オハイオ州沖縄友の会ニュースレター
Okinawa Tomonokai of Ohio
January 25, 2014 Newsletter
オハイオ州
沖縄友の会会員、ご家族、そして友人のみなさん
新年あけましておめでとうございます。
昨年の２０１３年は、皆さんの惜しみないご支援とご協力に支えられ、全てのイベントを大成功に終わることができました。あらためて皆さんのご尽力に感謝申し上げます。
今年もまた、引き続き友の会の繁栄を支えていただきますよう、宜しくお願い致します。

タ イ ト ル ： My Story My History ・ 私 の 物
語・私の歴史 対
象：友の会会員。65 歳
以上の沖縄県出身者 形
式：レターサイズ１～2 枚程度。日本語。（編集スタッフで英語翻訳いたします）
内
容：自分のこれまでの歴史や、次世代へのメッセージ
添付：写真を 1 枚。本人の顔写真または家族のスナップ写真。或いは好きな写真。
提出期限：第１次期限を 2014 年 6 月 30 日とします。
紙に書くよりも話を聞かせるほうがよいと思われる方は、直接あるいは、電話インタビューで受け付けたいと思います。また、このような作業をサポートできる編集スタッフも募集していますので、ご協力いただける方は和美マカウスキーへご連絡ください。原稿が提出され次第、ニュースレターでもその都度ご紹介して行く予定です。以上、ご質問やご提案のある方は、和美マカウスキーまで（937307-5474）ご遠慮なくにメッセージを残してください。

私が友の会にかかわるようになって以来、たくさんの素敵な先輩方との出会いがありました。
先輩方と会うごとに、その方々の行き抜いた人生を、どうにかお子さんやお孫さん、そして友の会の皆さん、また他州の県人会のメンバーにも知っていただきたいという思いが強 最後になりましたが、今年 2014 年も皆さんくなってきました。生まれ島を離れ、この広 がご健康に恵まれ、安全で安心な生活を過ご大な地で生き抜いてきた我らうちなーんちゅ され、そして益々ご活躍されますことを心よの皆さんの物語、そして歴史を一冊の文集に りお祈りいたします。
まとめて行きたいと考えています。
和美マカウスキー
アメリカに来るきっかけになったエピソード、アメリカ生活のなかで思わず笑ってしまうよ
うな面白い話、またうちなーんちゅとして子2014 Spring Celebration will be on
や孫に伝えておきたいことなど、普段の自分
April 26 at The Capital City Church.の言葉で表現していただければと思うのです。
Please mark your calendar.
以下に、その概略をお知らせいたしますので、ふるってご参加下さいます様、お願いいたします。

Dear members, family members and friendsof Okinawa Tomonokai of Ohio

Please see the following summary and join
us to this memorable project.

Happy New year to all of you!

Title: My Story, My History

Last year in 2013, all of Tomonokai events
had succeeded with your tremendous support and help. Thank you so much for youreffort.

Who: Tomonokai members who are originallyfrom Okinawa, at least 65 years old.

I’d like to ask your continuous support for ourTomonokai’s prosperity.
Since I became involving with Tomonokai, I
have so many encounters with wonderful
Okinawan ladies. The more I met them, myfeeling had grown deeper that I want to introduce their story and history to their own children, grandchildren, spouses, members indifferent states. These Uchinanchu (Okinawan) ladies left the Ryukyu Islands to live in
the great land of the USA. I’m sure they
have many unique stories and own history
such as the reason for moving in here, funny
episodes in American life, and also something to tell your children and grandchildren
as a native Okinawan. The writing should bevery simple with your own words.

Format: 1 – 2 pages in Japanese(Edit staff will translate in English)
Photo: 1 Photo (Choice of your face photo,family snap shot, or something you like)Due date:

First Due is June 30, 2014

If you prefer “talking” rather than “writing”, wecan do a face-to-face or telephone interview.
We’re also looking for volunteer editing staff
who can support this project. As we collect
your article, we’d like to share one by one in
the Tomonokai newsletter.
Please contact Kazumi Makowski if you
should have any suggestion and question.
(Leave a message at 937-307-5474)
Last but not least, I wish you all great health,safe & peace in your daily life, and prosperityof you and yours in 2014.
Kazumi Makowski

2014 Spring Celebration will be onApril 26 at The Capital City Church.
Please mark your calendar.

Johnston Quads

After years of wanting children and of disappointing efforts to make that happen, Annie and herhusband, Joby, both 34, were welcoming quadruplets nobody expected in a manner that has
astounded and delighted everyone from doctors tostrangers in hospital hallways. But on Oct. 24, in
an OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital operating room, no amount of awe over the rarity ofthese births could compete with the joy.
Annie and Joby were married in 2005. Threeyears later, they decided to start a family. “Whenwe were ready, we thought it would just happen,”
Annie said. What followed were five years ofdashed hopes and no answers. Eventually, they
tried in vitro fertilization. None of the four embryos that were implanted resulted in a pregnancy.
“You just feel helpless,” Annie said. Chrissy
wanted to help her younger sister and graciously
offered to carry a baby for Annie and Joby.
Doctors see it sometimes. A couple stops trying to get pregnant, and that’s when it happens.
There’s much that scientists have come to understand about infertility, but much remains a mystery. In what at that point felt like a medical Hail
Mary to the family, Dr. Steven Williams of Ohio
Reproductive Medicine implanted two embryos inAnnie in addition to the two in Chrissy. “Wewanted to increase our odds of getting at leastone,” Joby said. The chance of in vitro leading toa successful delivery for a woman Annie’s age isabout 46 percent, based on national data from2011, the most-recent available. For a woman
Chrissy’s age, it is about 38 percent.
The chance of twins: about 14 percent and 10percent, respectively, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention’s most-recent report. Williams had made clear that there was achance that they’d have twins and the added risks
that come with that. It seemed so improbable toAnnie and Joby after all they’d been through.
And yet, “We were ready for a new problem. If
the worst problem he can give us was now there
would be four babies, we were ready,” Joby said.
That night, the sisters, who’d been told to rest fora day, shared Annie’s bed and talked and hoped.
Joby remembers admiring the selflessness of hisin-laws.
On February 28, 2013 – they were shocked tolearn that both Chrissy and Annie were pregnant.
They figured that meant each sister would deliver
one baby. Ultrasounds in Marchshowed oth-erwise.
Quadruplets wereon the way. In June,
they learned thatChrissy was carrying two boys; Annie, two girls.
Charlie, Tommy,
Grace and Haddie
are now home with
their busy yet delighted parents. Annie andChrissy’s mom and dad — Satoko and Karl Kortlandt, formerly of Tiffin in northwestern Ohio —have moved into Joby and Annie’s home to help.
And there are an aunt and uncle down the street
who are always happy to help the Johnston children.

ジョンストン家の四つ子ちゃんが言う最悪のケースが４つ子であるなら、僕たちは準備万端だよ」とジョビー。
2013 年 2 月 28 日 - 姉妹でそれぞれ妊娠が判明し、一人ずつ生むのだと思っていた二人でしたが、どちらも双子を懐妊していることがわかったのです。ク
リシーは男の子の双子、アニーは女の子の双子です。

カール＆里子コートランド夫妻の次女アニーとご主人のジョビー（34 歳同士）は長年の努力が実り、待ち望んでいた結果が訪れました。担当医師も、看護婦も、病院の廊下を行く通りがかりの見知らぬ人まで思いもよらなかった「４つ子ちゃん」を 2013 年 10月 24 日に授かったのでした。大変珍しいケースの出産に対する恐れを吹き飛ばす喜びに包まれました。
アニーとジョビーは 2005 年に結婚。3 年後に子作りを始めました。その時が来れば子供も自然に授かれると思っていた二人は、その後 5 年間も結果が出ず、体外授精をすることになりました。しかし 4 回の胚子移植にも失敗。気を落としていたアニーを不憫におもった姉のクリシーは、代理母出産を引き受け、アニーとジョビーの子供を代わりに生むことをを決めました。
妊娠を望んでも結果が出ず、治療をやめた途端に奇跡的に子宝に恵まれるケースも時々あると医者も言うが、それはまさにミステリー。 クリシーに 2 つの胚子が移植されたあと、アニーにも 2 つの胚子が移植

長男のチャーリー、次男のトミー、長女のグレース、末っ子次女のハディーは、毎日大忙しの両親とともに自宅にいます。 アニーの両親のカールと里子コー
トランド夫妻は Tiffin からアニーの家に移転し、子育てを一緒に手伝っています。そしてその同じ通りに家を構える、やさしい叔父叔母（クリシー）もジョンストン家の子供たちの成長を共に楽しんでいます。

Upcoming Events
April 20 – Easter
April 26 – Annual Spring Celebration
at the Capital City Church
Satoko Kortlandt is searching for "Kidswith Talent" to perform at the Spring Celebration. She's looking for children dancers
and kids who can sing Japanese songs.
Please call Satoko Kortlandt 614-893-1399

されました。「そのうちの一人でも授かれば、という思いでした」とジョビー。国内データでは、アニーの年齢の女性が妊娠に成功する率は４６％で、クリシーの年齢では３８％であるとのことでした。前者に双子ができる可能性は１４％、後者は１０％。 担当医のウィリアム医師は、この二人両方に双子ができる可能性もあると、治療のリスクを説明したところ、「先生Sep 20th – Annual PicnicHighbanks ParkAnnouncements 誕生のお知らせ

Year of the Horse

Justin McVey and Eva Provenzale had a baby
girl on September 17th. Elliot Francis McVey
was 6 pounds, 12 ounces and 20 inches long.
Grandparents Tom & June McVey.

Horse (uma)

午年・馬Born 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942,
1930, 1918 & 1906. People born in the yearof the Horse are skillful in paying compliments and talk too much. They are skillful
with money and handle finances well. They
are quick thinkers, wise and talented. Horsepeople anger easily and are very impatient.

Lori and Jacob Goyer had a baby Boy on September 18. Ezra Miyagi Goyer was 7 pounds
3 ounces and 20 inches long.
Grandparents: Miko and Andy Lizon.

Okinawan Proverbs
Mii ya tin niru aru. – Our fates are as registered by heaven.
Jeff and Joanne Weingartner had a baby boy
on November 29th. William Hiro Weingartner
was 7 pounds, 12 Ounces and 22 inches long.
Grandparents Faye and Joe Riehle

Munoo yuu iyuru mun. – Speak well of others.
Yaasa ru maasaru. – Food is delicious when
one is hungry.
Nmarijima nu kutuba wasshii nee kuni n wasshiin. – Forgetting your native tongue means
forgetting your native country.
Ashibi nu chura saa ninju nu sunawai. – Themore the merrier.

今ではインター
ネットでも簡単に購入することのできる、沖縄文化が誇る三線（サンシン）。
自由に海外でも三線を楽しむことができるに至った背景には、偉大な人物の貢献があったのです。5 人の息子さんとともに元気に三線つくりに励む比屋根さんを、彼の四男・良紀さんがご紹介いたします。

線に関する部品等を輸入する専門業者がいます。
人工皮を作ったきっかけは・・・
1973 年に採択されたワシントン条約の制限で、蛇の皮が輸入できなくなるとの噂を聞き、父は「三線の製作が出来なくなる」と思いました。
そのとき、物不足だった終戦直後当時から、米軍払い下げのパラシュートを利用した三線製作をしていたことがあったことを思い出し、父はその生地に、蛇柄をプリントすることを思いつきました。

知り合いの三線職人さんと、共同開発することにしたそうです。 印刷会社もそのようなことは何しろ初めてのことで、綺麗に蛇柄をプリントできず何度も失敗したようです。父は、印刷会社が諦めないようにと、失敗した商品も全て買い取ったそう～～～～＊～～～～＊～～～～＊～～です。
私の父、比屋根良繁は三線製作をする前は、 どうにか印刷も成功し、世に出したところ他の三米軍基地で働いていました。 １９６９年に退職し、 線店から、「そんな物を作ると、皮を張り替える
民間で重機のオペレーターをするために大型機仕事が無くなってしまう」との非難があったそうです。
械の免許取得などの準備をしながら、趣味で三 ところが幸いにも、三線製作組合の組合長が線を作っていました。 作った三線の棹を、三線の 「パラシュート張りは以前から行ことであり、それに塗りの職人さんへ塗りに出した際、そこへ出くわし 印刷しただけで問題ない」と言ってくれ、今では、た那覇の三線店の方の目にとまり、作りが良いと 人工皮はあたりまえになっています。
いう理由でその三線店より、製作の依頼が来ました。 １本か、２本程度だろうと思った父は、軽く 最後に・・・OK したところ何十本もの原木を預けられました。 現在、世界のいたるところで三線の愛好家が増びっくりして大急ぎで、工具や機械を揃えたのが、 えているようです。
三線職人になったきっかけだそうです。
それは、遠い地にいらっしゃる「うちなんちゅ」の皆翌１９７０年に三線製作所をスタートしました。
さんが、琉球の文化を誇りに思い継承して下さっているからだと思います。 世界の父には三線職人の師匠についていたわけではな うちなんちゅに感謝しています。
く、自己流で三線を作り始めたので、当初一人901-1414
で大変苦労をしました。 趣味の域を超えたプロ
沖縄県南城市佐敷字津波古 1377-1の作り、綺麗な型や、蛇皮の張り具合を自分で 比屋根三味線製作所 比屋根良繁 (父) ・良研究を重ね、何度も失敗を繰り返しました。 蛇 紀 (四男) 比屋根ぬり工房 代表 比屋根良彰の皮については、父が三線作りを始める前から、 (三男)専門の輸入業者がいたそうです。 今もなお、三We can easily order Okinawa Sanshin (3-stringinstrument) through internet nowadays. There is aman behind the scene who contributed his life toactualize people outside of Japan to enjoy the instrument. This great man has 5 sons who are following his footsteps in making sanshins. I’d liketo introduce Yoshinori, the 4th son whose article isabout his father.
～～～～＊～～～～＊～～～～＊～～～～
My father, Yoshishige Hiyane used to work on aUS Military base before he became a Sanshinmaker. He left the base job in 1969 to prepare
work as a heavy machinery operator. His hobby
then was making Sanshins on his own. One day,he took his hand-made rod to a Sanshin painter in
Naha City, a man from Sanshin dealer in Nahacity saw the high quality job of my father's rod.
This Sanshin dealer wanted my father to makesome more for him. My father thought he could
make a couple more for this man’s shop, so heaccepted the offer. However, the order was notjust a couple, but it was more than several original
woods he received. Surprised, my father had topurchase tools and machines to catch up. That
was the reason he became a professional Sanshinmaker. He opened his shop the following year in1970.
My father didn’t have a mentor in Sanshin
craftsmanship. His technique was created on hisown, so he had to go through hardships all byhimself in the beginning. He studied and selftaught the professional crafter’s techniques inshapes of the instrument and snake skin wrappingskills that are far beyond hobby level work. Hehad tried over and over again as he failed so manytimes. Even before his time then, there were many
“Snake skin traders”. We still have some exclusive traders who handle Sanshin parts.
How he came up with the idea of making artificial snake skin. In 1973, as soon as my father
heard about the Washington Convention which
prohibits importing snake skins (they are on theCITES list), he thought he would lose his business.
While he was looking for solutions, he remembered about US Military surpluses of parachutesthat they used in making Sanshin during post
WWII, and got an idea of printing snake skin patterns on it.
He decided to have a joint invention with hisfriend. As for the involved printing company, it
was their very first trial. They couldn’t make clear
snake prints and failed more than they can count.
My father purchased all those failures no matter
how many there were because he didn’t want theprinting company to give up. His idea of printing
snake skin finally came to success, and shipped
them out to the market. Sanshin repair shops were
not happy to see his creation because they mightlose their customers for it. However, the president of the Sanshin Union convinced the repair
shops by saying “the Parachute skin has been in
our market for a long time. It just printed now, so
this is no problem”. Because of the president’s
voice, my father’s invention “artificial snakeskin” on Sanshin is a part of Okinawan culture
now.
Lastly・・・ I see many people around theglobe who love to play the Sanshin nowadays. Isincerely think it is just because world-wideUchinanchu are proud of their Okinawa/Ryukyu
culture and carrying it on to each respective country. I thank all Uchinanchu around the globe.

2014 Spring Celebration will be onApril 26 at The Capital City Church.
Please mark your calendar.

Tomonokai Officers
President - Kazumi Makowski
Vice President – Karl KortlandtEntertainment Coordinator – Satoko Kortlandt
Communication Coordinator – June McVey
Secretary – Tom McVey
Assistant Treasurer – Richard Burgan
Treasurer – Yoshiko Burgan

Tomonokai Trustees
Kazue Motoki, Chizuko Reese, Andy Lizon, Hideko
Moore, Richard Marang

Our Email address: okinawaohio@gmail.com
Google Voice phone number (740) 777-6242
Address:
Okinawa Tomonokai of Ohio
PO Box 6001
Hilliard, OH 43026
Website: ohio-tomonokai.com
Please do a google search for Ohio Tomonokai
to find videos and info about our Kai

2013 Spring Festival - DVD
Buy a Copy for your Library – Only $10
Bill Brett brought hishigh quality video camera to the 2013 Spring
Festival and Bill has
made a DVD of the performances. The DVD
includes a dozen performances and features close ups of the performers. So far we have orders for 20 DVDs.
This is your opportunity to build your library ofTomonokai performances. They make nicegifts for your friends and family
If you would like a copy of this DVD, thenplease call Michiko Brett at 216-221-4065.
They are just $10 and the proceeds go to theTomonokai. Orders will also be taken at thepicnics
2014 Spring Celebration will be on
April 26 at The Capital City Church.
Please mark your calendar.

Financial and Membership Report
December 31, 2013
Checking Balance as of 1/1/2013
Total Deposits 1/1/2013 – 12/31/2013
Total Withdrawals 1/1/2013 – 12/31/2013
Checking Balance as of 12/31/2013$11,242.61$15,627.10-$8,049.99$18,819.72

Categorized Expenses
Sympathy Donations (per by-laws)
Newsletter & Mailings
Donations to other Kenjinkai’s
Asian Festival
Spring Party
Fall Picnic
Sponsor Uchinanchu Youth Festival Travel
Micellaneous and Office Expenses
Total Expenses 1/1/2013 – 12/31/2013-$145.64-$535.05-$300.00-$3,292.48-$1,218.21-$637.73-$645.55-$225.33-$6,999.99

Cash for Change Making
Total Withdrawals-$1,050.00-$8,049.99

Categorized Income
Asian Festival
Spring Party
PicnicDVD Sales$9,701.10$894.50$461.50$340.00

Membership Payments Received
Family59 x $20.00 = $1,180.00
Single25 x 15.00 =375.00
2nd Generation 20 x 10.00 =200.00
Social2 x 20.00 =40.00
Includes the following new members:
Brummett, Yoneko & Polman, Diane (F)Miller, Adam & Nancy (2nd Gen)
Neal, Michelle & Ethan (2nd Gen)
Siebert, Kiku & Alex (F)Takamatsu, Tomoko (F)$1,795.00

Donations Received Thank you!
Brummet, Yoko
Long, Tomiko
Burd, Midori
Longbottom, Kayoko & Charles
Coppola, Suga & Leonard
Rudolph, Kiyoko & Andrew
Feld, Chikako
McClusky, Yoko & James
Frawley, Shigeko
McMinn, Masako & JamesGoyer, Lori & Jacob
McVey, June & Tom
Harrison, Sayuri & RickMiller, Kiyoko
Kortlandt, Satoko & Karl Miller, Fumiko & Bob
Larson, Miki & Dennis
Moore, Hideko & Mike
Miscellaneous Income
Total Income
Other Deposits$1,072.00
Mooris, Kunie
Murta, Fusako & Fredrick
Phillips, Sumiko & Tom
Reese, Chizuko & Lester
Parker, Sachie & Charles
Smith, Miyoko
Volkmar, Kazuko & John
Okinawa Sister:(In memory of Tomiko Fifer)(Refund from Park Reservation)

Cash used for change making
Cash carried over from 2012

$63.00$14,327.10$1,050.00$250.00$15,627.10

Total Deposits

Yoshiko Burgan
Treasurer

Please pay your membership dues early this year using the form included!