Eisaa at OAA

Okinawa Association of America held its annual bazaar in Gardena on Oct. 4. Entertainment included Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Fourth- and fifth-grade eisaa drummers from El Marino Language School in Culver City.

Kurt Kuniiyoshi, Fusako Shiotani and Helen Ota of Grateful Crane Ensemble sang Japanese songs.

Visitors dined on kakiage (pictured above), teriyaki (below), Okinawa soba, teriyaki, andagi, ashitibichi, rafute, beni-imo ice cream and taco rice.

Kids learned how to make their own paranku (hand-held drums).

Shugyokan Dojo and Kaizen Dojo gave martial arts demonstrations.

Sanshin and singing performance by Ishihara Haruo Minyo Kenkyusho.

Left: Wakane Luke, special guest performer from Okinawa. Right: Emcee Noriko Chung.

Special guests included former Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, accompanied by his wife Hiroko and daughter Sophia, and West Covina Mayor Pro Tem James Toma, accompanied by his children Cruz and Paz. Muratsuchi is running for the 66th District seat that he held from 2012 to 2014.

South Bay Coastliners, a barbershop choir featuring past OAA scholarship recipient Scott Suwabe.

Okinawan folk music by Choichi Kai Los Angeles.

Okinawan dance by Tamagusuku Ryu Kansen Kai.

Singers/musicians Phoenix and Blaise Baker.

The OAA parking lot was packed during the bazaar.

Photos by J.K. YAMAMOTO/Rafu Shimpo