin:FromGenerationtoGenerationPlaceStamp here

Place Address Label here

June 16月1日

Kajimaya (Senior Citizens) ClubAnniversary Celebrationカジマヤー高齢者クラブ記念パーティー

June 86月8日

Martial Arts Committee (MAC)Seminarマーシャルアーツ・コミティー主催セミナー

June 216月21日

Irei no Hi/Battle of Okinawa Lecture and Movie Screening「慰霊の日」沖縄戦レクチャーと映画上映（文化部）

July 127月12日

Picnic bento preparation and truck loading at the OAA CenterVOLUNTEERS NEEDED!ピクニック準備・ボランティア募集

July 137月13日

OAA Annual PicnicVOLUNTEERS NEEDED!県人会ピクニック

July 207月20日

Minyo no Yuube (Evening of FolkMusic) Show「民謡の夕べ」(芸能部：琉球民謡協会北米支部)

July 30 - August 17月3 0日- 8月1日

2014 3rd Wakamono Taikai(Dusseldorf, Germany)第3回世界若者ウチナーンチュ大会(ドイツ・デュッセルドルフ）

Aug 15 - 178 月1 5日- 17日

60th Anniversary Celebration of Oki-nawa immigration to Bolivia (Con-tact OAA for info, including forming a Gateball team)ボリビア沖縄移住地入植60周年記念祭民（ゲートボール・チーム募集）

Upcoming Events & Activities (subject to change)

Haisai OAA News StaffEDITOR/LAYOUTKristin Yamauchi

WRITERSMichael George, Chogi Higa, Joseph Kamiya, Jane H. Kuniyoshi, Shingi Kuniyoshi, Vicky Nishiuchi

PROOFREADERSMichael George, Chogi Higa, Joseph Kamiya, Shingi Kuniyoshi, Vicky Nishiuchi, Yuko Yam-auchi

PHOTOGRAPHERSChogi Higa, Hiroko Higa, Joseph Kamiya

This is the official newsletter of the OAA, Inc. Contributions are welcome. For newslet-ter committee approval, email your article to oaa.newsletter@gmail.com no later than August 4, 2014 for the next issue.

Denotes non-OAA event 当県人会以外の行事

Weekly Activities (subject to change)• COMPUTER CLASS ($5/class): Every

Thursday 10am - 12noon, Friday 1 - 3pm, and Saturday by appointment only. コンピューター・クラス

Monthly Activities (subject to change)• VOLUNTEER DAY: 1st Tuesday of every

month 第1火曜日：ボランティア・デー• HISTORY BOOK II MEETING: 1st Satur-

day of every month 第1土曜日：歴史部会議

• UTA-SANSHIN CIRCLE: 2nd Sunday of every month (subject to change)第2日曜日唄三線サークル

• UCHINAAGUCHI CLASS ($2 donation/class): 2nd Friday of every month 第2金曜日 ウチナーグチ クラス

• KARAOKE CLUB ($5/admission): 3rd Saturday of every month第3土曜日：カラオケ・クラブ

Back cover image is of Stephanie Ajifu from Tamagusuku-ryu Kansen-kai Yonamine Keiko Ryubu Dojo dancing at the Fujinbu New Year's Party/60th Anniversary event.

October 1210月12日

OAA Annual Bazaarバザー