File photo
Kenny Endo will bring taiko to the stage as part of the
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii's new entertainment
and education series starting Oct. 5.

JCCH hosts cultural expo

The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii will present its first "Multi-Media Expo Series" every Tuesday and Thursday beginning Oct. 5.

Sessions will promote entertainment and learning about the Japanese culture.

Events at the center, at 2454 S. Beretania St., are free for JCCH members and $2 for nonmembers. For more information, call the center at 945-7633, or visit its web site at http://www.jcch.com.

The schedule follows. Sessions will run 7 to 8 p.m. in Room 102 unless otherwise noted.

Oct. 5 -- "Taiko! A Heart Throbbing Rendezvous with the Spirit": Features the history of the taiko drums, with Kenny Endo.

Oct. 7 -- "Sumie": learn the techniques of Japanese brush painting with Nobuko Izumi.

Oct. 12 -- "Kokoro -- Children of the Meiji Era": Dr. Greg Gubler, author of "Samurai in Western Clothing," talks about values imparted to those who migrated to foreign lands, and resulting differences between Americans of Japanese ancestry and those born in Japan.

Oct. 14 -- "Erhu": Benjamin Sun performs "A Touch of Japan" on the two-stringed Chinese instrument.

Oct. 19 -- "Kodomo No Tame Ni (For the Sake of the Children)": Professor and author Dennis Ogawa will discuss cultural diversity, it's impact and ways to preserve Japanese American culture for future generations. In Room 203.

Oct. 21 -- "Spanning the Globe: Japan to America in Biomedical Technology": The university of Hawai'i's Dr. Ryuzo Yanagimachi will talk about his Hokkaido background and current research into reproductive biology that has led to international acclaim. In Room 203.

Oct. 26 -- "Omadori -- Good Luck Charms and Amulets in Buddhism and Shinto Religions": UH Professor of Religion George Tanabe talks about the origins of amulets and the reason people carry them in their bags, hang them on their bodies and in their cars. In Room 203.

Oct. 28 -- "The Honor of Swords": The Japanese Sword Society of Hawaii presents a two-hour program covering the historical, cultural and artistic aspects of the Japanese sword, with a display of swords and the opportunity for participants to have their blades cleaned and examined by JSSH members.

Nov. 2 -- "The Art and Triumph of Hawaii in Sumo": Sumo enthusiast and historian Kats Miho and other experts like John Jacques share tales of scouting for aspiring Hawaii sumotori and why the state has been so successful in recruiting and establishing major sumotori.

Nov. 4 -- "Rashomonesque Yamazakura: The Multiple Spirit of the Japanese Language": UH professor and author Yasumasa Kuroda discusses the Japanese language and its effect on Western logic and literal translation.

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