Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/859/

Eisa: Modernity and Tradition (Spanish)

(Spanish) This has to do much with the origins of the group. What happened? The traditional eisa dance has not been lost in Japan, in Okinawa. Why? Each region of Okinawa, each locality within Okinawa has its own way of performing eisa. Therefore, we can say that these different styles pertain to some region. The eisa dance that [we perform], that generates Matsuri Daiko, pertains to everyone and no one at the same time. Why? Because it doesn’t come from a specific region, it comes from all parts of Okinawa and [it] always attracts, or tries to attract more supporters. Its primary motivation is to attract young people in order to make them identify with something attractive, while at the same time, as they are able to experience the culture [of Japanese dance], and become more interested in it, it is for this [reason] that the eisa is performed. It is for this [reason] that it [provides] an alternative to the traditional eisa. However, [it is] always within the dance [performance that] we try to preserve the traditional [forms], logically with some elements already choreographed, or of [preserving the] music, but that at the end the essence is always to transmit culture.


Date: September 14, 2007

Location: Lima, Peru

Interviewer: Harumi Nako

Contributed by: Asociación Peruano Japonesa (APJ)

Interviewee Bio

Akira Watanabe Osada was born on October 6, 1974, in Lima, Peru. His grandparents are Japanese immigrants who came to Peru from Fukushima Ken. An engineer, Akira is also director of the Peru branch of the Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Group. Founded in 1999, the branch grew out of the festivities commemorating Japanese immigration to Peru. Akira promotes the Okinawa eisa dance throughout the country. As a member of this group, Akira has performed quite often in Peru, which the most important of these performances have been the centennial celebrations marking Japanese immigration to Peru (1999), and the Centenary of Okinawense Immigration to Peru (2006). (September 14, 2007)

Yamano,Jane Aiko

Preserving traditional Japanese culture

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.

Yokoyama,Wayne Shigeto

Food growing up

(b.1948) Nikkei from Southern California living in Japan.

Yokoyama,Wayne Shigeto

Being on the outside

(b.1948) Nikkei from Southern California living in Japan.

Tanaka,Seiichi

Understanding Sansei taiko (Japanese)

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

Akiyama,Nosuke

Rediscovery of Japanese culture through taiko (Japanese)

Shishimai (Lion dance) and Taiko player with San Francisco Taiko Dojo.

Shimomura,Roger

Japanese American community life

(b. 1939) Japanese American painter, printmaker & professor

Yamasaki,Frank

Starting over after the war: denial of all things Japanese

(b. 1923) Nisei from Washington. Resisted draft during WWII.

Iino,Masako

Interest in Japanese migration studies (Japanese)

Tsuda College President, researcher of Nikkei history

Iino,Masako

The Japanese society reacts to Nikkei living in Japan (Japanese)

Tsuda College President, researcher of Nikkei history

Iino,Masako

Learning from Nikkei (Japanese)

Tsuda College President, researcher of Nikkei history

Kodani,Mas

The performing arts not for Nisei

Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.

Kodani,Mas

A Japanese American gardening dance

Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.

Hirabayashi,PJ

Feeling empowered by taiko

Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko

Glaser,Byron

Supporting art because it's essential

Illustrator and designer

Houston,Jeanne Wakatsuki

Her father as a typical Issei

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