Archive for the Culture and Arts Category

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Preserving the craft, craftsmen learn to plaster traditional Ryukyuan red-tiles

Preserving the craft, craftsmen learn to plaster traditional Ryukyuan red-tiles

December 6, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

On December5, the Prefectural Ryukyu Aka-gawara Plastering Cooperative held a training course on plastering Ryukyu aka-gawara, or red earthen roof tiles, for plasterers from all over Okinawa, at the Prefectural Vocational Ability Development Association located in Nishi, Naha City. The course objective is to train new talent to preserve the traditional Okinawan scenery of earthen red roof tiles.

 

The participants worked in...

 

10,000 eisa dancers put together energetic performance

10,000 eisa dancers put together energetic performance

 

August 6, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

The 24th Ten Thousand Person Eisa Dance Parade was held at the Kokusai Street in Naha City in the afternoon on August 5.

With this year’s theme, “traditional versus creative,” 4,000 performers from 62 groups including youth...

Sanshin grand master Terukina to receive 2016 HUOA’s legacy award

Sanshin grand master Terukina to receive 2016 HUOA's legacy award

September 3, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Hawaii United Okinawa Association (HUOA), led by President Tom Yamamoto, will give its 2016 legacy award to National Living Treasure of Japan Choichi Terukina, 84, who lives in Naha City. The HUOA presents the legacy award annually to honor individuals who...

National treasure from Ryukyu Kingdom era displayed

National treasure from Ryukyu Kingdom era displayed

April 29, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Naha City Museum of History started displaying a national treasure from the Ryukyu Kingdom era, called “Tamamookanmuri (crown jeweled with balls),” on April 29. During the Ryukyu Kingdom era, kings wore the crown for ceremonies. The crown was displayed...

Okinawan student wins first-prize in international piano competition’s university division

Okinawan student wins first-prize in international piano competition’s university division

January 11, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

The 17th International Chopin Piano Competition in Asia took place on January 8 in Yokohama. Keigo Teruya, a 19-year-old freshman student at Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts whose hometown is Nanjo City, Okinawa, won first-prize in the university division....

New York-based artist Yuken Teruya: Make Okinawan protest movement cultural heritage

New York-based artist Yuken Teruya: Make Okinawan protest movement cultural heritage

December 24, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

New York-based artist Yuken Teruya is known for Okinawan traditional bingata dye works, including one featuring parachuters, fighter aircraft, Osprey and dugong in a beautiful design. In an interview with freelance journalist Chota Takamine, the Okinawan artist...

Ryukyu Shimpo wins Ishibashi Tanzan Memorial Journalism Award

Ryukyu Shimpo wins Ishibashi Tanzan Memorial Journalism Award

December 11, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On December 11, a presentation ceremony of the 15th Ishibashi Tanzan Memorial Journalism Award was held in Tokyo. The Ryukyu Shimpo’s running story on the right of self-determination for Okinawa won the award in the Public Service division. Ryukyu Shimpo...

Okinawan cherished actor Tomi Taira dies at 87

Okinawan cherished actor Tomi Taira dies at 87

December 6, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

On December 6, actor Tomiko Taira, known as Tomi Taira, died of respiratory failure caused by blood poisoning. Taira was from Naha.

When she was 13 years old, Taira joined the Kojiro Onaga troupe in Ishigaki. Along with her husband Susumu, she also participated...

Team Wakat-da wins gold award at 2015 World Eisa Competition

Team Wakat-da wins gold award at 2015 World Eisa Competition

September 23, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

The 2015 World Eisa Competition sponsored by Urasoe City held its main event, the original eisa contest, on September 22 at National Theatre Okinawa in Urasoe City. Tijinshu Wakat-da from Urasoe City won the group’s grand first prize. CHURASA from Itoman...

Blind Student Mitoya chases her dream to be a Sanshin singer

Blind Student Mitoya chases her dream to be a Sanshin singer

June 9, 2015 Ryota Nakamura of Ryukyu Shimpo 

A 15-year old blind high school student fascinated by Ryukyuan traditional music is taking steps towards her dream of becoming a sanshin singer for Ryukyuan dance in Okinawa. In Tokyo, Misuzu Mitoya met a graduate of the Okinawa Prefectural University...