Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai Proudly Shows Inherited Tradition at 2024 Spring Party
Members and guests of the Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai dance Kachashii to celebrate Okinawa’s heritage and spirit.
The Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai’s 2024 Spring Party was held on April 6 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in the north part of the City of Chicago. The members of the Kenjinkai entertained the audience with a variety of traditional Okinawan music, dance, and Karate performances.
One of the highlights of the party was handmade dishes of Okinawan cuisine. The Kenjinkai members welcomed the special guests with plenty of Okinawan food and hospitality.
Special guests were Consul General Jun Yanagi, his wife Norika Yanagi, Consul Tsutomu Shibata, Sawako Kojima from Consulate General in Chicago, Executive Director Tetsuro Mitani from Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Chicago, Chairman Robert Hashimoto from Japanese American Council, and President Jean Mishima from Japanese American Historical Society of Chicago.
Linda Asato, President of the Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai
Linda Asato, President of the Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai, welcomed all the attendees and said, “We gather here for a leisurely afternoon among friends and family, celebrating Spring and the rich cultural heritage of Okinawa.”
Asato then spoke about the history of the Chicago Okinawa Kenjin Kai, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2026. About 40 families gathered in 1966 and started with just one shamisen played by Asato's uncle, Tokujin Asato. Now it has become a vibrant community of over 200 families, all bound by the spirit of Okinawa. She said that their journey has been enriched by the emergence of several dynamic traditional performing groups.
President Linda Asato informed the attendees, “So mark your calendars for 2026! We have grand plans and a special commemorative event awaits us. And here’s where you come in: we seek volunteers to make this celebration truly remarkable. If you’re eager to contribute and be part of this milestone, reach out to one of our officers. Let’s encourage our younger members to step forward, with their fresh ideas and boundless enthusiasm lighting the path ahead.”
Consul General Jun Yanagi
In his greeting remarks, Consul General Jun Yanagi mentioned that the Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai has continued to preserve traditional culture and held events since its inception, and reminded the audience that the Kenjinkai members have kept doing activities since 1966, the year of his birth, and that they have come a long way.
CG Yanagi then talked about his memories related to Okinawa. He visited Okinawa with alumni of the MEXT Scholarship for International Students from Southeast Asian countries and toured Shuri Castle and other historical sites and sightseeing spots. He said that the alumni and he had a good time in Okinawa.
The other time, he bought six kariyushi shirts for Cool Biz in the summer period on the recommendation of a person who had been on a temporary assignment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from Okinawa Prefecture. He said he enjoyed wearing comfortable kariyushi, especially, in the extreme heat of Tokyo.
CG Yanagi also introduced that 2024 was designated as the first Japan-U.S. Tourism Exchange Year and asked the attendees to encourage their families and friends to travel to Okinawa and Japan.
Minori Yamaki, Vice President of Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai
Minori Yamaki, Vice President of the Kenjinkai, had been teaching in a Japanese-language kindergarten for more than 20 years. She said that she was always thinking about what she should pass on to the next generation while she was taking care of them in the kindergarten.
She described the Okinawan community where she felt the warmth of Okinawa such as generosity of her grandparents, the laughter of her neighbors, love of her family and friends, and caring of the community that surrounded her as a young girl.
Yamaki said, "I want the children to feel not only the culture and skills, but also the Okinawan spirit by spending time together. I hope that today's warm time will lead to the future of the next generation filled with love.”
Inherited Okinawan Traditional Arts
After a luncheon, the Kenjinkai members, who had been practicing their performance for this day, started to showcase their Okinawan performing arts.
The stage was opened with a celebration dance of “Kagiyade fu” followed by dance “Nubui Kuduchi,” which described Shuri samurais’ emotions and sceneries to the Satsuma Domain, which summoned them. The next piece was the Okinawan folk song “Uchinaa,” “Musume jintoyo,” and “Tinsagu nu hana” performed by Sanshin group followed by Ukulele group’s “Sukiyaki,” “Hana,” and “Country Roads.”
The attendees were thrilled and enjoyed “Raffle and 50/50” for a while, and then an agile Eisa “Dynamic Ryukyu” was performed by three young men. And then four beautiful women in summer kimono danced folk pieces “Natsu Sugata,” and “Kanusya gamayo.”
Beikoku Shidokan Chicago branch Uza Dojo demonstrated the kata of karate with lively actions, swift movements of waza or techniques, board breakings, and more.
In the finale, Eisa Taiko group played a lively piece of Eisa with shamisen music, and the Spring Party reached its climax, and all the attendees enjoyed dancing Kachashii.