Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura got an early start on holiday shopping. Her arms were filled with various items from one of the vendors at the Matsuri event hosted by the Kaua‘i Japanese Cultural Society and sponsored by the County of Kaua‘i,
Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura got an early start on holiday shopping.
Her arms were filled with various items from one of the vendors at the Matsuri event hosted by the Kaua‘i Japanese Cultural Society and sponsored by the County of Kaua‘i, Office of Economic Development and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority.
Among the items from Karin Panui’s booth, Yukimura had some of the small obi — Japanese sash — bags.
“This is the hot item for this year,” Panui said. “I had just a few to start with, but they’re almost all gone.”
Panui said she imports the silk obi from Japan and uses them to create the walk-about bags popular among women. Her big difference is that instead of charging in the $100 price range, the items she were selling were less than $20.
“In the old days, people used to practice Nihon Shishu a lot,” said Warren Takabayashi, of Wailua, who was demonstrating the art of silk embroidery at the Matsuri. “The women used this to mend their silk obi. But now, it’s mostly an art form and people do it for pleasure.”
The Japanese tradition on Hawai‘i began roughly 122 years ago in the plantations. Along with the labor they provided to Hawai‘i sugar plantations, they brought over a lifestyle which has been assimilated into the Hawaiian lifestyle.
Among these are the bon dance which brought the event to a close following a day-long series of traditional dance, hands-on activities and demonstrations of various aspects of the Japanese people.
One of the unique aspects of the Matsuri, which translates to mean “festival,” is the visit by residents from Kaua‘i’s Sister Cities in Japan.
“This year they have about 22 visitors including the Vice Mayor of Oshima and the equivalent of our Council Chair,” said Steven Nishimura, one of the Matsuri volunteers. “Last year, they only sent one person, so this is a welcome change.”
Along with the visitors who spend time sharing with visitors to the Matsuri, the Masafuji Ryo of Tokyo, Japan, presented a variety of traditional dance to the audience of the free event that was open to the public.
Art Umezu, the Kaua‘i Film Commissioner, took advantage of the opportunity to showcase artwork created by students on Oshima Island when the Hokule‘a visited Japan earlier in the year.
“The quality of the students work is outstanding,” Umezu said. “I wish there was a place where we could have it on display for a longer period so everyone can see and appreciate the artwork.”
Included among the collection were photographs submitted by Kikuyoshi Noguchi of Suo Oshima County that showed the Japanese reaction when the Hawaiian sailing canoe made its voyage there.
Umezu also had students manning a miniature version of the Ginza where shoppers could acquire specialty chopsticks and other novelty items that came from Japan.
The Japanese clubs from Waimea, Kaua‘i and Kapa‘a high schools as well as members of the Kaua‘i Community College club were spread out on the outside walkway, each club offering a hands-on activity for young children. Whether it was origami, or paper folding, or the more creative Musubi Madness where students — and adults — could work up a culinary creation centered around rice, a Japanese food staple.
Members of the Lihu‘e Kendo Federation were offering up special sushi creations as a prelude to their kendo demonstration, and more sampling of rice was available at the traditional mochi pounding demonstration, the mochi being enjoyed during special days in Japan.
The Kaua‘i Japanese Cultural Society was founded in 1985 following the Centennial of the arrival of Japanese to Hawai‘i. Rev. Koichi Miyoshi and other key members started the KJCS as a means to perpetuate the Japanese culture as well as foster goodwill and friendship between Japan and the United States of America, states an event program.
