Okinawa Association of Bolivia holds New Year’s party
Okinawan Bolivian students, Aina Ota (left in the front row) and Rina Shimabukuro(right in the front row) at a New Year's party held by the Okinawa Association of Bolivia. At Hola amigo in Asato, Naha on January 17.
January 19, 2014 Ryukyu Shimpo
On January 17, the Okinawa Association of Bolivia held a New Year’s party with Okinawan Bolivian students who are visiting Okinawa, in Naha. The Bolivian students are third generation Okinawan Bolivian and came to Okinawa with scholarships from the Okinawa Prefectural Government. Aina Ota has been studying Bingata, an Okinawan traditional resist dyeing since last April. Rina Shimabukuro has been hosted in Okinawa under the study program for children of Okinawan immigrants to overseas countries organized by Nanjo City since last December. Event participants celebrated the New Year and interacted with the students.
Ota is scheduled to stay in Okinawa for a year and is studying at a Bingata studio. Shimabukuro will stay for three months and is currently studying Okinawan traditional culture such as Ryubu or Ryukyuan classical dance, and sanshin. They are from Colonia Okinawa where many Okinawan Bolivians live. Ota said, “The spirit of ichariba chode (which in English means “once we meet, we are all brothers and sisters”) in Okinawa is applied to Bolivia as well.” Shimabukuro said, “I feel Okinawa has become urbanized. I would like to study Uchinaguchi (Okinawan language) because my grandparents can speak the language. I am surprised that many young Okinawan people cannot speak the language.”
The association held the event to encourage the students and to promote interaction between its members. They plan to hold the 11th Charity Golf Event, sponsored by Bolivia, on February 18. They will donate the earnings from the event to support students who will come from Bolivia to Okinawa.
(English translation by T&CT)
Previous Article:Asahi Shinbun feature article helps Kikukawa to encourage Okinawa under U.S military administration
Next Article:Charter flights between Thailand and Okinawa come into operation
[Similar Articles]
- International students of Okinawan descent want to expand network of Okinawa
- JICA to resume sending teachers to Bolivia
- Second-generation Okinawans appeal for continuation of Teachers Dispatch Program to Bolivia ― “We may lose the spirit of Uchina”
- Photographs: the 60th anniversary of Okinawan immigration to Bolivia
- Ceremony for the 60th anniversary of Okinawan immigration to Bolivia held
Webcam(Kokusai Street)
