The
Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai is an organization dedicated to the preservation
of Okinawan customs and traditions. Our membership is comprised of both
Okinawans, Okinawan descendants and non-Okinawan members who share our
love for the Okinawan culture. There are about one hundred fifty families
in the Chicagoland area and we also have many other members from as far
away as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and even California.
Each year we have two primary gatherings in the Chicago area. The first
one is to celebrate the traditional Chinese New Year and the second one
is to gather for our annual Kenjinkai picnic. Both events are huge hits
with our membership due to the fellowship experienced and sharing of traditional
Okinawan foods in the "pot-luck" style. Many of our members
are also performers who participate in traditional cultural activities
designed to keep the Okinawan culture alive in the Chicagoland area. The
Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai offers its members the chance to learn Okinawan
folk and royal court dances from Okinawa, Sanshin, and Taiko drumming
in the Ryukyu eisa style. There are three seperate groups that meet on
Saturdays in Arlington Heights Illinois. Taiko drumming is the forte of
our first group, the Matsuri Daiko group, who give frequent performances
through out the Chicagoland area. Our sanshin group teaches members of
all abilities to play sanshin a traditional instrument of the Ryukyu islands.
The Odori dance group is the third group which strives to perfect the
ability of our members in the art of traditional Okinawan dancing. All
lessons are free to our members and members are encouraged to partake
in these fun filled activities.
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CONTACTING
THE CHICAGO OKINAWA KENJINKAI
| Chicago
Okinawa Kenjinkai - President: Mieko Zukeran |
1(773)818-4713 |
|
| Public
Information Officer - Thomas Corrao |
1(262)
656-1805 |
©2009
Official Contact Info:
Please send postal correspondence to: Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai P.O. Box
721 Geneva, IL 60134-0721