Argentina Okinawa Kenjin-Kai celebrates 60th Anniversary

Argentina Okinawa <em>Kenjin-Kai</em> celebrates 60th Anniversary

At the 60th Anniversary Celebration for the Argentina Okinawa Kenjin-Kai held on August 25 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, participants pledged to pass on the Uchinanchu spirit.


August 27, 2011 Hisao Miyagi of Ryukyu Shimpo, Buenos Aires, Argentina

On August 25 local time, at the Kenjin-Kai Hall, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 250 people of Okinawan origin attended the Argentina Okinawa Kenjin-Kai’s celebration of the 60th anniversary of its foundation. The Okinawa Kenjin-Kai was organized by people of Okinawan origin in 1951, the year that the family reunification program for Okinawan immigration to Argentina recommenced after having been suspended after the Second World War. At the ceremony, the participants paid tribute to the achievements of the people involved in its establishment and vowed to continue passing on the Uchinanchu spirit to the younger generation.
　
At the ceremony, on the Argentina side there was Teiji Arakaki, the president of Kenjin-Kai and others and the Okinawa Prefecture side included Yoshiyuki Uehara, Deputy Governor; Yoshikazu Tamaki, Vice Chairman of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly; Toshiyasu Shiroma, Chairman of the Okinawa Municipalities Association and Mayor of Haebaru Town. Chairman Arakaki said, “We are grateful to the founders of the organization for their achievements. We will provide leadership as we move forward, hoping to create and enjoy greater prosperity for the community.”

At the gathering, an Eisa parade was performed by the members of the Argentina branch of the Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko and the Okinawa prefectural South America Caravan, and the participants were encouraged to join to the 5th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival in Okinawa. At the end of the ceremony everyone took part in the kachashi dance.

(English Translation by T&CT, Mark Ealey）

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