On Saturday, October 8 at 1:00 p.m. PT, the Okinawa American Association (OAA) will hold its third information session for the 7th Uchinaanchu Taikai World Festival/Festival (October 30-November 3 in Okinawa).
It will be held virtually on Zoom. For participants who do not have internet access, a very limited number of in-person places will be available at the OAA Center in Gardena. RSVP is required to attend: http://tinyurl.com/oaa-taikai-22 (Zoom link will be emailed to you).
OAA-affiliated parties wishing to travel to Okinawa for the festivities are strongly encouraged to attend the briefing to learn about travel visa updates, Japan’s smartphone requirements, and other important things to know. There will also be information on the OAA group “uniform” that will participate in the international parade, as well as planned excursions and gatherings.
Registration for the Taikai/Festival is required by 8:00 a.m. on October 7.
Established in 1990, the Festival/Taikai is hosted by the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) and serves as a great “homecoming” for Okinawan immigrants and descendants. It’s a fantastic opportunity for Okinawans to deepen their roots and interact with international communities, with a wide range of activities.
This Festival/Taikai is the only event of its kind in all of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture was once the independent Ryūkyū Kingdom and this sense of unique identity and rich cultural heritage has remained strong among Okinawan natives, emigrants and their descendants around the world. The first immigrants from Okinawa arrived in California more than a century ago.
In-person attendees of the OAA-hosted session must RSVP (walk-in) and follow OAA’s COVID-19 safety protocols. The event will be recorded and an edited version will be available at a later date.
Although OAA does not handle travel arrangements, support and assistance with registration will be available to current OAA members. Interested parties are also encouraged to visit the official multilingual Festival/Taikai website: http://wuf2022.com
Contact the OAA for more information: (310) 532-1929 (leave a message) or [email protected]. The OAA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Okinawan culture. Facebook/Instagram: @oaamensore
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