Uchinanchu Taikai air fare and accommodation package deal

photo courtesy of ANA

Hello Kenjinkai members,

We received information from JTB regarding air fare and hotel accommodation package deal starting from $1491.00.  This is a per person price for a double occupancy room.  (This price is not guaranteed and subject to change).  Please see attached itinerary for available dates and comparable hotels.

There is also a pre-registration form attached.  You can pre-register ahead of time to reserve a spot.  Ishii-san (branch manager) will be available during the new years party to answer any questions.

Akira “Ray” Ishii
Branch Manager
JTB USA, Inc. Seattle Branch
1511 3rd Ave, Suite 905
Seattle, WA 98101
PH: 206-667-0799 (direct)/ Fax: 206-343-4727

OKK New Years Party 2016 – directions and bento

Come and join your OKK family and friends in celebrating the New Year!  OKK is planning fantastic entertainment for you, including dancing, singing, taiko, door prizes and much more.

Date: Saturday, March 12th, 2016
Time: 11:30 am – 3:30 pm (doors open at 11:00 am)
Location: Seattle Buddhist Church  1427 S Main St, Seattle, WA 98144

Directions: South Bound
1) From I-5 South (Everett/Seattle)
2) Take the I-90/Dearborn St (Exit 164) exit.
3) Turn Left onto Dearborn St.
4) Turn Left onto Rainier St.
5) At this 5-way intersection, make a Slight Right onto 14th Ave. S
6) Turn Right onto S. Main St.

Directions: North Bound
1) From I-5 North (Olympia/Tacoma)
2) Take the Dearborn St./James St. (Exit 164A) exit using the 2nd right lane.
3) Turn Right onto Dearborn St.
4) Turn Left onto Rainier St.
5) At this 5-way intersection, make a Slight Right onto 14th Ave. S
6) Turn Right onto S. Main St.

You are welcome to bring your own lunch for the event.  Bento will be available for purchase.  Price of bento will be $25.00 and will include shrimp tempura, salmon, chicken teriyaki and sashimi.  Bento will not be sold at the event.  You must purchase voucher ticket before the event.  Please contact your area representative.  If you do not know your area representative, please send  e-mail to haisai@okkwa.org with name and area of residence.

We look forward to seeing you there!!!

 

President’s Message – February 2016

shurei heading

Dear Kenjinkai Members,
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu. A Happy New Year!  Hope you have a very prosperous and joyful year this year.   I would like to congratulate the new board members elected last November for 4 year-term.  As you may be aware that this October 26th to 30th there will be 6th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival in Naha. So please plan ahead to joins us to visit Okinawa.   You will be informed more in detail at New Year Party which will be held at Seattle Bsetsuin Buddhist Church  on March 12th starting at 11:30 AM.  We have many wonderful programs for you to enjoy.  We will recognize and congratulate those who became 80 years old this year, 85 years old (Eto), 88 years old Beiju, and 97 years old (Kajimaya-) which we call in Okinawa “TUSHIBI-“.  We will present them “Bento” at the party.  we are looking forward to see you all there.   If you have email please let us know so that you will have up to date information quickly.  Anyone wishes to order BENTO please contact your area representative below listed.  It is $25 and comes with separate Sashimi box. We are looking forward to see you and your family at the 36th Anniversary New Year Party.  Wish you all the best.
All the best,

Thomas Sakuma President

県人会の皆様
明けましておめでとうございます。今年は皆さんにとって 繁栄と喜びの年となりますように願っております。去年の1 １月には4年間任期である理事の選挙をいたしました。理事 に選ばれた方々おめでとうございます。さて、既にご存知 のように今年の１０月 26日から30日には沖縄で第6回世界 のうちなんちゅ大会が那覇市で開催されます。今から予定 をしていただき一緒に参加しましょう。新年会でさらに詳 細がご報告できると思います。新年会はシアトルの仏教会 で 3月12日午前11：30に開催いたします。多くのお楽しみ いただけるプログラムを準備しております。また今年80歳 になられる方、85歳、えと、８８歳、米寿、97歳、カジマ ヤ―のトシビーをお祝いする意味でお弁当を差し上げま す。新年会お会いいたしましょう。皆さんのイーメイルが あれば教えてください。それから弁当を注文される方々は 地域代表の方々にご連絡ください。刺身ボックス付き弁当 で25ドルです。それでは36回新年会で皆さんとご家族にお 会いできるのを楽しみにしています。
みなさんのご健康とそれぞれ日々の生活の中でよい事が 多々ありますように祈念しております。
佐久間トーマス、会長

Accepting applications now for Uchina Junior Study Program

Okinawa Prefectural Government Public Relation and International Exchange Division has now started accepting applications for 2016 Uchina Junior Study program.

This is a great opportunity for any youth of Okinawan descent to experience the history and culture of Okinawa, as well as finding a little bit more about their ancestry.  This is an all expense paid program from the Okinawan prefecture.

Here are some highlights of the program:

1. Aim of the Program
To educate the next generation that will take charge of the World Uchina Network. Through studying Okinawan history, culture, nature and more side-by-side, participants from both within the prefecture and abroad can deepen their understanding of, and bond with, their mother prefecture, Okinawa.

 2. Requirements for Participation 
1. Must be Uchina descended    2. As of April 2nd, 2016, applicant must be enrolled in middle or high school, and be  from 13 to 19 years of age. 

3. Language ability   
So that participants can be fully engaged during their time on the program, youths with at least some Japanese ability are preferred. 

4. Expenses borne by Okinawa Prefecture     1. Round trip, economy-class flight between the participant’s closest international  airport and Naha Airport. 2. Lodging, food, travel insurance, and entrance fees during the program (July 31th to August 6th) 

5. Documents, etc. Necessary for Application    
i. Recommendation letter (form 1)      
ii. Candidate’s application forms (forms 2-1, 2-2)     
iii. Essay (form 3, about 800 characters)  Topic: Write About “My Uchinanchu Identity”      *One essay per applicant  Other than forms 1 and 2, the indicated places must be filled in Japanese. Form  3 (essay) should have an attached version, translated into Japanese, provided by  each kenjinkai.  
 
Submissions Deadline:      Applications must be submitted by Thursday April 28th, 2016, Japan time. No exceptions.

Link to website and forms
http://www.pref.okinawa.lg.jp/site/chijiko/kohokoryu/2016ujs.html

02_2016ujs-applicationguide_english

Letter from Shingo Nashiro

Dear Okinawa Kenjin Club Of Washington State.

Happy New Year 2016!!
We had passed 2 months already since we met at the last time.
how are you?
I am pretty good and I’m doing my way to realize my dream in Okinawa.
today, I have two good news.
One of them is I was in the Okinawa’s local newspaper about the experiences in Florida and traveling to some Okinawa’s associations around the world.
I talked about my biggest accident in the travel which is in Washington states as you know. so the interviewer was picked up it:)
and the last, I found an article by Sakuma san in Okinawatimes.
I’m really looking forward to meeting you all again in Okinawa in the #6 Uchinanchu Festival.
Thank you very much for reading this.
Have a wonderful year!
Love
Your son, Shingo Nashiro
 kaicho mesageshingo article

Official 2016 Uchinanchu Festival website launched

An e-mail was sent out from the president regarding the launch of the official site for 2016 Uchinanchu Festival.  You can click here.  Currently it is only in Japanese but English and Spanish page to follow shortly.

Registration will begin in May.  We hope to provide you with some information regarding group fares and accommodations during our Kenjin Kai new years party in March.

Here is a slideshow of the previous 5th Uchinanchu festival.

2015 Year End Party

bounenkaiThe 2015 Year End Party （忘年会）was held at the La Quinta Inn banquet hall in Tacoma.  Everyone enjoyed a choice of salmon or prime rib lunch. We had a festive time closing out the year with bingo and line dancing.

You can also check out an article written about us in the local Okinawa times.

ワシントン州沖縄県人クラブ　ランチ忘年会　カラオケやダンスも