The Hilo-based Japanese Community Association of Hawaii selected six Japanese cultural treasures who will be honored at Japanese Culture Day, or Bunka No Hi “Mottainai3,” on Saturday at Sangha Hall.
“We are honored to present these six humble, hardworking Japanese cultural treasures whose combined years of service is over 250 years,” said Jan Higashi, president of the organization.
The six to be honored are: Gary Kuroyama, judo; Nancy Nakaishi, Okinawan dance and culture; Hiroshi Shima, bonsai; Yoshiko Shimada, Japanese singer, vocal coach and teacher; Darryl “Sensei Buck” Wheat, judo; and Yuriko “Yuri” Yahiro, ikebana.
The honorees will participate in the short omikoshi parade at 9:30 a.m.
The grand marshal of the parade is Ethel Yonemitsu, who is 101 years old and the most senior member of the organization. For those who would like to help carry the revered omikoshi, call Paul Sakamoto at 938-9835 or 969-6437.
The formal program honoring the six cultural treasures will begin after the parade at 10 a.m. There will be a short recognition of senior members 90 years and older: Akira Fujimoto, Michio Iyo, Miyako Yamamoto Naylor and Takashi Nonaka.
Admission is free. There will be demonstrations, displays, entertainment, shichi-go-san kimono dressing and Mottainai recycled art contest winners will be announced and prizes awarded.
Calligraphy will be offered for a small fee. Experienced calligraphers will write your name and a phrase in Japanese.
There will be a food concession as well.
Continuing at 6 p.m. there will be a special performance by Buzen City, Fukuoka, Japan’s Kagura, Jazz Orchestra and Taiko.
The 36 performers include Buzen Kagura Group (11), Buzen Tengu Taiko (10) and New Swing Jazz Orchestra (15).
Higashi said the performers are very excited to have selected Hilo as their first performance outside Japan. There will be three parts to the evening’s program; Jazz Orchestra, Taiko and the Kagura, which will fuse the three groups together.
Admission is $10 (children 10 and younger free). Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Tickets are available at KTA Super Stores Puainako and Downtown Hilo. Tickets also will be sold during the day at Bunka No Hi at the Sangha Hall.
The Japanese Community Association of Hawaii, is a nonprofit organization with a membership of nearly 400 families.
The association was formed in 1972 to promote and perpetuate the Japanese culture and arts in East Hawaii.
JCAH membership application forms will be available during Bunka No Hi, or call 969-6437 or email jcahawaii@yahoo.com.
