Friday, February 27, 1998
Ice Cream & Odori
CULTURE: The Nikkei Student Union’s Japanese Culture Night
showcases modern and traditional aspects of Japanese-American
culture
By Louise Chu
Daily Bruin Contributor
There is a calm and relaxed atmosphere in the Veterans Wadsworth
Theater on Monday night. It’s relatively quiet for a rehearsal –
quiet enough for several people scattered around the theater to
catch up on midterm studies or even catch a few Zs in preparation
for the busy week ahead. You would never know that in just a few
days, they would be putting on their biggest event of the year –
the culmination of 10 long months of hard work.
The members of the Nikkei Student Union (NSU) are anxiously
preparing for their annual culture show, which will take place in
the Wadsworth Theater on Saturday night. Beneath all the laughing
and casual banter, there is an underlying tension, felt especially
by the directors, all of whom have put in countless hours preparing
for the show.
"It’s very life-consuming," says Cindy Yoshiyama, one of the
four directors. "Almost every waking hour is spent thinking about
what needs to be done. There’s lighting, there’s sound, there’s
props, there’s blocking the scenes and writing it."
"We’ve had days where we literally ran all day – 12-hour days,"
adds director Naoya Imanishi. "When we had regular schedules, we
had eight hours a week of practice on average, but that’s just
working with the actors. Outside, the directors all have to
coordinate about six hours a week. I don’t know if that’s a lot –
it feels like a lot."
The show was difficult to coordinate because the directors
decided to experiment with a new format this year. The theme of
this year’s show is unity within the Japanese-American community,
and this idea was appropriately reflected in the shift from the
format of a variety show to that of one cohesive play.
Within the general play, titled "Mochi Ice Cream," there are
several music and dance acts that are normally separate from the
drama. The show will begin with NSU Kyodo Taiko, the only act not
incorporated into the show, that involves a group of students
playing Japanese drums. It will also include the Koto Ensemble, the
playing of a Japanese, harp-like instrument. There are also two
traditional Odori dances, in which a group of women dance in long,
multi-colored robes called yukatas, and an Obon dance.
"For the first time in (NSU) Culture Night history, everything
has been integrated into one whole show. I think that makes it a
really strong show altogether. It flows really nicely," Yoshiyama
emphasizes.
Mary Kay Tsuji, the executive director, points out another
difference. "It’s going to be a more of a ‘back-to-the-roots’ kind
of thing. It’s going to be a lot more ‘culturous’ this year than it
has in the past, or at least last year."
Year after year, one of the most popular parts of the show is
the modern dance, which has seen several changes this year as
well.
"First of all, (the choreographers) all have different styles,
so it’s a new thing for me to be working with people with different
backgrounds that specialize in different things," explains
choreographer Christie Kawada. "I specialize in ballet and jazz.
Rawlins (Apilado) is totally more hip-hop. Will (Tanaka) is more
freestyle … And another thing that we did differently this year
was that we added in Japanese pop music, which was never done
before, so we added in something that mixes Japanese culture with
modern dance."
Many admit that the modern dance is their favorite part of the
show, while some are partial to Taiko and Odori.
"Every year it’s different. Last year, I liked the drama, but I
think this year it’s going to be pretty well balanced. I don’t
really have a favorite," Shintani admits.
The divergent personal tastes of those involved in the show have
not diminished the common goal of Culture Night in general, which
is to celebrate the Japanese-American culture. Besides this common
goal of everyone in NSU, this show has a personal meaning for each
individual involved, whether it be the joy of performing or the
satisfaction of learning about a new culture.
"Since I’m a fourth-generation, Japanese American and I never
had much of a connection with the Japanese-American community, this
has given me a chance to see all the Odori dancing and the modern
dancing and the play, telling about Little Tokyo," says performer
Jenny Yutani.
"It’s been a real learning experience, not only learning about
my heritage but also participating in and learning the dances,
learning my lines. It’s really fun," says actor and dancer Brian
Nagami.
"My goal is to say thank you to the community; thank you to my
parents for teaching me so much culture," Tsuji says.
The show has an especially personal meaning for Linda Osako, the
choreographer of the Odori dances.
"The second (Odori) song has more meaning for me because I
dedicated it to my brother, whom I lost recently. It’s dedicated to
him and everybody else who’s lost someone."
Ultimately, the objective of the show is to promote and display
Japanese-American culture in an effort to not only teach others,
but also to bring the Japanese-American community together.
"I want (the audience) leaving the theater thinking, ‘Wow,
that’s what Japanese culture’s all about. That’s what it means to
be Japanese,’" Tsuji says. "All of us up there aren’t all Japanese
obviously. But we all share it; it’s the beauty of another custom
and another tradition … There’s so much stuff that’s there, and
we just want to share it with everybody."
CULTURE: NSU Culture Night takes place Saturday at 7 p.m. at the
Veterans Wadsworth Theater. Admission is free, but tickets must be
obtained from the Central Ticket Office. For tickets, call (310)
825-2101. For more information, call (310) 284-4650.
Photos by GENEVIEVE LIANG/Daily Bruin
Brian Nagami (left) and Merideth Roberts practice performing the
Tanka Bushi dance during rehearsal.
(left to right) Hector Luk, Peter Sato, Brian Nagai and Brian
Nagami rehearse a scene for the drama performance in the NSU
Culture Show.