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.