Second-generation Okinawan living in America wins drawing contest for her work “Okinawa of the World”

Second-generation Okinawan living in America wins drawing contest for her work “Okinawa of the World”

Kira Beckford (left) from the Okinawa Kai of Washington DC and Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki with Beckford’s award-winning picture – March 11, at the Okinawa Prefectural Office


March 14, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Teppei Ikeda

 

In a pre-event for the “7th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival,” which is scheduled to start October 30, Kira Beckford from the Okinawa Kai of Washington DC was given an award of excellence in a drawing contest held by Okinawa Prefecture for her drawing titled “Okinawa of the World.” Beckford’s artwork is going to be used in things like large-print posters.

Beckford’s mother is from Okinawa. The winning artwork has an Okinawan-themed background that includes Akagawara roofing tiles, whale sharks, and hibiscus flowers, and depicts a collection of smiling Okinawans from all over the globe. She said that for her drawing she, “wanted to show that the Uchinanchu DNA cross

The Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival picture contest winning entry, made by Kira Beckford from the Okinawa Kai of Washington DC

es the borders of many countries and connects people from different places.”

On March 11, there was a “digital award ceremony” held at the Okinawa Prefectural Office connecting online over video conference to the U.S., where Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki awarded Beckford an award certificate and medal. Governor Tamaki said, “The picture is full of imagery filled with Uchinanchu DNA, and shows the importance of bonds between people. It is fitting for this year’s festival, which will also mark the 50th anniversary of the reversion [of Okinawa from U.S. control back to Japan].

The contest collected pictures from July through December of last year from children who belonged to different Okinawa Kai organizations both in Japan and abroad, as well as students from schools in Okinawa. They received 50 submissions

(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

 

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