LIHUE — At 8:15 a.m., Aug. 6, 1945, Hiroshima became victim to the atomic bomb. Three days later, on Aug. 9, another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. In total, more than 200,000 people were killed, and thousands more went on to survive in a world of health problems caused by the atomic bombs.
Mokuto Shiki, or a silent prayer, officiated by Rev. Kohtoku Hirao of the Waimea Shingon Mission will honor the victims of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki tragedies at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Happiness Planting Center in the former Immaculate Conception School across from the Isenberg Park.
The prayer that will be attended by special guests from Kauai residents from the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will be accompanied by a Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Exhibition and will open the free “Reiwa Gannen: Beautiful Harmony to the World” that is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event celebrates Japan’s new era of Reiwa.
“Reiwa” is translated as “Beautiful harmony,” and “Gannen” means “first year”, said Art Umezu of Music of Kauai, and the Japan coordinator and translator under former mayor Bernard Carvalho.
The new era started May 1, 2019 when Prince Naruhito became the new emperor of Japan following 31 years of Heisei era under his father, Emperor Akihito.
The day will be flavored with taiko performances by the Joyful Noise ensemble along with hula by Rose Tatiana Warken Ceballos, and a performance by The Sacred Earth Choir.
Kauai singer Juno Apalla, the lead actress in the Kauai musical production of “Miss Saigon,” will debut “Beautiful Harmony,” a theme that Japan shares with the world. Julia Makepa, winner of several Koloa Plantation Days Ukulele in Paradise competitions at Keoki’s Paradise, will dedicate “Maluhia” to all those people standing up for Mauna Kea with the Thirty Meter Telescope issues.
An origami, or Japanese paper folding, craft table will be set up where people can fold Orizuru, or paper cranes, and create omikuji, or fortune papers, that will be used during the upcoming Matsuri celebration that will continue the Reiwa Gannen: Beautiful Harmony theme.
A limited number of custom Reiwa Gannen commemorative shirts will be available.
A booth featuring green tea and Japanese baked goods will be available along with local food and beverages. During the celebration of the Reiwa era, Nicole Sakurai, representing El Cantare Foundation, will deliver words about global peace, and the planting of a ceremonial Reiwa tree contributed by Kauai Nursery and Landscaping in the center’s garden will close the event.
Reiwa Gannen: Beautiful Harmony to the World is produced by El Cantare Foundation with support from the Kauai Japanese Cultural Society, and Music of Kauai.
Information: 635-7127, or visit www.elcantarefoundation.org.
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Dennis Fujimoto, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
