Uchina Guchi Experience Okinawan dialect!!
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Happy New Spring!
I hope this Dragon year brings you good health and prosperity! According to the Asian Zodiac, people born under the year of the Dragon appear to have magical traits; they are strong and full of energy and forever on the go!
OAANY President, Teiko Yonaha Tursi
● Spring Party: Sunday 12 p.m. April 22, 2012 @ American Legion Post 116
Address: 1165 River Road, Edgewater, N J 07020 Tel: 201-886-9705
(Only a couple of Miles from Mitsuwa Store on the same side) / No alcohol Please.
● As usual it is a potluck party.
● For Performance: (For the Spring Party) Volunteers! Please Contact Sayaka B. in the form below.
● For Scholarship – Contact Kazue C. in the form below.
 OAANY held a welcome party on February 25th, 2012 for the distinctive Uchina ladies who were on the way back from Puerto Rico after their special mission. With Ms. Suzuyo Takazato as the leader, the group attended the International Women’s Network in Puerto Rico from February 19 to 24, 2012. The group was in NYC for only one full day as they returned to Okinawa. The Welcome Party Announcement was sent out to the members/friends that had access to Email and telephones in NYC and the vicinity. It was decided on very short notice.
From Left: Hiromi Minamoto, Emiko Utsumi, Suzuyo Takazato, Harumi Miyagi, Sachika Takara, Atsumi Ikemiyagi, Manami Tasaki
The announcement read: “Let’s broaden our knowledge about our Uchina~ and see what’s going on in our homeland, especially certain activities among Uchina- Women on the island.” There were 30 members and friends gathered, mostly youth.
Uchina-women have become strong and practical. They are firm in their opinions and they take actions without depending on men’s decisions. They are able to advocate for themselves and protect their children. In the past it was culturally and socially expected for women to shunt their problems, but now they tackle their problems Head-On, even to the International Level. Bravo!
Teiko Tursi
 I feel really bad about the earthquakes and the tsunami that hit Japan. I wish I could help them. My 3rd grade classmates talked about it on the morning of Friday, March 11th. Many people that suffered the disaster died. People went in hospitals and looked on a list of people who died to see if their loved ones passed away. I see children looking for their parents and parents looking for their children. I feel sad and painful to see that.
The Japanese were quiet and did what they needed to do in that horrible situation. My Obachan (Teiko) said that some scenes remind her of her time in World War II and after the war. She was 3 going 4 at the time.
Nuclear Power plants still have serious problems. I watch on the news to see if anything is better in their condition. Radiation poisoning is in the ocean now. I just hope it’s safe enough for people and sea animals (Marine mammals, fish, sea vegetables, etc…). I pray for Japan every day.
Kayla Colbridge is a 3rd grader from NJ.
To: Members and Friends,
 Thanks to everyone for their generous contributions to date. While our fund-raising campaign continues and remains strong, we have recently begun discussions regarding the destination of our organization’s donation.
After careful consideration, we have decided that the majority of our collection will be sent directly to “The Okinawa Refugee Receiving Team” The team is set up as an emergency Relief Organization. A portion of our organization’s contributions will be forwarded to the disastrous areas in Japan via the New York Lions Club.
 As many of you may know, during the past several weeks as Japan’s crisis has unfolded, many disaster survivors have relocated to the prefecture of Okinawa. Despite the many socio-economic hardships Okinawans already face, our people have generously embraced our unfortunate brothers & sisters from the mainland of Japan. By the end of May, Okinawa will be receiving 3,000 survivors from those disastrous areas. The traveling fees and shelters for those refugees will be paid by Okinawa. Okinawa is the smallest area (0.6% of Japan), and the highest in both unemployment and poverty. It is our hope that our organization’s contributions will be utilized by those relocated families who are in need. This is our current plan as of 4-16-11.
Everyone remember! Our OAANY is a Non-Profit-Organization (NPO). All donations are tax deductable. Receipts will be distributed to all who have contributed. Your continued support is appreciated!!!
Please write check payable to: O. A. A. N. Y.
Teiko Tursi, President of OAANY
 Suibi was the restaurant where the current tightly knit Mo-Ashibi-Gundan traces back its origins…
Unfortunately, this once popular Okinawan restaurant is closed, but its Uchina~ spirit lives on with the friendships and Ichariba Chode- family! Professional Photographer,Tokio Kuniyoshi and Jamie Holland working at a Japanese trading company, both met at Suibi in New York.
The two became acquaintances and exchanged information. They met on a few occasions and each time brought more friends who were Okinawan and wanted to hang out with other Okinawans in New York.
There were many different walks of life that came together, artists, professionals, students…but they all shared the urge to meet other Okinawans and get a taste of “home” when they were all so far away and trying to make it out in one of the largest cities in the world. The friendships grew into more of a family and everybody got together to party, celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, a coming-of-age ceremony, and recently to organize a fundraiser to support the relief and recovery of Japan.
The Mo-Ashibi-Gundan were just a bunch of young Okinawans hanging out together and during a wedding, a few of the Mo-Ashibaas were seated next to the official OAANY members. There was definitely a connection and an interest to interact! Coincidentally, there was an OAANY gathering the next day and a few of the Mo-Ashibaas attended. It was amazing for the Mo-Ashibaas to see such an official organization, full of Okinawans!
Today, there are about 5~10 Mo-Ashibaas who are a part of the OAANY out of a total of 30! Regardless, if there is something going on, the Mo-Ashibi-Gundan will come together to have a great time!
The Mo-Ashibi-Gundan has a private Facebook Group page and also have e-mail chains to update each other of events. The Mo-Ashibi-Gundan also reaches out to people of other prefectures, cultures, countries, race, to share the great love of Okinawa.
 Mrs. Sueko Nakachi, whose husband, late Masao Nakachi, served as the President for OAANY in the middle of 1990s.
He worked as the director of Information Department in the United Nations and he was a great mentor to all of us. Here’s the message from Sueko san after interval of eight years.
“Dear members, I have been back to attending the Kenjinkai since the picnic last year. It’s been eight years—. I really feel like returning to my missed parents’ home.
I experience warmness from being with everyone and it gives me a sense of relief. When I think of those friends that passed away during the past several years, I feel sad and miss them greatly. However; the new youth group’s activity is harmoniously in presence and seems so remarkable to me. I go home with a lively spirit and as I recall their laughter, and then I become courageous and feel positive about the coming day. Please everyone; we must keep our friendships in long coming future.
Kongo tomo Yoroshiku Onegai shimasu !
“Yahata” san family of six has been relocated to Naha, Okinawa from Fukushima, Japan. The family consists of two little girls (8 & 9) holding their new book bags; their parents and grandparents are behind them; the far left is their Okinawan friends.
November 7th – Celebrating Seniors Day
At: Golden Unicorn: (212-941-0911) 18 East Broadway (at Catherine Street) NYC, NY 10002
December 12th – The End of Year Party
at JAA/NikkeiJin KaiKan
15 W. 44th St. Fl-11, NYC, NY 10036
Hello everyone! Fall is finally here. We had our annual picnic on September 5th. We were blessed with beautiful weather and plenty of delicious food. Above all, the participants exceeded the limited number for the site. There were almost 200 people and this was the record for our association. It is possible that the next picnic in 2011 may be held in a new location. ♪♪♪ ･･･
The following is an announcement for the next two meetings:
★November 7th (Sunday) “Keiro-kai” 敬老会 (Celebrating Seniors Day)
For Over 80 yr-oldsの会員たちを祝ってChinatownで行ないます。
At: Golden Unicorn: (212-941-0911) 18 East Broadway (at Catherine Street) NYC, NY 10002
The directions to Golden Unicorn, 18 East Broadway:
Option 1: Take F Subway to East Broadway Station. Go upstairs and take M9 Bus on East Broadway to Catherine Street…
Option 2: Take M 103 Bus (Lexington Avenue bus) to Bowery and Bayard St. cross Bowery to Catherine St. Restaurant is next to Cathay Bank.
Time: 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. 3rd Floor, Wheelchair accessible
Under 80 yr-oldは会費制:＄35 each (Including Tax and Tip)
有料駐車場は近くに4ヶ所; At least 4 toll parking lots nearby, Street parking is impossible in that area.
Parking:“Champion Confucius” at 2-68 Division St. New York, NY, 10001 Rate:30min.$6.00 60min.$15.00 Up to 3 hrs $ 21.00 Up to 4 hrs $ 26.00
Day Light Savings Time Start on that day !
It’s a private room and we can sing, dance and play Sanshin. Hurray!!!
Please JOIN us and let’s celebrate the seniors. 敬老会で祝いましょう!
★December 12th (Sunday) from 12 noon to 5 Bo-nenKai
The end of year party at JAA/NikkeiJin KaiKan
15 W. 44th St. Fl-11, NYC, NY 10036
忘年会：日系人会館にて12時からです。
I believe the Junior Study Tour has been a very meaningful experience for me and the other chaperones as well. I don’t think a lot of people can have the opportunity to participate in special occasions such as this one.
I would say it was a great job having everybody including the participants,
staff and chaperones join their hands together to bring the Junior Study
Tour to a great success. Nevertheless, the best achievement we had was the bond that was created between every single participant that came to the tour.
The Junior Study Tour was a good chance for me to try new things. Also, I got to realize how beautiful Okinawa was. It was my second time visiting Okinawa, but the trip there, gave me more reasons to like Okinawa even more. Whether it was the nature study or walking in the city, everywhere we would go made me think to myself “I want to come back here.”
The island is just a perfect place to live. The one interesting thing is that, I was not the only person feeling that way. I find it very nice how all the other chaperons and participants were feeling the same way about Okinawa. Some participants were there for the first time in their life, and some people had been to Okinawa before but still, there was a lot about Okinawa that they didn’t know about. So again, whenever we learned something new during the tour, we would all laugh together, or get sad together. Whatever it was we felt or we were doing, we were always together.
I got to learn a lot of things during the Junior Study Tour. I got to realize a lot of things, and also found some things in myself that I should improve. It was just a rare experience full of positive things. I know that this experience is going to help me become a person I need to be. I will never forget I was part of this Junior Study Tour. I would like to become a person that someday could give back a lot for Okinawa. And if there’s anything I can do, I will do it with all my best for Okinawa.
 It was an honor for me to have been able to participate as a chaperone for the Junior Study Tour 2010. I want to thank all the people in charge of the Junior Study Tour, the staff, chaperones, and last but not least, all the wonderful participants for giving us wonderful moments during the whole tour. Thank you JST 2010!
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Thanks Ivan, for your multi-lingual ability and initiative. Your unique talent was acknowledged and received praise from the Okinawan government. We are so proud of you being part of our association, Ivan san. Gokuro-sama deshita.
From OAANY
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