Hiroshi Yamauchi is a second generation Okinawan born in Los Angeles and is one of the key people in the US preparations for the World Youth Okinawan Festival, which is scheduled to be held in July 2013. I tried to contact him several times to arrange an interview, but he was in the middle of tax season and worked as a certified public accountant, so he seemed to be very busy. He sent me an email saying, "I'm sorry, I'll call you," but the call never came. However, he was so polite that I waited patiently for him to get back to me.

"We provide information and advice to international students from Okinawa," says Hiroshi Yamauchi.

And then, one Sunday afternoon, I finally got to meet him at the office of the Okinawa Kenjinkai of North America. When I went to where he was told to be, I found him, who was in the process of cleaning up after the event, concentrating on washing a large pot. I was impressed by his dedication to the Kenjinkai activities despite his busy schedule, and then the interview began.

"When did you first become involved with the prefectural association? Since I was a child, my parents, who are from Okinawa, would bring me to prefectural association picnics and sports days. I also always waited at the prefectural association hall for my younger sister to finish practicing Ryukyu dance. However, at that time I never thought I would be as actively involved as I am now."

However, a turning point came when she was in high school. "I had always thought of myself as American, but when I looked in the mirror, I saw that I was Japanese. And my roots are in Okinawa. Looking in the mirror, I realized that I had to cherish those roots and live my life that way."

He also visited the Okinawa Prefectural Association in Brazil. "The leaves floating in the pond in the garden of the Prefectural Association Hall actually represent the topography of Okinawa." Hiroshi was also impressed by the fact that Okinawans in Brazil spoke Japanese fluently, just like in Portugal.

"If I could only speak English, I wouldn't be able to communicate with them. But I can speak Japanese, inherited from my parents who are from Okinawa. Our common language connected Uchinanchu from different countries."

You should be more confident

Hiroshi, now 35, has been working hard to build a network among young people for the past 15 years. He has not only actively helped to connect the new generation of Americans born in the United States, but also young people from Okinawa who are studying abroad in the United States. It is these international students who connect Okinawa and the United States. If they get used to life in America and return to Okinawa with a fulfilling study abroad experience, it will surely have a positive effect on the relationship between the two countries in the future. This is the opposite of what happened with Yamauchi Yuko, who appeared in the previous article, who returned to the United States after staying in Okinawa for six years and is now acting as a bridge between Okinawa and the United States.

With this future in mind, Hiroshi has been providing information and advice to international students from Okinawa.

He also reveals that his interactions with them have given rise to certain concerns.

"I want them to have more confidence. There seems to be a lack of confidence, and a fear of challenges. This is not limited to young people; even though Okinawa has great products, they are reluctant to sell them overseas. Also, Okinawa should take advantage of its more favorable geographical advantages than mainland Japan. It is close to Korea, China, Taiwan, and the Philippines, and in terms of location, it has great opportunities. I strongly hope that I can encourage the young people of Okinawa to be more self-aware, and that they will change Okinawa's future."

Hiroshi's belief that Okinawa should have more confidence is also rooted in the achievements of Okinawan pioneers who are active in America. For example, the late Masayasu Yamauchi, founder of Hinoichi Tofu, who popularized tofu throughout America, and who donated one of the three buildings owned by the Okinawan Association of North America. Hiroshi also mentioned Katsuya Uechi, the representative of the Katsuya Group, which operates sushi restaurants and izakayas in the Los Angeles area, and a current chef.

Following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Hiroshi will continue to be actively involved in the activities of the prefectural association, alongside his busy day job. His first mission is to ensure the success of the youth conference in July. Preparations are already in the final stages.

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2013 World Youth Uchinanchu Festival
18-21 July 2013
Torrance, California, USA

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© 2013 Keiko Fukuda