Sanshin grand master from Okinawa to perform in Los Angeles
Cultural News, October 2008
Sanshin grand master and singer, and Living National Treasure Choichi Terukina from Okinawa
Koto Rainbow Concert
Oct. 26 (Sun) at 1 PM
Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA 90278, www.rbpac.com
Sanshin grand master and singer, and Living National Treasure Choichi Terukina from Okinawa, Japan, will perform Okinawan traditional music on Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Koto Rainbow Concert celebrating Katsuko Teruya’s 40th anniversary of teaching Okinawan koto. The Koto Rainbow Concert will be held at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach.
Sanshin, the Okinawan word for shamisen, is a relatively small instrument with only three strings and is tuned to the key of the singer’s voice. Sanshin came to Okinawa by way of China some 500 years ago.
Grand master Choichi Terukina was born in Chinen Village in Okinawa in 1932. He started his study of sanshin and vocal under Haruyuki Miyazato of Afuso School in 1957, and 20 years later, acquired a master’s license of the Afuso School in 1977.
In 1994, he took the chair of the Afuso School Gensei Kai and endeavored in the management of the organization and music instruction for its members.
In 2000, Terukina was designated a National Intangible Cultural Asset, Classical Ryukyuan Music Holder and dubbed as a Living National Treasure of Japan due to his creative performances in accompanying Okinawan dances, Kumiodori (classical dance) and plays.
Choichi Terukina is respected by his students not only as their mentor but also as their spiritual guide. Recently three of his students in Hawaii made history as the first foreigners to pass the examination in Okinawa for the master’s certificate in sanshin along with 22 students of Terukina’s school.
June Nakama, one of the foreign masters in Hawaii, says, “Terukina sensei teaches us that learning to play sanshin is 30% talent and 70% desire, but anyone who wants to learn can do it.” All three students from Hawaii proved Terukina’s theory with their need and desire to learn more about their Okinawan culture.
On Oct. 26 at the Rainbow Koto Concert, grand master Terukina will lead Afuso-ryu Terukina Choichi Koten Ongaku Kenkyusho musicians along with the Afuso-ryu Gensei-kai Hawaii branch, Nomura-ryu Ongaku Kyokai North America branch, Nomura-ryu Koten Ongaku Hozon-kai North America branch, and Ryukyu Sokyoku Koyo-kai, to perform Nimajin Bushi and Haichikuten Bushi. The dances will be performed by the grand master Miyagi Nozo II of Miyagi-ryu, Miyagi Nozo Kenkyusho in Okinawa.