UCHINAAGUCHI CLASS

The Uchinaaguchi or Hogen class was started in 1996 when Randy Kuba was the Hawaii United Okinawa Association President. It was started because of the interest in the Okinawa dialect within the Okinawan community. The class was started on March 6, 1996 at the Hawaii Okinawa Center and the instructors were Grant Sandaa Murata and Chieko Miyasato. Grant was a great help in starting the class with some written lesson plans. At one time the class was made up of about sixty people when it was held on the second floor of the Higa Building. The class met twice a month when it first started.

Chieko Miyasato now teaches the classes. In the beginning of 2000 it was decided that the class should be held once a month. Sensei Chieko Miyasato has been kind enough to continue the class and the fifteen plus current students appreciate her.

The classes are on a very informal basis and it is enjoyed by all. Sensei always starts the class with a prepared lesson plan for the evening. While explaining our lessons for the evening she usually starts with the English language and gets into her experiences about our Okinawa dialect and culture. All of her stories and experiences are very interesting and enjoyable, and her explanation is done in the Japanese language. Fortunately most of her students understands some Japanese. We learn the Okinawa dialect and Japanese language from our sensei, and in return she learns some English from us.

For those interested in this class please email the Hawaii United Okinawa Association at info@huoa.org or phone 676-5400.

Thanks, henry