Loochoo nu Kwa Podcast

The University of Hawaiʻi, Hilo campus has been designated as the National Indigenous Language Center, and offers a graduate program in Indigenous Language Revitalization and Education through Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, the Hawaiian Language College.  Koutaro Yūji is the first student from Uchinā to receive his MA degree in the program and is continuing his studies to receive his PhD for Indigenous language revitalization and education.  Ka Haka ʻUla has become and essential resource for Indigenous language revitalization, as they share, connect and support many Indigenous communities form around the globe.  It has put Hawaiʻi on the map as the center for language revitalization work.  In this podcast, we talk with Koutaro about his experience and his continuing journey for renormalizing Uchināguchi.  

How do we open our eyes to be more connected to identity and to be able to take the responsibility to keep the connection to our ancestors, land, culture and language.  Sometimes it takes going away from the ancestral land to look from the outside.  Rinna is a student of Okinawa Christian University who is currently studying in Honolulu.  She hopes to deepen her understanding of Okinawa and help encourage others to decolonize and become empowered to reclaim true Ryūkyūan identity.

In many places, especially in Indigenous communities, Columbus Day or Discovererʻs Day is being replaced with Indigenous Peoplesʻ Day.  If we look at the background of "Columbus Day" or "Discovererʻs Day", if we really know and understand our histories, we can see that the observance is really a colonial erasure of Indigenous people, history and knowledge.  Letʻs look at who are the real discoverers as we look at who we are as Indigenous people.

Lots of discussion lately on social media on the topic of "Shimanchu".  We need to look at our identity and in how it is connected to our ancestral world view as indigenous people of Loochoo.  Our ancestors, like other indigenous people, didnʻt have a word for being indigenous because they understood who they were and didnt have people question where they came from.  When we begin to discuss and look at our true origins and what is connecte that makes us who we are we can revitalize our cultural identity with that connection to our ancestors and spiritual relationship tht is essential to who we are as indigenous children of Loochoo.

The youth riots in Okinawa on Thursday night sparked immediate condemnation from local communities and racial and hate speeches from mainland Japanese towards the youths who participated in the rare type of uprising.  For the country of Japan as a whole, this incident is almost unheard of, which made it hit national news in Japan.   While Japanese newspapers filled headlines with subtle accusations and stories lacking facts, Okinawa media have been quick to question the police authorities who have not been releasing information about the incident or the cause.As continued subjugation of Loochoo/Okinawa continues, so does the drop out rates, less than standard educational scores, increased single parent families, increase in local crime, economy that is forced to be dependent on hosting US and Japanese military. and democratic voice being stifled by the Japanese governments heavy hand for itʻs colonial agendas.This discussion looks at Thursdays incident with a lens that sees underlying disparities that have built up throughout Okinawaʻs history from the illegal annexation and overthrow of 1879, to the banning of local languages, assimilation policies, WWII and American occupation, and the "reversion" back to Japanese control.  These connect to the similarities of other colonized indigenous communities as we see and realize parallels in which we can also find strength and empowerment when we support each other, and in Okinawaʻs situation, help to open their eyes and minds to looking at the underlying problems which have festered and led to this kind of incident.......not to be condemned, but to begin asking questions, assessing, and finding ways to face the problems instead of ignoring or forcing handicaps to be in line with the norm.  This is a very difficult discussion, but I believe itʻs one that needs to be continued.  Ippee Nifeedeebiru for listening.

In this episode I talk with Ryan Ueunten whose journey to connect and take on the responsibility to help take care of the place he lives in while supporting and honoring the host people and culture of Hawaiʻi.  Ryan exemplifies the Okinawan values of our ancestors through his work and continued learning. 

"Njoo nu naaka, chaa natoibiigaya? "  "How is your relationships?"  "Naaka" is the Uchinaaguchi word for "relationships".  However, how much do we recognize or understand "relashionships" when it comes to who we are as indigenous Shimanchu?  How broad is our lens and what does it include?In relating to the relationships ad responsibilities we have inherited, this episode shares somethings to think about to help to broaden the perspective of "Relationships/ Naaka" to help strengthen that foundation of who we are.

These days we are surrounded and impacted by convenience.  How much do we understand and see our Loochooan/Okinawan identity?  By looking and listening...being more sensitive and connected to our ancestral lens and indigenous perspective, we can see and understand deeper about who we are and where we come from.  We just need to re-establish that indigenous perspective to see and hear through our ancestorsʻ eyes and ears.

Looking at Irei no Hi for us today and what it means.  The Memorial Day in Okinawa is observed each year on June 23.  We remember and pray for all victims of the war, especially our ancestors who were brutally sacrificed and whose memories live on today.  Survivors have shared their stories, but what is being done to make sure that these things never happen again?  Do we separate ourselves as diaspora or from the history and just take it in as a story?  The war continues in Okinawa with the US military occupation, Japanʻs continual forcing of the US and Japanese military burden, and discrimination.

Exciting and interesting discussion with Tatsuki Kohatsu who is a student from Okinawa studying at the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa.  He talks about his experiences during his interviews for research when working on his Masters thesis and also talks about the essential connection to place as Shimanchu.  He is one of the young up and coming warriors who is reclaiming voice for Okinawa.

In this episode, Keith Nakaganeku Shinshii talks story with us about his experience and connection to uta sanshin.  Keith grew up with sanshin in his family through his grandfather, who was a well known sanshin instructor.  His grandmother played kutu and also helped to support Keith in his journey through uta sanshin.  Listen also as Keith talks about a void he had in his life and how he discovered what it was.

Dane Nakama is a young up and coming artist in the Hawaiʻi scene and is just finishing up a show at the Hawaiʻi Theater Gallery in the heart of Honolulu.  Listen in as we discuss his art pieces and perspective on cultural identity and indigeneity as it connects to art and the art world.

In this episode we yuntaku (talk story) with Brandon Ufugusuku-Ing about Shimakutuba and how it connects to indigenous identity.  When we think of language, what do we think of?  Is it just words or is there something deeper than that?  How does our language and indigeneity connect us to other communities?  

I take a break this episode and talk with Norman Kanegusuku(Kaneshiro) Shinshii about Uta Sanshin.  For those of you who think of the sanshin as just a musical instrument, youʻll be in for a pleasant surprise.  Norman Shinshii goes into a deeper explanation about how the sanshin is an instrument that actually connects to relationships.  He also shares his candid thoughts and knowledge of what uta sanshin means to him and the changes it has gone through.  I hope you enjoy this informal talk story with Norman Shinshii.

Water is often taken for granted.  How many time have we thought about what if there was no water?  If we think about it, water is our connection to each other as we all come from water.  If we look at water, we can see itʻs various forms, just as we have different forms.  So much to learn from water, as our source of life and values, especially in these times as we journey to reclaim our identity.

Most of us have always supported and had some sort of advocacy for our ethnic culture and identity.  Has our advocacy went farther than that to some sort of engagement to put to action waht we support?   Iʻll be talking al little about that in this episode and sharing a story of  one of my favorite songs, "Tsuru Kame", which became even more meaningful after it was explained to me by 2 unforgettable Okinawan dance teachers.  Wishing all of you "Yii Soogwachi Deebiru!"

History holds both great things to be celebrated, but there are also many events which people would rather forget.  However, for many indigenous communities, we need to remember the tragedies and sufferings of history so it doesnʻt repeat itself.  By also understanding our histories, we can also find commonalities which can help to support each other, and also, many times, to bring us to understand ourselves and who we are in this current society.

As we begin our New Year of 2021 and prepare for the coming of the Year of the Ox next month, letʻs look at our responsibility we have for our spaces we live in, community, friends, family and for who we are as Shimanchu.  

Taking action to protect your native language, rights and history isnʻt always easy, especially when itʻs usually an uphill battle that takes sacrifice, time and courage.   In this episode, I am so excited to talk with a young warrior for her Shimanchu roots, Kaiya Yonamine.  Kaiya is the producer of the short film, "Our Islandʻs Treasure" which can be found on Vimeo.  This is one of the longer podcasts I have so far, but time flies as you listen to Kaiya share her thoughts and feeling about being a young protector for Okinawa.  Enjoy!

How do we understand compassion in relation to our engagement with others?  In this episode I look at how we need to look into who we are to understand compassion and to always realize where we come from in order to have "Nasaki".  We cannot just use words like "Chimuguikuru", "Yuimaaru" and such, without living it.  Our cultural values should not have an on and off switch and itʻs time we look at who we are to be able to emerge out of the pandemic in a better place than we were before.