The melodic sounds of Okinawan koto and sanshin music filled the Shinshu Kyokai Mission social hall on Oct. 20 as the Ryukyu Sokyoku Koyo Kai Hawaii Shibu koto association and the Ryukyu Koten Ongaku Nomura Ryu Ongaku Kyokai Hawaii Shibu sanshin association came together for their annual Gōdōu Ensōu Kai, or joint concert. The program featured classical Okinawan sanshin and koto music performed jointly and as solo numbers.
Koto student Diane Kawamoto of the Yasuko Arakawa Aki no Kai was presented her kyōshi certificate (second-level proficiency) in classical Okinawan koto. Her sensei is Yasuko Arakawa-Sensei. Additionally, shinjinshō (first-level proficiency) certificates were presented to sanshin students Joan Tamashiro from Nakaganeku Shofu Kai, and Stacey Kotani of Seiichi Yagi Kenkyu-sho. Their sensei are Keith Nakaganeku and Seiichi Yagi, both kaishu (teachers with their own schools). The proficiency test was held this past summer in Okinawa and was sponsored by the Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper.
Ryukyu Sokyoku Koyokai Hawaii Shibu koto association is led by Derek Fujio and consists of six schools: Jane Kaneshiro Sozan Kai, Miyashiro Soho Kai, Toma Sokyoku Kai, Yasuko Arakawa Aki no Kai, Yamashiro Yoneko Sokyoku Kenkyu Kai and Ito Kazuko Kokyoku Kyoshitsu. On the sanshin side, Ryukyu Koten Nomura Ryu Ongaku Kyo Kai is led by Seiichi Yagi-Sensei and consists of four schools: Nakasone Seifu Kai, led by Tsuyoshi Gima-Sensei; Seiichi Yagi Kenkyu-sho; Nakaganeku Shofu Kai, led by Keith Nakaganeku-Sensei; and Norman Kaneshiro Kenkyusho.
