Episodes
Join our cohosts as they explore a range of topics, from identity to language revitalization. Each episode features music by a Shimanchu artist, guest speakers specializing or directly involved in a Okinawan field or topic, and close with an Okinawan funfact / proverb. Come join us for this evolving journey together. Yutasarugutu unigeesabira!
About
The Podcast
Okinawan. Ryukyuan. Loochooan.
There are many more names for the peoples of these islands. Hear the many voices and stories of those identifying as Shimanchu or Uchinaanchu.
Celebrating and preserving our culture, connecting the diaspora, and both proudly and humbly educating and learning along the way. Hosted by Mariko Middleton, Erica Kunihisa, and Tori Toguchi.
Ichariba Choodee is a beautiful Ryukyuan saying translating roughly to, 'When we meet, we become brothers, sisters, family.'
Creators
Mariko Middleton [she/her]
Executive producer, Host
Mariko is a bi racial Okinawan American living on Abenaki land in Vermont, USA. She is an interspiritual practitioner of earth-based spirituality and is deeply interested in identity, culture, and how we all weave the global web of change. She is a blend of introverted introspection and extroverted ecstaticness depending on her environment. Follow along on her Instagram here.
Erica Kunihisa [she/her]
Assignment Editor, Host
Erica is a graphic designer and illustrator and has become interested in how art and design plays a role in social and cultural impact. When she is not in front of a computer, she enjoys being outdoors and doing activities such as hiking/camping, and dragon boating. Find some of her work on Instagram here.
Tori Toguchi [she/her]
Outreach Manager, Host
Tori is currently a digitization specialist at a museum and was raised on Kanaka 'Ōiwi land (Oʻahu). She is a co-creator of of the Shimanchu Visual Archives and is interested in creating space for Shimanchu-Ryukyuans to gather resources and make archival histories more accessible for the community. She is 5th generation whose ancestors are from Ginoza and Henza.
You can her photography here.
Contributors
Emma Anderson [she/her]
Audio Engineer, Host
Emma is an Okinawan-American radio DJ, software engineer, and zinester from Los Angeles, California a.k.a. Tongva land. When she’s not busy building iOS apps or hosting her funk & soul radio show, Emma practices koto with Sensei Katsuko Teruya as part of the Kōyōkai L.A. music group. Follow along on her Instagram here.
Joseph Y. Kamiya [he/him]
Audio Engineer
Joseph is an Uchinaanchu yonsei (fourth generation) from California who dabbles in filmmaking, original music/noise, and uta-sanshin. His ancestral roots are from Tamagusuku (Nanjō City) and Awase (Okinawa City) in Okinawa and Fukuoka, Japan.
Volunteers
Kiera Usagawa [she/her]
English Transcription
Kiera is a Shimanchu/Japanese queer woman raised on Kanaka 'Ōiwi land in Hawai'i and residing on unceded Chinook/Cowlitz land in Oregon, USA. Kiera is passionate about climate justice, demilitarization, transnational feminist organizing, and creating a future through the lens of decolonization. She aspires to be a sense of home and a caretaker for her community, land, and ancestors. You can follow along on her instagram here: @kiera.akiye
Harumi López Higa [she/her] Spanish Translations
Harumi is a filmmaker and visual artist based in Lima, Perú.
Some of her topics of interest are collective memory, disability and gender. Follow along on her Instagram here: @haruvisual
Carol Nakadomari [she/her]
Portuguese Transcription
Carol Nakadomari is a fourth-generation Luchuan-Brazilian. Her grandmother is her main role model, inspiration and spiritual core. She is a psychologist, interested in anthropology and art, who works in the field of human rights. Member of the editorial team of Shimanchu Nu Kwii magazine, she is responsible for the translation into Portuguese. She seeks through translation to connect Ryukiyan/Shimanchu communities around the world and encourage creative ways of expressing ancestry. You can follow along on her instagram here: @nakadomari_
Akemi [they/them (En) ; elle/elles (Sp)] Spanish Translation
Akemi is a mixed Ōgiminchu (Uchinānchu) born in Lima, Perú, now living on the lands of the Potano, the Timucua, the Seminole, the Miccosukee, and the Mascogo; Turtle Island (North Florida, USA).
Their interests include languages (human and computer), disability justice, and queer culture & history.
You can follow along on their instagram here: @artemishyo
Isabela [she/her]
Portuguese Transcription
Isabela is a fourth generation Luchuan/Brazilian. She is really interested in the traditional arts of Ryūkyū being Ryūkyū Buyō and Okinawa Taiko her main focus, she loves to exchange cultural, historical and political information about uchinaa. Her main life goal is to be a bridge between Uchinaa - Brazil and other communities around the world. SNS: @hanaashii_
Adriane S. [she/her] Copy Editing
... more info about Adriane coming soon...
Brandong Ufugusuku Ing [he/him]
Uchinaaguchi & Music
Bandcamp: https://brandoning.bandcamp.com
Instagram: @brandoningmusic
Ikumi Arakawa[she/her] Japanese Translation
Ikumi was born and raised in Urasoe city/Nishihara cho in Okinawa. She is interested in the oral history of diaspora, and gender studies with a perspective of diaspora. She loves nature in Okinawa and learning about different views of cultural and political information about Okinawa. In the future, Ikumi would also make a community in Okinawa to inherit and preserve the history of Uchinaa and its culture for the younger generation.
SNS: @ikumi7659
Community Partners
