Discussion Panel on Okinawa’s Challenges in the 21st Century was held in Tokioka Room (Moore 319) on April 11. The panel consisted of seven discussants, Dr. Gregory Smits (Associate Professor, History and Religious Studies, Pennsylvania State University), Mr. Robert Nakasone (World Uchinanchu Business Association), Ms. Yukari Akamine (MA candidate, Socialogy at UHM), Mr. Kyle Ikeda (PhD candidate, EALL at UHM), Dr. Joyce Chinen (Sociology, UHWO), Dr. Kyoko Hijirida (EALL, UHM), and Dr. Leon Serafin (EALL, UHM). About 45 people attended the panel discussion. Topics varied from culture and language education to U.S. military bases, and discussants and attendees exchanged their views and concerns about Okinawa-related issues. As the Center for Japanese Studies moves to establish the Center for Okinawan Studies at the UHM, the panel discussions provided valuable feedback for the planning.

UH Faculty Participate in the Uninanchu Taikai

Robert Huey and Gay Satsuma of CJS/UHM along with Kyoko Hijirida, Leon Serafim and Stewart Curry of EALL/UHM and Joyce Chinen of Sociology/UH-West Oahu participated in a symposium, “Okinawan Studies in Global Contexts, Collaborations between the University of the Ryukyus and the University of Hawai‘i” on October 15, 2006 at the Uchinanchu Taikai in Okinawa. They and fellow colleagues from the University of the Ryukyus presented projects and programs that focus on promoting the study of Okinawan Studies, such as new courses, the student-exchange program, and the Okinawan-English wordbook. Recently the University of the Ryukyus established a doctoral program in Okinawan Studies and has accepted students into the program. The University of Hawaii’s Board of Regents has approved funding for a Center for Okinawan Studies. The symposium highlighted current and future projects, and reinforced ties between the two universities.

Kalakaua Tour

Between May 15 and June 10, Dr. Lonny Carlile (CJS/Asian Studies) and Dr. Ricardo Trimillos (Chair of the Asian Studies Program) led 10 UH undergraduates on a Freeman Foundation-sponsored study tour that roughly followed the East Asian portion of the route taken by Hawaii’s King David Kalakaua’s during his 1881 circumnavigation of the globe. Because of its focus on the king’s tour and its focus on the late 19th Century the group was able to visit a number of sites off the usual tourist track during its 8 days in Japan. These included: the site of the old government guest house (Enryokan) within the grounds of the current Hama Rikyu gardens, the Shibusawa Memorial Museum where Kalakaua dined with the famous “godfather” of modern Japanese business, the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery (all in Tokyo), the Yokohama Archives of History with its focus on the post-Perry “kaikoku” period, Meijimura (Inuyama)’s vast collection of Meiji era architecture (including a transplanted Japanese Church from Hilo with Kalakaua era memorabilia), the sites of the sakoku period Dutch (Dejima) and Chinese “factories” in Nagasaki, and Carlile’s favorite Fukuoka Asian Art Museum with its admittedly non-Meiji collection of contemporary Asian art. The group also visited Beijing, Tianjin, Hong Kong, Macao, Bangkok, Johor Bahru (Malaysia) and Singapore.

Graduate Student Panel on Okinawan Identity

Japanese Studies Graduate Student Seminar Series presented a panel presentation and discussion with the title of “Manipulation, Contestation & Negotiation of Okinawan Identity: Language, Library Policy, and Media Representation” on April 28, 2005. This interdisciplinary panel examined how the contestation and negotiation over Okinawan identity in education reform, cultural policies, and media representations during the past century have been a function of Okinawa’s political relationship with mainland Japan and the United States.

Chie Fukuda (PhD student, EALL) discussed how the Ryukyuan “language” was conceptualized, deployed, and utilized by linguists, folklorists, administrators, politicians, and Okinawans since Japan’s implementation of assimilation policies at the end of the 19th century. Fujiko Uehara (MA student, Library Information and Science) addressed how Ryukyuan-American cultural centers, established and managed by the United States of Civil Administration of Ryukyu Islands (USCAR), were used as a tool for policy control through USCAR publications including propaganda magazines. Kinuko Maehara (MA student, Sociology) examined the representation of contemporary Okinawa in a popular NHK television drama, Churasan, based on her analysis of the audience reaction and commentary as found on the show’s official website.

A visiting scholar of EALL, Professor Masanori Nakahodo (Faculty of Law & Letters, University of the Ryukyus) joined the panel as a commentator.

Teleconference with Ryudai

On January 27, Bob Huey and Gay Satsuma represented CJS at a teleconference between UHM and East-West Center representatives, and over forty faculty, administrators and students at the University of the Ryukyus (Ryudai).  They described ongoing Okinawa-related activities currently sponsored by CJS, including the Sakihara Okinawan-English dictionary, and an Okinawan film project.

The conference was hosted on the Hawai'i side by East-West Center President Charles Morrison, and organized by Obuchi Fellows and Scholars currently at EWC, including Professors Ryuji Ishikawa, Minako Yogi, and Tamaki Osumi.  UH participants also included Dean Aviam Soifer (Richardson School of Law), Ms. Erika Lacro (Director of Student Services for the School of Travel Industry Management), and Professor Dennis Ogawa (Chair, Department of American Studies) all units that have joint projects with units at Ryudai.  The Obuchi Fellows and Scholars and other exchange students also gave reports on their activities.  Okinawa participants included Ryudai Vice President Hiroshi Kakazu, as well as counterparts for the UH units mentioned above.

The Obuchi program, jointly funded by the US and Japanese governments, and named for the late Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, brings Okinawan scholars to the East-West Center for extended research visits.  It is currently coordinated by Bob Nakasone, Director of Okinawa Projects at EWC. 

CJS Co-hosts JASH 5:01 with CBA

On September 23, 2004, the College of Business Administration and CJS hosted the monthly Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH) 5:01 reception at the John Young Museum in Krauss Hall. Named “5:01” because they begin one minute after “quitting time,” these events are held regularly by JASH to give its board and members an opportunity to network with various groups in the community. 

The September 5:01 marked the first time this event has been held at UH. Interim University President David McClain, Mânoa Chancellor Peter Englert, and Mânoa Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Neal Smatresk also participated, and guests were welcomed with remarks by Interim President McClain, JASH President Earl Okawa, former Ambassador Masaji Takahashi, Interim Dean of the College of Business James Wills and CJS Director Robert Huey. Benjamin Nerio, Curator of the John Young Museum, arranged for a special exhibition of pottery by a local issei potter Shugen Inouye, and several UHM faculty and Crown Prince Akihito alumni also joined the reception.

A Celebration of Aloha: Mahalo Nui Loa Dr. Sen

An event titled “A Celebration of Aloha: Mahalo Nui Loa Dr. Sen” was held on the UH Mânoa campus on July 20-21, 2004. The event opened with a lecture on the way of tea by Dr. Genshitsu Sen at the Architecture Auditorium which was filled with people from the UH and local communities as well as from Japan. In his lecture, Dr. Sen talked about his experience serving tea to dignitaries including Prime Minister Koizumi, President Bush and President Halonen of Finland as well as about the relationship between Tea and Zen, Confucianism and Daoism. Following Dr. Sen’s lecture, a tea demonstration was held. In the demonstration, former UH President Fujio Matsuda, assisted by Senior Associate Dean of School of Medicine Satoru Izutsu, served tea to the current Acting UH President David McClain, UHM Chancellor Peter Englert and CJS Director Robert Huey. In the afternoon of July 20, tea and sweets were served by UH students at the Jaku’an Tea Hut and on the East-West Center lawn.

On July 21, CJS Director Robert Huey delivered a lecture titled “Waka and Tea” and East-West Center President Charles Morrison delivered a lecture titled “Public Diplomacy and the Quest for Peace.” This event was co-sponsored by UH Outreach College, Center for Japanese Studies, East-West Center, Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu, and Urasenke Foundation of Hawaii.

Sen Chair Candidates Deliver Lectures

Owing to the upcoming retirement of Dr. Paul Varley, Sen Soshitsu XV Professor of Japanese Cultural History, the Department of History at the University of Hawai‘i at Mânoa invited three candidates for the Sen Chair position during March, 2004. The candidates were Dr. William Wayne Farris (Lindsey Young Professor, Department of History, University of Tennessee, Knoxville), Dr. G. Cameron Hurst III (Professor, Japanese and Korean Studies; Chair, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies; Director, Center for East Asian Studies, University of Pennsylvania), and Dr. Karl Friday (Professor, Department of History, University of Georgia).

The Center for Japanese Studies sponsored a public lecture and reception for each of the candidates. On March 1, Dr. Farris gave a presentation titled “Populating Premodern Japan” and talked about population cycles in premodern Japan. Dr. Hurst, on March 8, explored the ‘sport’ aspect of martial art in his talk “Competition and Spirituality in Japan’s Martial Arts: The Tokugawa Transformation,” and Dr. Friday talked about cultural rules, constraints and meaning of war in early medieval Japan in his lecture “Rites & Wrongs: Polity, Culture and the Rules of War in Early Medieval Japan” delivered on March 29.

Dr. Genshitsu Sen paid a visit to the University of Hawai‘i on February 10 and 12, 2004. Dr. Sen attended and took an active part in two sessions of the Tea Practicum (ASAN 324) which is taught by Mr. Yoshibumi Ogawa, Senior Instructor for Urasenke Foundation.

He also delivered two energetic lectures to the Way of Tea in Japanese History and Culture (HIST 323) course in the History Department. This course, currently taught by Dr. Paul Varley (Sen Soshitsu XV Chair), has been offered by the History Department since 1978, and is the oldest university credit course on chado in the world.

Library Receives Valuable Buddhist Texts from Temple

On August 1, 2003, a representative of Heikenji Temple, Assistant Head Priest Fujita Ryujo, presented the UH Library, represented by University Librarian Diane Perushek, with a gift of eleven lavishly produced volumes of the writings of Kôbô Daishi (also known as Kûkai, 774-835 CE), founder of Shingon Buddhism. This collection, in Kôbô Daishi’s own hand, is significant not only for content, but also because he is regarded as one of the greatest calligraphers of Japan and is said to have invented the hiragana syllabary. The books will be of particular interest to students in religion and art history, and are estimated to be worth ¥5 million (about $45,000).

The presentation ceremony and reception were held in Hamilton Library and were sponsored by the Religion Department, the Library, and the Center for Japanese Studies. Dr. George Tanabe was there on behalf of the Religion Department and Dr. Robert Huey represented the Center. With Fujita were his wife and son. Dr. Judith Hughes, Dean of the College Arts and Humanities, was also in attendance among others. The Library was able to acquire these books through the long-standing relationship between Tanabe and the leaders of Heikenji. Dr. Tanabe often visits the Temple for research, and years ago at UHM, he with the Religion Department welcomed Fujita as a Visiting Researcher.

Heikenji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Kawasaki City, Japan. Popularly known as Kawasaki Daishi, it is the third most popular temple for New Year’s visitation, receiving several million visitors during the holiday each year.

On June 30, 2003, Dr. Sharon A. Minichiello stepped down as Director of the Center for Japanese Studies. Since taking the office in July 1994, Dr. Minichiello has accomplished a great deal in promoting Japanese Studies and increasing the visibility of the Center and UH in the local, national, and international communities.

On May 2, a reception at Hawai'i Imin International Conference Center honored her for all her work on behalf of the CJS. Some two hundred guests from the local and academic communities came to pay their respects, including donors, friends, UH students, professors and staff. Led by Master of Ceremonies Dr. Ricardo Trimillos (Chair, Asian Studies Program), the program came alive with humor, nostalgia, and even a touch of sadness. Several guest speakers came to honor Dr. Minichiello with their words, beginning with UH President Evan S. Dobelle. He was followed by Dr. Edgar Porter (Interim Dean, SHAPS), Dr. Takie Lebra (Professor Emeritus, Anthropology, UHM), and University Librarian Ms. Diane Perushek with Japan Specialist Librarian Ms. Tokiko Bazzell. Dr. Paul Varley (Sen Soshitsu XV Distinguished Professor of Traditional Japanese History and

Culture, History, UHM) also added a few words and gave the kampai (toast). Ms. Alison Hartle, a long-time CJS graduate student employee, performed a special hula in thanks to Dr. Minichiello. Other persons in attendance included Mrs. Kit Dobelle, Consul General Masatoshi Muto, and Former First Lady Mrs. Jean Ariyoshi.

Before the kampai, the CJS staff ushered in Mr. and Mrs. Walter Williamson as special guests-a surprise for Dr. Minichiello and attendees. Mrs. Margaret Williamson is one of Minichiello's three sisters. The couple came all the way from Massachusetts to attend the reception, and it was their first time to Hawai'i. Their attendance and Mrs. Williamson's speech added a special warmth and intimacy that punctuated the occasion. She also read letters sent from Dr. Minichiello's two other sisters who were unable to attend. A dry eye was hard to find afterwards.

At the end of the program, Dr. Minichiello had a chance to speak, and took the opportunity to thank the many individuals and groups who have supported her over the years. The tremendous turnout for the reception revealed the respect and admiration held by many for Dr. Minichiello as ateacher, colleague, leader and friend.

Beginning on July 1, Dr. Robert N. Huey, Professor of Japanese in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, succeeded Dr. Minichiello as Director of CJS for 2003-2006. Dr. Huey first came to UH in 1985. He has been very active in his department and in the Center. Among these activities, he has been Graduate Chair of EALL since 1995, and a member of the CJS Executive Committee since 1988. He has also been heavily involved in study abroadand exchange programs, including time as Resident Director (1990-91) of the Konan-Illinois Center at Konan University in Kobe, Japan. This is his first time as Director of CJS.