Nidaime Teishin Kai Hawaii Shibu

(pictured from left to right: Kiyoshi-sensei, Scotty Moriyama and Norman Kaneshiro-sensei)

[Kiyoshi Kinjo is the founder of the Nidaime Teishin Kai Hawaii Shibu. The text below was published in the "Uta ya Sanshin Udui Haneekachi" April 17, 2004, program booklet.]

Kiyoshi Kinjo-sensei was born into the world of the performing arts and classical Okinawan music. His father, Kokichi Kinjo, was a renowned jikata (music accompaniment) musician who was regularly relied upon by Iemoto Seijyu Tamagusuku, Grand Master of the Tamagusuku School of Ryukyuan Dance. As a youngster, his playmates and oneesan (big sisters) are now the current generation of esteemed dance masters of their respective schools in Okinawa. During his formative years, he was surrounded by gifted kumiudui (operatic) artists and tireless students who provided a rich environment for a sensei who had not yet realized his calling.

With a mischievous smile, Kiyoshi-sensei retorts, “Too busy playing!”, as his reason for a late start. Well into his twenties, he moved to Hawaii to study English. And, like the first generation of immigrants who started a new life in the islands, the separation from Okinawa triggered a sense of appreciation and longing for what he had left behind.

In 1963, Kiyoshi-sensei became a student of the late master sanshin sensei Seiko Ikehara (Ikehara Kyuu Yoo Ongaku Kai) in Hawaii. Ikehara-sensei’s influence was the catalyst for Kiyoshi-sensei’s desire to expand his interest in Okinawan music. So it was in 1974, a fateful visit to Club Hanagasa catapulted Kiyoshi-sensei into the world of Okinawan minyo (folk) music. Perhaps it was the flawless, rhythmic performance of Nobuko Tanaka, Junko Bise, and Keiko Kina accompanied by Ryosei Oshiro and Shoei Moriyama or the camaraderie of the Okinawan transplants, Kiyoshi-sensei was smitten. He was immediately drawn to the music and the people who would become life-long friends. The first song that he learned and continues to be his favorite is “Wakare no Kemuri.” It is coincidentally a song that was composed by the late founder of the Teishin Kai, Teihan China-sensei.

Since then, Kiyoshi-sensei has been actively involved with the Okinawan performing arts in Hawaii. He has worked for numerous performance as stage manager and stage director, and his close ties with performers from Okinawa brought many shows to Hawaii. Kiyoshi-sensei’s activity has gone beyond Okinawan music, as he served as Cultural Director for the Hawaii United Okinawa Association and played a large role on the Hawaii Okinawa Center Fundraiser Committee. Most notably, the “Chibariyo!” cassette and CD projects were very close to Kiyoshi-sensei’s heart. He selected most of the songs for the recordings and played background music for many of the singers. The “Chibariyo!” 1998 CD was so popular that it was even nominated for a Na Hoku Hanohano Award.

Kiyoshi-sensei has performed throughout the United States, including Vancouver, Canada. He and his team of musicians along with Violet Ogawa-sensei and the Paranku Clubs of Hawaii and traditional Okinawan dance masters of the Tamagusuku Ryu Shosetsu Kai performed in Washington D.C., New York, Jacksonville, North Carolina, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco and Okinawa, Japan. He has truly been an ambassador for Hawaii and Okinawan music.

He has done much to preserve and perpetuate Okinawan music by creating opportunities for people who otherwise might not have the chance to perform. A challenging aspect of Okinawan music is the ability to perform as part of the jikata or musical ensemble for dance. In the early 1980’s, Ishikawa brothers, Kazuo and Shigeru, and Kiyoshi-sensei collaborated to hone their skills as uta-sanshin (voice + sanshin) musicians who could provide the musical accompaniment for the various local Okinawan dance schools as well as visiting dance companies from Okinawa. Since then, many have benefitted by his guidance and expertise in the art of playing jikata for dancers. His mentoring is a tremendous labor of love as he interprets the nuance of dance styles and song combinations. Most recently, Kiyoshi-sensei’s efforts to promote Okinawan music have resulted in the establishment of the Nidaime Teishin Kai Hawaii Shibu. It was thirty years ago when Kiyoshi-sensei first met minyo master Sadao China-sensei at a performance in Hawaii. Although their friendship and mutual respect happened quickly, it took a number of times to convince Kiyoshi-sensei, along with Shoei Moriyama and Ryosei Oshiro to finally accept the weighty responsibility of beginning the Nidaime Teishin Kai school in Hawaii.

After fifty years of involvement with the Okinawan community, there is a deeper level to the appreciation of today’s (“Uta ya Sanshin Udui Haneekachi” concert on April 17, 2004—Takeshi) celebration. The reality of this fifth anniversary production is recognizing the career of a man who thought he was “too busy playing,” when all the while he was preparing for today’s performance.

Listen:

• Kiyoshi Kinjo-sensei performs the song “Choudeegwaa Bushi.”
  

• Kiyoshi Kinjo-sensei performs the song “Shirakumu Bushi,” with Ryosei Oshiro-sensei.