Nisei Week 2012 Rewind (VIDEOS)

by Joseph Kamiya, OAA volunteer/videographer

Now that summer is officially gone, folks here at the Okinawa Association of America are winding down from Obon Festivals, Nisei Week, and other summer activities. The OAA was once again honored to represent Uchinaanchu in Los Angeles with their participation in the Nisei Week Grand Parade, having over 50 volunteers and Geino-bu (Performing Arts Commitee) dancers trekking across Little Tokyo! We were also proud to have members of affiliated groups such as Ishihara Minyo, Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko, Shima Minyo, and Tamagusukuryu Kansen-Kai representing Okinawa in the Tanabata Festival, Taiko Gathering, and Nisei Week’s Closing Ceremony Ondo!

For those who weren’t able to attend this year’s Nisei Week festivities (or for those who want to re-live the experience), we’ve compiled a top-5 list of the best Nisei Week videos that we could find on YouTube. If you have a video that didn’t make the list, please drop the link in the “comments” section at the bottom of this page (or on our Facebook page)!

OAA @ Nisei Week (PHOTOS + VIDEO)

60+ volunteers represented the Okinawa Association of America in this year’s Nisei Week Grand Parade (August 12, 2012)! Approx. 36 of them wore kasuri pattern kimonos and danced to choreographed Okinawan and Japanese Bon-Odori! One week later, 18 of our dancers returned to Little Tokyo to participate in the Nisei Week Ondo and Closing Ceremony!