Taro Hoga shown in 1944 in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Charles Marce.
Living Treasures of Okinawa
Taro Higa’s Humanism and the Okinawan Gajumaru Tree
Sunday, July1, 2018
2:00PM – 5:00PM
Program by Testuro Shimojima
Emceed by Tamlyn Tomita
Ken Nakaoka Community Center
1670 W 162nd Street, Garden, CA 90247
Donation: $10
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A life of decorated US Army Nisei veteran from Hawaii Taro Higa (1916-1985) will be featured at an Okinawan culture program on Sunday, July 1, 2:00 – 5:00 pm at Ken Nakaoka Community Center, 1670 W. 162nd Street, Gardena, CA 90247.
Suggested donation is $10 per person. For information, call Tamiko Uyehara at (213) 680-2499.
After serving in 100th Infantry Battalion in European battlefield, Higa volunteered to return to his ancestral homeland of Okinawa in April 1945as the Battle of Okinawa was underway.
Because of his tri-lingual (Japanese, Okinawan, and English) capabilities, he was asked to convince Okinawans hiding in caves to come out and surrender to safety before the caves were blown, thus sparing their lives.
Higa risked his own life entering these caves unarmed, but in the end, saved several villages. After the war, Higa helped with efforts to rebuild Okinawa, sending pigs donated from Hawaii to replenish their depleted stock.
In 1983, Higa was honored by the Okinawan government for his efforts during and after the war. In 2015, NHK produced the docudrama Nikkeijin Who Saved Okinawa in Higa’s honor.
With the title of “Living Treasures of Okinawa: Taro Higa Humanism and the Okinawan Gajumaru Tree,” the program will be presented by Tokyo-based seasoned writer /lecturer Tetsuro Shimojima with English translation. Traditional Okinawa folk music will be also performed. Emceed by actor Tamlyn Tomita.
The program is sponsored by Uchina Goodwill Ambassador Tamiko Uyehara and Worldwide Uchinanchu Business Association Los Angeles. Supported by 2018 Uchina Goodwill Ambassador Grant Program of Okinawa Prefectural Government, and Okinawa Association of America.