Aloha for Japan and paper clanes

世界から集まったUHの学生を中心に組織される団体、International Student AssociationによるCandle vigilがあった。先週おこった東日本大震災及びそれに伴う種々の災害の犠牲者に祈りを捧げるためのキャンドルナイトだ。
学内外から、100人足らずだろうか、Showing your Aloha for JapanのモットーのもとUHの芝広場に集まった。

災害直後から始まった募金活動の箱を横目に千羽鶴を折り、連ね、樹の枝にさげる。
祈りはキャンドルの代わりに携帯電話の光によって行われた。これは火を扱う危険性とキャンドルにかかるであろう予算のカット、また日々のコミュニケーションを象徴する携帯電話を使うことで被災者に届くようにという意図だった。夜7時46分、ハワイ時間でほぼ地震が起こった時刻である。

ちなみにこの方が着ているシャツには
ALOHAの文字がプリントされていて、
真ん中のOが日の丸のように赤くなっている

日本人及び日系人の多いハワイだけに、この一連の災害によって関係する誰かに災難が降りかかった人も少なくないだろう。メッセージとして読まれたある学生の手紙は、福島第一原発近辺に住む家族の状況を心配する緊迫したものだった。原発についてもこの一連の災害のひとつであることは間違いない。彼らにとって地震は現実の自分の生活を、いや人生を脅かすものでありつづけている。

鶴を連ねる手を休め、読み上げるその声に聞き入った。
彼らの一番必要とするものは、明日の命をつなぐ物資であり、それを供給する資金であろう。

この目の前の鶴、そして私たちの祈りにはどんな意味があるというのだ。


「これはまあどちらかというと私たちのためのものだけどね」
と隣で折り鶴に糸を通しながら彼女は言った。
「これはある意味格好だけのようなもの。でも後々この鶴をみて、日本の人がハワイから応援している人がいることを知って少しでも元気づけられたらいいかもね」
この鶴たちは、被災地ではなく、ホノルルにある日本領事館に送られる予定だ。
「地震の後、多くの人が、30ドルなり300ドルなりと募金はしている。でもそれが本当に役に立つのかその場ではわからないし、それで満足してしまう人もいるはず。だから、手を動かして自分で何かすると、もっと気持ちの方に入ってくるし、その間ずっと相手のことを考えるでしょう」

この携帯電話のディスプレイの光が停電している家庭を照らすわけでもない。鶴を千羽折れば何か奇跡が起こると信じていない限りは、すべてはただのシンボルに過ぎない。
しかし多くの人が時間や目的を共有し、身体を使いつつ考える時間を共有することは、今の思いを忘れない為にも必要なのかもしれない。


今はまだ震災直後で情報が錯誤し、すべての状況が明らかとは言えない。ましてや原発の危機は現在進行形である。しかし時間は人々を次の段階へ、次の段階へと押しやっていく。
言うまでもなく復興には時間がかかる。大切なのはこれからなのである。


「これは長期の、終わりの見えない挑戦になります」とメッセンジャーも締めくくる。
「どうか日本にそのアロハの気持ちを伝え続けてください」

これからの私に何が出来るだろうか。

EWC International Graduate Student Conference Opening Ceremony

たった今、UHにあるEast West Centerで毎年行われるInternational Graduate Student Conferenceの開会式から帰ってきました。

行った動機はAmerica's Asian Anxieties: A View from Washington
っていうTalkがある!聞きに行こう。と思っただけだったのですが、これが実はConferenceのOpening Ceremonyも兼ねたTalkだったようでびっくり。

何がびっくりかってーと、時間になるとどこからともなくハワイアンチャントの声とリズムが聞こえてきたんです。何かな?と思って入り口を見ると、そこにはチャントを唱えるKupunaとそれに続く3人のHawaiian Ladies in Hula dress.　これがオープニングセレモニーの始まりでした。


最初の曲は大地と火山の女神ペレに対するMele(Music).
二曲目はルナリオを称える歌
そして最後の曲の説明はこう始まりました



このMeleは、ハワイにヨーロッパの人々が来る前に作られたものです。

今からこの土地に、海から大きな船が何艘も訪ねてくることだろう
すると私たちは自らの小さなボートを漕ぎ客人を訪ね挨拶をする

その時
私たちは決めなくてはならない

この客人たちをこの土地にとどめてもよいだろうか
港を訪れることをゆるしてもよいだろうか

私たちは彼らの船に乗り、共に航海すべきであろうか
それともこの地に留まるべきであろうか

私たちは決めなくてはならない



そして彼らの選んだ道は彼らの船に乗り世界を知ることだった。
世界の広さを知ることだった。

しかしその心のなかにはいつでも「私たちの土地」がある。
長い旅路の果てにいつか帰るべき場所があるのだ。



Kupunaは続ける。
この、沢山の人々が交差する土地で
沢山の人々が互いの理知を共有する場で
私たちの神に敬意を尽くせることに感謝します。

あなたたちは世界の様々な土地から来て
様々な背景を持ち、様々な知恵を持っている。
そして様々な人とであう。

しかし忘れないで欲しい
どの人にも帰るべき場所があり
それはあなたをあなたたらしめているものである。


どうかここで
できるだけのことを学んでいってほしい

ここにいる少しの間
ハワイアンとしてすごすのもよい

しかし忘れないでほしい

それはあなたの戻るべき場所のためであり
それはあなたのためであることを

Aloha kākou (Welcome for all)


…
その言葉を聴き終えるまでもなく思わず涙が流れました。

初めて見る、指先まで繊細な動きの美しさと、
それ以上に深遠な、彼らの踊りの中にある知恵。
私がハワイに来た意味って、これだなあーとしっとり心に染みたんです。


語学がまだまだついていけないフラストレーション、自己管理のプレッシャー、制限、不安、天邪鬼

アメリカ内部の複雑さや対立、資本主義、システム、その他諸々から目をそらすこともできず、
取り込まれるしかないながらも、完全に流れに身をまかせることもできず

ハワイの人々やその状況、問題や考え方を理解しようとして
またハワイのオキナワンの人々について理解しようとして
それでも安全な第三者である自分の立場に安穏としていることに気づきながらもどうもできず

遠く沖縄のことを思っては
それでもなお追いつけないものの多さに愕然として

わざわざここにいる意味とはなんぞやと思っていた矢先、

ハワイにきて学んだものの多さに気付かされました。
見えてきたものも、つかめない焦燥感も、無知の知なんですよね。
自分がここで「知った!」と感じていることは、これまでに存在すら気づいていなかったものであり、
それ以外のものに関しては、「自分が何を知らないか」を気付かされているものだと思います。

逆に、「ここで学ぶ」ことはここに「染まる」ことじゃない。
私には私のバックグラウンドがあるし、何と、誰と接してどんな化学反応がおこるかわかったもんじゃない。
ここまでやらなきゃ、とか、ここまでできなきゃ、とか責任や義務を感じるものではないんですよね。

私の旅は私に大切な物を選びとる旅なんですね。
その価値判断は他の人がそれぞれその人にとってどうかを決めていくだけだと思います。
双方にとっての価値が合致したらそれは共有になるんじゃないかと思います。

まずは今日のKupunaの知識に感謝します。
私もまずこう書き残すことから始めてみます。


*International Graduate Student Conference 自体もすごく面白そうなのでUH行ける方はリンクをクリックしてプログラムをみてみてください：)

Waiting for Winter

I cannot believe it's December. You know what, it's nearly 28-29C in the daytime here!
Now I know what tropical means.

It's holiday season, I can see christmas decoration and holiday sale everywhere,
but my winter has not come yet!
Not because of the climate but because of finals!
Finally I had 2 exams down, then just one paper to go. Since it assigned due friday, which is final day of the semester, eventually my semester got longest period.
Yet I swear it's fun though! The process of reconfirming my memory and connect, sometimes researching further information is quite meaningful:)
In addition, especially when you marked higher score than you expected, there's no doubt to say you did a great job!

Now, I just finished to write my whole essay and keep feeling writer's high in such a midnight...
Surprisingly, I did write 2953words, that is nearly 16,000 in character! feeling full of accomplishment, but it needed to be revised. well, I'll do it tomorrow. it's quite good to finish the draft one day before the due...I can have some space on my mind.
The paper is all about Okinawans in Hawaii and also mentioned the future, and possibility of whole Okinawan ethnic community in the world, including Okinawa itself.
Since I really helped myself to manage all of the information and analysis with some theories, I would like to share it somewhere...actually it must be here...after it has revised by my instructors.
I guess I will submit the Japanese version as my thesis for my seminar...
References here helps me a lot, and I have many many good curators who guide me a great resources and also fabulous ideas!

There's a lot more things to do in winter...it is actually around the corner.

What Okinawa mean to U?

I just talked to Shusaku Higa, one of TV/Radio personality in Okinawa. And got some questions about Okinawans in Hawai'i.

 @higashusaku:Hi! Is okinawan TV/radio personality in hawaii?How do hawaian like  Okinawan event?  Such as  talk show,pop/rock live and more.

Since those are related my current research and my concern, and I know some other persons are interested in Okinawans in Hawai'i, I will try to do my best to answer these question. This is just a rough writing so far. I'll write series of further reports!!

1.Okinawan TV/Radio personality in Hawai'i?
 It depends who do you means "Okinawan". In Hawai'i, there are tens of dozens of "Okinawans".
Some of them are descendants of immigrants, from 1st generation to 4th or 5th generation. There also be people from Okinawa recently, or people born/raised in Okinawa somehow. They could be a student like me or lots of scholars and who are working. You can easily find Okinawan name such as "Higa", "Oshiro", "Arakaki","Ige" and so on, but it's hard to tell they are local or not. The funny thing is there is also 3rd category "Okinawan at Heart" who people doesn't have any Okinawan ancestor, but involved in Okinawan community(-ies).

I know one person named "Uyehara" belongs local radio station KZOO which is a Japanese radio station in HI. (http://www.kzoohawaii.com/jp/announcers/) I guess she is one of Okinawan descendant.
There was used to be some Okinawan radio programs at 1960s and 70s, but I guess there's no more.

Then, in case of TV, I'm not sure if there are any Okinawan personalities. Even if there are, it doesn't equal to they are appealing as an Okinawan, or having a program something treats Okinawan issue.



2.How do Hawai'ian people like Okinawan event? (Such as talk show, pop/rock live and so on.)
 Well, the biggest Okinawan event here is Okinawan festival (click to jump my post about the festival), we have a lot of cultural show such as Ryu-bu and Eisa on the stage, also one can enjoy Andagi, Okinawa soba, Tebichi on the food stall.
Here in Hawai'i, as far as I've seen, "Okinawa" usually symbolized as "Okinawan Culture", that is more traditional thing (not as you imagine what "Okinawan" pop/rock music). I could say same thing for other local people here who is not "Okinawan".

Some of performances are mixture with Hawai'ian, American and also Japanese culture. You can see  they are dancing Eisa with Hip-Hop music, Hula with "Nada-sousou" (sang in Hawai'ian!), dancing Bon-dance with Okinawan songs! It can be a kind of "pop"!
 There are also some other chances to see performer from Okinawa, we had Miyagi Mamoru as a guest of the festival. (I'm not sure he is sort of Rock?) Yet I think most of them are not pop/rock but more traditional thing like Hana-warabi. Guest from Okinawa represents "Okinawan Culture" will always quite welcomed. There are a lot of young Okinawan descendants who eager to learn Okinawan culture and language. Yet it's true they are American at first, also there are people thinks they don't need to learn.

 Also, of course a lot of people are interested in current Oknawan culture. I know a high-school girl  who really loves HY! There's no difference with a girl in Okinawa:) Yet these examples are not dominant.In addition, it's true there are very considerable people about current Okinawan political, economical, and social issue! Perhaps these people are very limited that who can connect with current Okinawa. Basically what they mean "Okinawa" is "Okinawan Culture" and it's almost equal as "Traditional", which is easily symbolized.


I hope we can connect them in current Okinawa more. And also we need know each other more.
I wish I can do something in next World's Uchinanchu Taikai.

mmm...I know these explanations are not enough and I wanna/should talk more!
I'll keep writing/recording/reporting things about Okinawans in Hawai'i, and how can we connect each other. There will be good chemistry I believe!

A week before Thanks giving

Here comes beautiful Saturday again, woke up a bit late and time for doing my laundry.
Thunderstorm and heavy rain from last midnight has already gone away, now I enjoying gentle warm sunshine and breeze coming from my window. I think I'm getting my pace of living here. Since I know it doesn't necessary to haste myself, house chore won't bother me no more, and being enjoy weekends with no plan. Actually, there are some plans, yet still unorganized, I just let it being flexible so far.

Well, I noticed that I am dreaming in English these days, still partially though. Basically, people who speak in english in my real life would speak in english, but suddenly other people who usually uses Japanese break into speak in english. Today, I had a dream that I'm in a classroom, then one of my acquittance start to give a speech in english with perfect pronunciation. I never heard him speaking in english, and I'm sure the voice was completely someone else's. I was just amazed, and then I cannot remember what the topic was.

If you let me analyze this fact a little, it could be evidence that my brain started thinking in english. Also, I feel I'm becoming feeling comfortable to speak and listening in english, reading and writing as well. I believe such dream comes from my unconsciousness. This is absolutely a good sign. At the same time, I was motivated to keep writing my blog in english believing me of my accomplish:)

Okay, the wash machine sounds finished his job. The clock told me another afternoon is coming.
I'll have a busy long holiday weekend in next week; Thanksgiving is coming! There will be no turkey dinner, no black friday, but Volcano, lava and hot-spring in Big Island is waiting for me.
I have just 4days to go. There's no time to waste, and there was no time I'd been wasted.

Veteran's Day

I'm kinda writing high today...

It's Veteran's Day holiday today, that is for honor of retired military personnel.
Since I came in Hawai'i, I realized there are many military discounts or free admission or something like that in museum or even in a garment shops. And finally, veteran's day.
mmm, basically, I don't feel like I'm in the U.S. in everyday life, but this is an example what reminds me it's U.S. here.

Well, anyways, I had a good calm holiday.
Feeling free as alone, went Barnes and Noble for the first time.
They're entirely in christmas moods, their proposal of presents for kids are quite interesting.
Those are compose of tools like hena arts or kits for making own pinhole camera and so on. It gives children fun, also educative, and really creative! I wish I could take a photo.
Browsing book shops always inspires me a lot. I can satisfied with just looking around title on the books, and great designs. And also I love the cozy atmosphere of American book shop! I wanna enjoy a book in the cafe inside someday=)

Book Off in Shirakiya was really Japanese...Actually, Shirakiya itself are real japanese.
I was happy to find japanese 新書 (I donno how to call it) there. I think I'll go there again someday to  stand an read a book up...lol.

Thanks giving and Christmas are coming soon.
I'm going to Big Island on thanks giving holidays!
NY and SF on christmas holiday maybe...?

I'll just push myself, more advance, advance.

WUB Conference

past 16 and 17, I attend the WUB conference and beach camp.

16th
have a relaxing time at Hawai'i kai beach house first...
playing sanshin and ukulele,
meeting 'Uchinanchu' around the world...
with beautiful sunset,
feeling brisk ocean breeze on your face...

then, discussed on what's uchinanchu I.D. is in the conference, on the next day.



We are divided to 9groups, and each person in a group represents his/her group.
I was a bit surprised because I've been thought they are already know each other, or know what each organization doing, but not.

Then I realized how Okinawan cultural action are energetic and huge yet not organized well at the same time.
We started with the question; "what is the Uchinanchu Spirit is?".
Not surprisingly, answers from each members and also groups are almost similar. The answers are like "Ichariba Chode (Once meet together, we are brothers and sisters)", "Chimu gukuru (Heart + Spirit), and that is something cannot see, but feel.

Their main concern is how can we inherit this spirit.
Importance of "Okinawan Culture" was of course insisted, especially Music and Dance.
Some supposed to open Okinawan museum and place a curator to make their next generations feel connect them into the materials.

WUB is going to collect all recording of this conference, and make some proposals for next "Okinawan Taikai (世界のウチナーンチュ大会)" in 2011.

I'll be there n help something hopefully...!