Month: January 2024

Mermaid of the Blue Sea – Okinawa Style

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By Chamiya Carnathan

Have you ever experienced a musical in another language? On January 13th, 2024, I had the privilege to watch “The Little Mermaid” in Japanese. 

Last November, the Director of the Okinawa Prefecture Office in DC, Mr. Kazuyuki Nakazato, invited Sally Schwartz and me to attend an Okinawan performance called The Heart of Ryukyuan Dance. Then last week, Mr. Nakazato gave Sally and some Japanese Plus students another opportunity to attend a performance called “Mermaid of the Blue Sea,” located at Lisner Auditorium. Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, the performance featured Okinawan traditional dance and performance styles. I absolutely loved the performance. 

In The Little Mermaid, Hans Christian Andersen introduces a young mermaid princess who falls in love with a prince she saves from drowning. Seeking a chance to be with him, she makes a pact with a sea witch and trades her voice for human legs. However, Ariel will feel constant pain and will only survive if she wins the love of the prince and marries him. Despite captivating the prince, he marries another, unaware of Ariel’s sacrifice. Heartbroken, Ariel faces an ultimatum from the sea witch: kill the prince to revert to a mermaid or face death and become seafoam. Ariel chooses not to harm the prince, embracing her fate.

The Okinawan rendition of The Little Mermaid presented a unique musical experience. Despite the language barrier, the performers’ utilization of items, such as Sensu fans, was flawless. These fans were ingeniously used to represent ocean waves and various sea animals. The musicians were amazing, playing a musical score that effectively conveyed the intended emotions. The music, which was exquisitely melancholic, created a build-up to the touching moment when the little mermaid met her end. The utilization of the bingata costumes to determine if the little mermaid was a mermaid or a human was my favorite aspect of the performance. The little mermaid had a bingata that hung down to her feet, giving the impression that she was nearly gliding across the floor. Upon turning human, she began to show her legs by wearing a bingata that hung down to her knees.

My sole critique was a desire for a longer performance and wishing that I could see more. The production was visually captivating, easily comprehensible, and conceptually exquisite. I loved the performance and I hope to see another one in the future. 

Zitlaly, D’Amonie, Chamiya, Jennifer, and Margarita with Mr. Kazuyuki Nakazato from the Okinawa Prefecture DC Office and Kristen Luck from the GWU Okinawa Collection after the performance.

Welcoming a new year

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By Margarita Munoz Salazar

Nengajo (年賀状) is a traditional Japanese New Year’s greeting card. It is sent as a happy-new-year greeting to friends, family, and coworkers. Nengajo usually include drawings or pictures related to the new year, like the zodiac animal for that year, traditional Japanese symbols, or landscapes. People frequently include handwritten notes with the pictures, wishing the receiver good health, happiness, and prosperity in the upcoming year. In Japan, sending and receiving nengajo is a common tradition. It is considered respectful to exchange these cards during the New Year’s holiday. 

I was able to participate in a Nengajo contest for the Japan Information & Culture Center. Since this year is the year of the dragon, I put my drawing skills to the test and made a drawing based on the Japanese film Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki. I enjoyed participating in this tradition as it was a fun way to be part of the celebration of a new year. 

As something that is not very common to do in the US, Nengajo is a good way to signify that you care about someone especially if you take the time out of your day to make a drawing or include a message.