HDAHF had its annual Maizome, or first dance of the year, on March 2,2013 at the Mission Memorial Auditorium.
Congratulations! Omedeto Gozaimasu!
“Minasama taihen otsukare sama deshita.” Thank you all for all your hard work today. “Okage sama de” we had a successful Maizome. It was due to everyone’s efforts and support that we had a very good event today.
A special “Arigato Gozaimasu” to our great MCs, Bethany, Will and Saritsu-san…thank you for a great job and for jumping in to help each other. Thank you Mitsuyasu-san for helping to coordinate this year’s Maizome and for doing a great job!
“Otsukare sama deshita” to Itsue-sensei, Mitsutamae-sensei, Mitsujyuro-san, Mitsuakemi-san, Mitsuemi-san, Mikami-san, Mitsuasa-san, Mitsukane-san, Renee C., Lynn H., Linda G., Milton K., Gordon H., Craig N. who all helped with the prepping, coordinating and backstage/on stage assistance….etc.
Congratulations to all the performers for doing a great job! All your okeiko paid off!! Thank you to all the parents, spouses, family and friends for their huge support and help! Omedeto Gozaimasu to Hanayagi Mitsuakemi, Hisamatsu Mari, Bethany S. and Will W. on being recognized for their accomplishments!
“Minasama korekara mo yoroshiku onegai shimasu”. I humbly ask for everyone’s continued support and help.
Another proud performance by our HDAHF students at the JCCH Ohana Festival – Mitsujyuro-san, Sau Yan-chan, Mari-chan, Kiyoko-chan, Miki Mei-chan, and Sumiko-san!!!
Thank you also to Mitsuakemi-san and Saritsu-san for their assistance as koken and emcee for our performance today and to our natoris, Itsue-sensei, Mikami-san, Mitsunayo-san, Mitsuai-san, Mitsuasa-san, Mitsuemi-san, who helped to dress our students.
On January 5, natori and students of HDAHF continued their long tradition of helping the Japanese Chamber of Commerce throw their annual Shinnen Enkai – New Year’s Banquet. Three students performed dances as part of the banquet dining entertainment, followed by the Shoko Shiranami Gonin Otoko kabuki play, staring members of the Chamber. Numerous HDAHF natori prepared costumes, props, and wigs, applied theatrical make up, dressed performers, and helped break it all down again to be put back into storage. Domo arigato gozaimasu everyone for putting in such a long day!!
THANK YOU to all of our HDAHF natori, students, and parents for your participation at the Japanese Women’s Society Foundation’s “Friendship Tea” event at Hale Pulama Mau on June 3, 2012! Bethany, Kaitlyn, Catherine, Dorthea, Cassie, Saritsu-san, Samei-san, and Mitsujyuro-san – you all were so-o-o good!!! The members were very impressed with all of our students, and one member in particular kept asking how long each of our students have been taking dance lessons. She even asked of our young students – who their parents were, and commented that she could see how supportive they are 🙂 YES, that certainly is true!!!!
On April 29, HDAHF performed at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i as part of the Kodomo no Hi – Keiki Fun Fest. The courtyard stage was quite blustery – but all of the dancers kept dancing despite the winds :)Thank you to Mitsuemi-sensei for taking care of the forms with JCCH, Mitsuai-sensei, Mikami-sensei and Samei-sensei for dressing our students and to all of our loyal parents and grandparent (Mitsuasa-sensei) who supported their children!
HDAHF perfomed at Kotohira Jinsha’s annual Spring Thanksgiving or Taisai festival on April 15, 2012. Hanayagi Mitsujyuro and Jill M. danced for the guests and Kineya Sakio sang while Kineya Samei accompanied him in the shamisen. This year, the Kotohira Jinsha also gave an education scholarship to our own Bryson G. as well as to three other university students. This is the first year they have offered scholarships! Domo arigatogozaimasu!
The Hanayagi Dancing Academy-Hawaii Foundation’s annual Maizome or first recital of the year was a great success! The performance was held on February 11, 2012 at the Mission Memorial Auditorium.
In addition to having shamisen and Nihon buyo performances by all of our current students, HDAHF was also proud to honor a few of of its students for their years of study with the Academy. The professional stage name of Hisamatsu Sumiko was bestowed on Sumiko Holmes for her achievements in dance. Senior Nihon buyo (dance) Certificates were awarded to Jill Ann Mari N. and Alyssa Erika F. Sophmore Nihon buyo went to Sarah Chiemi H. Junior Shamisen Certificates went to Ally Akemi C. and Jill Ann Mari N. Sophomore Shamisen went to Yukiko S.
As part of its New Year’s tradition, the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai’i rang in 2012 with its annual New Year’s ‘Ohana Festival on Sunday, January 8, 2012 . This fun-filled event featured food, crafts, entertainment and cultural demonstrations of the people who make up this island state. HDAHF performed a selection of dances and one shamisen piece!
MAHALO to the natoris (Itsue-sensei, Mikami-sensei, Mitsuai-sensei, Mistuyasu-sensei, Mitsunayo-sensei, Mitsuemi-sensei, Mitsuasa-sensei), and also to our students (Teruo, Stacie, Erika, Bethany, Akemi) for assisting at Kotohira Jinsha’s Shichigosan from Oct. 17 – Nov. 20. On the last day of Shichigosan, Reverend Takizawa expressed his appreciation to all of the Hanayagi natoris and students, and Shinken Naitoh, President of the Board of Directors, presented our school with $2000. Domo arigato gozaumasu to Reverend Takizawa and Kotohira Jinsha for their very generous donation to us!!
Our principal, Hanayagi Mitsutamae-sensei represented HDAHF at the United Japanese Society’s Annual Memorial Service on Saturday, November 19 at the Honpa Hongwanji Mission on Pali Highway. This annual event is held to remember departed members. Both our Oshisho-san (Hanyagi Mitsuaki I) and Nidaime (Mitsuaki II) were recognized at the Memorial Service.