The Okinawa Association of America (OAA) will host their fourth annual craft fair on April 29 (Saturday), 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the OAA Center’s parking lot in Gardena. Though smaller than other craft fairs, this outdoor boutique stands out in that it will include Okinawa-themed items such as accessories, art prints, bags, buttons/pins, […]
The Okinawa Association of America began fund drive for the restoration of the Shuri Castle which was ravaged by fire on October 31. Immediately after the breaking news of the Shuri Castle fire in Okinawa, the Okinawa Association’s office in Gardena started to receive phone calls offering donations for Shuri Castle restoration. In addition to […]
Shuri Castle, Historic Tourist Draw in Japan, Is Destroyed by Fire on Oct. 31, 2019 The World Heritage site, a symbol of the southern island of Okinawa, was once the seat of a kingdom that spanned 450 years. New York Times article https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/world/asia/shuri-castle-okinawa-japan-fire.html Cultural News likes to express the sympathy to people in Okinawa and […]
Let’s sing and dance! Okinawan concert in Torrance On Sunday, May 19, 2:00 p.m., the Okinawa Association of America (OAA) will bring the sights, sounds, and spirit of the Ryūkyū Islands to the James R. Armstrong Theatre in Torrance, CA. Titled “Utayabira, Wuduyabira” – which means “let’s sing, let’s dance” in Uchinaaguchi (the native Okinawan […]
On Sunday, January 27, 1 p.m., the Okinawa Association of America (OAA) in Gardena will host “Finding Okinawa,” a mini symposium featuring conversations with three artists of Okinawan descent: author/playwright Jon Shirota from Hawai‘i, local filmmaker/educator Gena Hamamoto, and illustrator Flor Kaneshiro from Argentina (short biographies below). In addition to talking about their work, they […]
Third generation Okinawan descendant Gus Hokama in Argentina will be making his U.S. debut at the cultural event with the title of “Living Treasures of Okinawa: Taro Higa’s Humanism and the Okinawan Gajumaru Tree” on Sunday, July 1, 2018, 2 – 5 p.m. at Ken Nakaoka Community Center in Gardena. The focus of this event will […]
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 + A life of decorated US Army Nisei veteran from Hawaii Taro Higa (1916-1985) will be […]
Documentary film screening: “OKINAWA: The Afterburn” June 24, 25, 27 Film OKINAWA: The Afterburn (Okinawa: Urizun no Ame) Directed by John Junkerman Produced by YAMAGAMI Tetsujiro 148 minutes/Color/HD 16:9/Stereo 5.1 ch © 2015 SIGLO http://okinawa-urizun.com/ (Japanese only) Trailer: https://youtu.be/0rErr6jCx10 Screening Schedule Saturday, June 24, 7PM OAA Center, Yamauchi Building 16500 South Western Ave., Gardena, CA 90247 […]
The Okinawa Association of America held the 2017 New Year’s Party and new officers installation on Jan. 15 at the Quiet Cannon event place in Montebello. More than 500 people attended the event. 2017-18 President of the Okinawa Association of America Edward K. Kamiya 2017 Board of Directors Setsuko Fujimoto, Harold Kameya, Edward […]