[Host, Gordon Thomas] Good evening, ladies and gentlemen welcome again to Students from Afar. This evening we're very happy to have with us a group of students from Japan and the Ryukyus Islands. Last year we had a group of students from the Ryukyus who gave us some demonstration of dances from Japan and Ryukyus Islands or better known as Okinawa. This evening we have some of those same people and some other students with us and they're going to do a little different type of program than they did the time before. I think however before we talk about what they're going to do we better find out who they are and where they come from. So I'm going to introduce some of these students at this time. Right next to me here is Kyoshi Kabira and Kyoshi I wonder if you could tell us a little about yourself. Well I came from Okinawa [Kyoshi Kabira] Well I came from Okinawa the last fall, 1953, and this is my second year. My major is radio and dramatics in the speech department. [Gordon Thomas] You're in, uh, radio? [Kyoshi Kabira] Yes, before I came to this country I was working as an announcer at the radio station which is located right in the campus of University of the Ryukyus. [Gordon Thomas] Now uh now that you're in television are you planning to start a tough station in the Ryukyus? [Kyoshi Kabira] Yes, I'd like to do maybe within 10 years. [Gordon Thomas] Well, we hope that you will be able to do that. Now, I would be interested in knowing just a little about the Ryukyus Islands. I believe, how far are they from Japan? [Kyoshi Kabira] Well, about 700 miles from southernmost island Kyushu in Japan, and those islands are located between Formosa and Kyushu in Japan. [Gordon Thomas] Now, they do have quite a connection with Japan do they not? Culturally? [Kyoshi Kabira] Oh yes, at the end of the war, the Ryukyu Islands were called prefecture of Okinawa. I should say the most southernmost prefecture of Japan, but result of the war the island came under the American military control. [Gordon Thomas] And culturally the background of those in Okinawa, the Ryukyu Islands, It's the same of those from Japan, is it not? And you speak the same language, have the same traditions and education, all that is very similar, is it not? [Kyoshi Kabira] Yes, exactly the same. [Gordon Thomas] So that if you have to speak to some of the Japanese students here on campus, you don't have any difficulty doing that? [Kyoshi Kabira] No, not at all. [Gordon Thomas] Well, let's turn to one of these students from Japan, and that's Tsuru Nakatani. Tsuru, what are you studying at Michigan State College? [Tsuru Nakatani] I'm studying adult education. [Gordon Thomas] Adult education? Yes. Well, we have quite a center of that in Bakela Center for Continuing Education here on campus. And where is your home? [Tsuru Nakatani] My hometown is Tokyo, the capital of Japan. [Gordon Thomas] Oh, that's quite a large city, is it not? [Tsuru Nakatani] Yes, it is very biggest city in Japan. [Gordon Thomas] And in Tokyo, where did you go to school? [Tsuru Nakatani] I went to the Waseda University. It's a private school and it has 30,000 students. [Gordon Thomas] 30,000? Well, I imagine Michigan State College must look quite small to you. All right, and right next to her is Shinko Hayakawa. Shinko, where do you come from? [Shinko Hayakawa] I came from Kobe, Japan. [Gordon Thomas] From Kobe? And how far away from Tokyo is that? [Shinko Hayakawa] Oh, it takes about eight hours by train. [Gordon Thomas] And that is I believe a seaport is it not? [Shinko Hayakawa] Yes, it is very big seaport. [Gordon Thomas] And you, what subject are you studying here? [Shinko Hayakawa] I am studying in recreational education. [Gordon Thomas] Recreational education? That means that you are over in the physical education department, which strangely enough leads us right into the kind of thing that we're going to do on this program and that is the games of Okinawa and Japan. I don't I imagine that there are some games that you have in Japan that are the same as in the United States isn't that right? [Shinko Hayakawa] Yes, we do basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball - everything we do. [Gordon Thomas] Well there wouldn't be much point talking about those games - we have them in this country and there's not quite enough room here to play a football game or a basketball game, but I think we might talk about some of the others - the indoor games that you have in Japan and the Ryukyu Islands and Kyoshi I'm going to ask you if you will tell us a little about what you have in store for us this evening. [Kyoshi Kabira] Well, we've prepared five games and those are very typical Japanese indoor games. I think you might find some resemblance out of those games which we are going to play tonight. [Gordon Thomas] I imagine there will be some things that are similar perhaps to American games but these are not the kind of games that you do find in United States ordinarily, although I imagine you do play some games uh somewhat similar to ours. [Kyoshi Kabira] Yes, like cards game and chess and checkers is quite popular even in Japan. [Gordon Thomas] You do play card games for instance, bridge, other games similar games to that and you also have of course chess which I think originated in the far east. [Kyoshi Kabira] But we don't call the card game, we call trump. oh you do I think [Gordon Thomas] Oh you do? [Kyoshi Kabira]  I think this language came from Portuguese or maybe Spanish, I'm not sure. [Gordon Thomas] It may be we also use that term but as part of one of our games. Now, what about the first game that you are planning? [Kyoshi Kabira] Well tonight two uh girls, uh Shinko and Tsuru, are going to play "Se, Se, Se," which we usually call (the name of the game). [Gordon Thomas] Now what kind of game is this? Who plays it in Japan? [Kyoshi Kabira] Well this is very common uh game, besides this is not competitive game. This is just a game for fun and pleasure among young kids about uh well should I say grade school children. [Gordon Thomas] Not played by older children? (Kyoshi: Yeah that's right.) All right even though they are older we'll have them demonstrate this game of "Se, Se, Se." [Playing game] [Gordon Thomas] I'd be interested uh Kiyoshi Kabira and asking you why they call this game "Se, Se, Se?" [Kyoshi Kabira] I think as you have noticed uh this uh wrapping hands game involves a song start with "Se, Se, Se" - that is the one reason why we call this game "Se, Se, Se." [Gordon Thomas] Well it looks quite complicated. I'm surprised the small children can play it. [Kyoshi Kabira] Don't you have a similar game like this in America? [Gordon Thomas] Well I think we do have some games in which they use songs and uh perhaps clap hands but i don't think it's quite as complicated as this. While we've been talking we've been joined by two other young ladies and I think we better introduce them. And so right next to Kyoshi is Chizuko Kamiya and Chizuko where do you come from? [Chizuko Kamiya] Well I come from Okinawa. [Gordon Thomas] From Okinawa? So I take it that you went to the University of Ryukyus? [Chizuku] No, uh I went, I went to school in Tokyo. [Gordon Thomas] You went to Tokyo school? That shows I think the close connection between the two cultures of Japan and the Ryukyu Island. What are you studying here? [Chizuku] Journalism. [Gordon Thomas] Journalism? Does that mean that you're going to be a newspaper reporter when you go back home? [Chizuku] Yes I hope so. [Gordon Thomas] Well I hope so, too. Now the next person is someone that I think that most of our audience has met before, has appeared on this program before and has also appeared on Mr. Buell's program, "Curtain Going Up." This young lady, just in case you don't know her, is Hiroko Nishiro Nishiro. And Hiroko Nishiro, where is your hometown? [Hiroko Nishiro] I'm from Okinawa. [Gordon Thomas] And what are you studying here at Michigan State? [Hiroko Nishiro] I'm studying home economics. [Gordon Thomas] What do you plan to do with this training in home economics when you get back home? [Hiroko Nishiro] Well, when I finish studying here, I'd like to go home to Okinawa and I'd like to teach at the University of the Ryukyus. [Gordon Thomas] I think we might stop on that cue for just a moment, because I think it might be pointed out that Michigan State College is more or less adopted, if I could use that term, the University of the Ryukyus, has helped it in a number of ways and has sent members of its staff to the university for several years now, isn't that right? And I believe this year, for the first time, the University of the Ryukyus has sent members of its staff to Michigan State College. Am I right in that? (Hiroko Nishiro: Yes) Well we we think it's a wonderful thing. We are very happy that we can help in some small way and we do hope that when you go back you will be able to help the university too. But perhaps that's enough of this discussion of the university, we might turn our attention again to some of these games that you have in mind. What is the next game that you are going to play? [Gordon Thomas] [Hiroko Nishiro] This is [Japanese language], what we call a paper balloon, and this is also played by little children in Japan, and this balloon is made of paper, and this is also not a competitive game, just played by little children for enjoyment. [Gordon Thomas] I wish our audience could see these because of the very gay colors on them, colored strips of these uh papers made out entirely out of paper - white, blue, red, purple, yellow and so on and it's filled with a small hole at the top and simply blow into it and the balloon fills and stays that way for some time, doesn't it? Suppose that you two young ladies move over there and play this game. I believe Kiyoshi Kabira that this is somewhat similar to volleyball isn't it? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Yes indoor volleyball. [Gordon Thomas] Yes, they simply bat these balloons back and forth? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Yeah, that's right. [Gordon Thomas] Well suppose we watch them then. [Playing game] [Gordon Thomas] You could see this actually on the set I think it's a very pretty picture where the two young ladies dressed in their very colorful kimono's, batting this paper balloon back and forth. But perhaps now we should turn our attention to the next game that you are going to participate in. I believe that involves these chopsticks that are in front of us, isn't that right? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Yes, well our next game which we are going to play is well "picking beans" or "carrying beans." Sometimes we call even "chopstick relay." [Gordon Thomas] Now it's my understanding that you don't just use this, the chopsticks, for carrying beans? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Oh, no, we don't The chopsticks are very, very important daily tool as well as your knives and forks and spoons for eating food and we use chopsticks for every three meals. I see. Now you make them out of a number of different materials, don't you? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Yes, after the common use of chopsticks, those chopsticks are usually made of wood, like bamboo, an ebony tree, if I have to talk about rather expensive ones. And those wood are usually covered by lacquerware, like this. This is very common chopstick you usually find in Japanese homes. [Gordon Thomas] Now do you have any others that are more decorated than this particular one? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Yes. And this is we call a chopstick box and we place a pair of chopsticks in it and these are rather beautiful and well-made chopsticks inlaid. [Gordon Thomas] They're very beautiful black with I think mother of pearl [Kiyoshi Kabira] Yea that's right [Gordon Thomas] Probably inlaid all the length of the chopstick itself. I noticed one other pair down there in front of you Kyoshi What is that? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Well, this is a very handy type of Chopstick we usually carry with lunch box. Maybe I Can call this pair of chopsticks as picnic type of chopsticks. [Gordon Thomas]  Oh, and you carry that around on your person. Is that right? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Yeah, I can we can hold in very handy way Maybe and the people who wear Japanese kimono. We just put this chopstick in here [Gordon Thomas]  Well, that's a very handy place to put it that if you wear the suit as you usually do Then you put it all right here. [Kiyoshi Kabira] right to carry in your pocket It's a lot [Gordon Thomas] It's a lot more difficult for us to carry around a complete set of silverware in our Pockets now suppose you visit a restaurant. What do you do? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Well, they have which we usually call sanitary chopsticks, covered by a napkin or sometimes in an envelope. And those chopsticks are usually used for one time. [Gordon Thomas] It's just the same idea as the straws that we find in a drugstore in this country. I noticed you picked up that box. Just what is the purpose of that box? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Well, this is very typical Japanese custom, but this custom is rather similar to your custom of napkin ring. I understand usually each member of your family has their own napkin rings. That's right. So is in Japan. Each member of family has their own chopstick box. so in case the mother or housewife are going to set the table for dinner or lunch they usually place this box chopsticks in it the place where each one of family is supposed to sit there [Gordon Thomas] I imagine that would make a very attractive table setting particularly with this inlaid material along the top of the box now I understand that the Chinese also use chopsticks is that the (yes) same as the Japanese? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Yes the Chinese use chopsticks but as far as the size is concerned there is a distinct difference between Japanese chopsticks and Chinese chopsticks they are longer about this one this long or maybe around that and thicker [Gordon Thomas] now just how do you hold these chopsticks? [Kiyoshi Kabira] well this is the way and we usually hold chopsticks like this. [Gordon Thomas] looks very, it looks very simple but I don't think I better try it uh perhaps we better move into this game which you are going to use these now what is the purpose of this particular game? [Kiyoshi Kabira]  Well, this is a game which we call "picking bean." In a certain period of time, how many beans you could pick up by your chopsticks? [Gordon Thomas] I would gather this is a competitive game, then. [Kiyoshi Kabira] Yes, very competitive. Just like this. [Gordon Thomas] Oh, very simple, isn't it? Well, suppose you join Tsuru over there, and you two see in this competitive game what you can do. [Kiyoshi Kabira] all right. [Gordon Thomas] now you'll notice that they handle these chopsticks very easily they pick up these round beans and put them from one place to another and in a given length of time see which one can get the most transport the most beans with the chopstick [playing "picking bean"] [Gordon Thomas] When those two people do this game it looks very simple but I'm sure that if Americans were to participate in this, they might have a little more difficulty. In fact, I have an idea that in the same length of time, they probably wouldn't have been able to pick up one of these beans. Kiyoshi, how did the game come out? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Well, she picked up 17 beans and I picked up only 10 beans. [Gordon Thomas] Oh, does that mean that the girls are always better than the fellas in this game? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Well, I don't think so because I have been in this country more than one year and she came to this country just two months ago (Oh), this explained why [Gordon Thomas] I think that's a very nice explanation and I think we'll just leave it at that. Now you have one last game I believe, in which all of you are going to participate. What do you call this game? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Well, you mean the game before luck on... What about the Bean bag? [Gordon Thomas] Oh, that's right. I forgot that we have another game concerned with beans. (Yeah), and this time that they are contained in bags rather than using them individually. [Kiyoshi Kabira] That's right. [Gordon Thomas] And who uses this kind of game? I mean, do you play it all the way up through the grades? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Well, I think some high school girls will play this sort of game; juggling bean bags. But I don't think The older than grade school kids will play. [Gordon Thomas] And what is the purpose of this game? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Well on this technique rather similar to your what do you call "Dumbbell?" "Juggling Dumbbell?" [Gordon Thomas] I see and it's simply a process of juggling this (Yeah) either by themselves or with two or more people? [Kiyoshi Kabira] That's right. [Gordon Thomas] Well, I think we might be interested in watching these two young ladies  Who are going to juggle these bean bags. [Hiroko Nishiro] This is a game played by little children in Japan And when they start to learn They use two bags and two hands This is the easiest way and the first step of learning How to play and when they master this they are used one hand... two bags And in this stage, there are more variations. [Showing one variation of game] [Hiroko Nishiro] This is another kind of variation. [Showing another kind of variation of the game] [Hiroko Nishiro] And after they master two bags, they start to use three bags. This is a more complicated way. [Showing a third variation of the game] [Hiroko Nishiro] And when we have company, we play each other. [Hiroko Nishiro and Shinko Hayakawa play the game together] [Gordon Thomas] I think I would probably have more success picking up beans with chopsticks than I were attempting to juggle these bean bags. But we now come to the game that I mentioned before. And what do you call this game? [Kiyoshi Kabira] We call this Lakan-san. [Gordon Thomas] And what does that mean? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Well, Lakan-san itself means Disciples of Buddha And I don't know why people start calling this game Lakan-san. I presume This game involves the different gesture and also with this game is always played by a group of people and each member of the people It's supposed to have a certain gesture and making a circle. For example, one person might have this gesture, one person might have this, another person might have this. And this game involves carrying these gestures around the circle. For example, if I have this and you are sitting next to me, you have to carry this gesture in the next step. I have and you might have this This sort of gesture and the next person sitting next to you has to do this at the same time. [Gordon Thomas] And this is a game that is played by all the people is that right? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Well it could be playing because this game is very very convenient game to decide a Person who is supposed to sing, or perform, or dance; something in case of talent show. [Gordon Thomas] All right, suppose we watch this game then I think Kyoshi you are going to participate in this. (Yes) Are you not? I suppose you join the young ladies over there and we'll see just how this game goes. [Kiyoshi Kabira walks over to where "Lakan-san" is going to be played] [Playing "Lakan-san"] Well, it's a very confusing game at least to Western eyes I think, but it looks as though it's lots of fun. And Now that Kiyoshi is joining me over here. I'd like to ask him about something else that perhaps isn't exactly a game but something that you have been doing and I think most Japanese and Ryukian children do and that is the making of paper toys. [Kiyoshi Kabira] Yeah, that's right. We call this in Japanese "Origami" it means folding paper because if you said paper toys it rather sound requiring complex techniques like cutting, or pasting and gluing; but here is a piece of paper see we make everything such as crane, or boat, or hat, or kite, whatever you want to make from this piece of paper just by folding without cutting or pasting In other words, we don't use scissors at all. [Gordon Thomas] Oh, you just take the square piece of paper and fold it into different shapes? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Yeah, this is a common size of paper which the girls usually use Or incidentally, this is a very common curriculum in Kindergarten and the lower grade in grade school. and I believe you [Gordon Thomas] And I believe you use these for decorations. (Yeah), don't you? [Kiyoshi Kabira] Oh, yeah, this is gonna be a very good decoration for Christmas tree, too. [Gordon Thomas] Well, perhaps the audience might watch the girls doing this and be able to hang them on the Christmas tree. I think if you can look at the girls as they make these toys you'll notice first of all that Tsuru who is wearing a hat is also making a hat just by folding this square piece of paper and then right next to her is Shinko, and Shinko is making a crane and that is a very typical bird I believe in Japan or the Ryukyus. Then Hiroko is working on a "sampan" or a Japanese boat. Now keep in mind that these are folded and not not glued or cut in any way. And then finally Chisiko is working on a kite which is a little more complicated kind of toy than some of the others. We'd like to thank the students from Japan and the Ryukyu Islands for being with us this evening. I think this little program of indoor games has been very interesting and particularly this last game which is a game that is quite common amongst the children in Japan and the Ryukyu Islands and which has many legends and stories connected with it we're very glad that you could have been with us this evening and we'd like to invite you to be with us again when Students From Afar will present a program of South American dances featuring two students from Brazil. That time won't you join us for Students From Afar; good evening