The name OkiNoWar carries both a strong refusal—“We will not allow Okinawa to become the front line of war any longer”—and the intention to “pass forward the wisdom that Okinawa has cultivated through its long history: the wisdom of avoiding conflict and living together with others.”
Bases, occupation, migration, discrimination, silence, prayer—Okinawa has repeatedly been placed in the midst of violence, and yet it has continued to protect and sustain its communities. OkiNoWar WEEK does not present Okinawa merely as a place of victimhood, but as a method for practicing non-violence toward the future.
OkiNoWar WEEK began through participation in the Bwa Kayiman Program at Haus der Kulturen der Welt and expanded into an interdisciplinary film program, exhibition and workshops at SINEMA TRANSTOPIA and Savvy Contemporary.
Program
Friday 31st July from 17h at SINEMA TRANSTOPIA: “Don’t kill Us twice“: An Active Form of Memorialization, with Toyomitsu Higa’s films “Nanamui” and “Voices of the war era in Shimakutuba” and “Close to the bone” by Katsuya Okuma. Live performance of Ryukyu dance and music.
Sunday 2nd August 16h30 at Haus der Kulturen der Welt: “NUCHI-GAFŪ du SHIDI-GAFŪ: The Wisdom of Okinawa and The Art of Non-Violence” immersive performance as part of “Bwa Kayiman: Crossing the Mangrove” festival.
Friday 7 & Saturday 8 August from 10h at Savvy Contemporary: “Planetary Yui: Arts of living together”—exhibition, films, round tables, workshops & gatherings. *Savvy’s web page is not live yet
Team
Riko Sugama (Artistic Director & Performance—Ryukyuan dancer, singer, sanshin)
Toyomitsu Higa (Photographer & Guest Speaker)
Victor Kinjo (Cultural Mediator & Circle Facilitator)
Thaís Omine (Cultural Mediator & Film Curator)
Hiroya Maeda (Artist—Lacquer Object Work)
Nanyō Unten (Artist—Calligraphic Work)
Akihito Yagi (Okinawan Karate Master)
Ayaka Nakazato (Ryukyuan Dancer)
Takumi Hosokawa (Ryukyuan Musician—Sanshin)
Rita Sugama (Ryukyuan Dancer)
Aki Maeda (Artist—Lacquer Object Work)
Makoto Inoue (Director—Stage Direction & Dramaturgy)
Michaela Trigo (Producer)
