UK-Based Doctor Wins Sanshin Newcomer Award at Yaeyama Classical Arts Competition

Public date: 14:39, September 8, 2024 Update date: 14:40, September 8, 2024

The results of the 13th Yaeyama Classical Arts Competition Newcomer Award were announced on the 5th at the Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper office in Izumizaki, Naha City, and Makoto Hirakawa (51), who came to Okinawa from the UK to take the exam, was successful. Hirakawa took the exam for the first time in 13 years after practicing remotely between the UK and Okinawa and practicing individually.

“The love that people overseas have for Okinawan culture and music is strong. I play the sanshin because I feel that I must respond to that,” Hirakawa said.

Hirakawa is from Naha City. He started learning the sanshin at the Nakaoshita Hiroya Institute in Naha City when he was 24 years old. He applied for the same competition in 2011 but failed.

In 2014, he moved to the UK to work as a doctor at a Japanese hospital in London. He said that his time there “made me think a lot about my identity.” His motivation for the sanshin changed, and he began to practice remotely with Naka Osoko twice a month, playing the sanshin whenever he had free time. When he returned home once a year, he went to the research institute almost every day. It was the result of his hard work that led to the Newcomer Award.

The London Okinawa Sanshin Club, to which Hirakawa belongs, has been hosting “Okinawa Day” together with the British Okinawan Association since 2009. In addition to performances of Eisa, Karate and folk songs, the event is so successful that the Okinawan food on display at the venue quickly sells out.

Hirakawa said, “If Okinawans can better understand the goodness of Okinawan culture and music and share it with local people, we can overcome the distance and get closer to each other.” He enthusiastically said, “I want to spread the word that Okinawans are working hard to hold events in Europe.”

By Tomoya Kadekaru