We spoke to three Okinawan residents in Australia about their memories of the Lunar New Year, an Okinawan performing arts festival held in Gold Coast, and an art project they decided to participate in to keep Okinawan people's memory in Australia alive.
The three interviewees were Ayaka Teruya, a mother of two, Riona Akamine, an Okinawan traditional dancer, and Yasue Taggart Yasue, president of the Sydney Okinawa Prefectural Association (Kenjinkai) and leader of a Sydney-based eisa (Okinawan dance) group, Eisa Champroo.
On 25 January, as Lunar New Year's Day approached, 'Power of Okinawa' performing arts festival was held in Gold Coast. It was organized jointly for the first time by the four Okinawan prefectural associations in Australia: Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.
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オーストラリアで再発見する沖縄の「DNA」、旧正月で増す鮮やかさ
SBS Japanese
03/02/202515:33
The Sydney Okinawa Kenjinkai is also participating in an artist Mayu Kanamori's project ‘When You Call My Name’ to commemorate those from Okinawa who lie in the Japanese Cemetery in Cowra, New South Wales. In the interview, Ms Taggart tells us why she decided to take part in this project.
Performing Eisa in Sydney this weekend
During the Lunar New Year, there are more opportunities to see Okinawan performers showcasing their culture at community events.
Sydney-based eisa (Okinawan dance) group Eisa Champroo will perform at the Sydney Lunar Festival at the Sydney Town Hall on 8 February.
Listen to SBS Japanese Audio on Tue, Thu and Fri from 1pm on SBS 3.
Replays from 10pm on Tue, Thu and Sat on SBS1.
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