Welcome To The Official Site Of The ...... CHICAGO OKINAWA KENJINKAI BRINGING OKINAWAN CULTURE TO CHICAGO AND THE WORLD The Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai is an organization dedicated to the preservation of Okinawan customs and traditions. Our membership is comprised of both Okinawans, Okinawan descendants and non-Okinawan members who share our love for the Okinawan culture. There are about two hundred families in the Chicagoland area and we also have many other members from other states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and even California. Each year we have two primary gatherings in the Chicago area. The first one is to celebrate the traditional Chinese New Year which happens sometime in March and the second one is to gather for our annual Okinawa Kenjinkai picnic. Both events are huge hits with our membership due to the fellowship experienced and sharing of traditional Okinawan foods in the American "pot-luck" style. Many of our members are also performers who participate in traditional cultural activities designed to keep the Okinawan culture alive in the Chicagoland area. The Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai offers its members the chance to learn Okinawan Karate, Ryukyu Dance, Sanshin, and Taiko drumming in the Ryukyu Eisa style. There are four seperate groups that meet on Saturdays in Arlington Heights Illinois. We have a okinawan performing group for those who wish to show off the skills they have learned with us through performances we put on throughout the Chicagoland area. Our sanshin group teaches our members to play sanshin (a three stringed lute) which is a traditional instrument in the Ryukyu islands. Our Odori dance group is the third group which strives to perfect the ability of our members in the art of traditional Okinawan dancing. Then last but certainly not least we have a fifth dan karate instructor which teaches our membership Okinawan Karate at no additional cost to them other than the annual membership dues. All lessons are free to our members and members are encouraged to partake in these fun filled activities each Saturday at Mitsuwa Marketplace. SITE MENU Visit the new Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai Facebook page and "Like" our Organization Membership Information About Okinawa President's Message New Years Party Okinawa Related Links Membership Information The Annual Picnic Okinawan History Our Newsletters Links to Other Kenjinkai's Okinawan Culture 2014 Junior Study Tour information Scholarship Information Okinawan Folklore 2014 Junior Study Tour Application Performance Request Uchina Guchi Corner Announcments Our Photo Albums Ryukyu Cultural Archives Okinawan Karate Minkan Taishi Mission THANK YOU FOR VISITING THE CHICAGO OKINAWA KENJINKAI'S OFFICIAL WEB SITE! TO NAVIGATE, SIMPLY CLICK ON THE LINKS ABOVE TO FIND OUT WHAT OUR ORGANIZATION HAS TO OFFER. WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR VISIT AND WILL CONSIDER ADDING US TO YOUR FAVORITES FOR FUTURE VISITS! CONTACTING THE CHICAGO OKINAWA KENJINKAI ................. or ............. Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai - President: Paula Schmidling 1 (847) 877-2987 president@chicagookinawakenjinkai.com English Only Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai - Secretary: Yukie Saucedo 1 (708) 703-0800 yukiesensei@comcast.net English/Japanese Taikai contact for gatting on the list - Mieko Zukeran miko59@gmail.com English/Japanese Public Information Officer - Thomas Corrao 1 (262) 960-6332 tcorrao@wi.rr.com English/Japanese Okinawaology Blog Where Preserving Okinawan Culture Is Our Primary Objective This site has been developed and maintained by Tom Corrao who is the Public Relations Officer to the Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai and Minkan Taishi (Goodwill Ambassador) to the island of Okinawa. If you would like to contribute to the organization or have special talents the would be useful to furthering the purpose of of promoting Okinawan culture the please contact Paula Schmidling or Tom Corrao at the email links above to discuss your participation. Participants are not limited to our membership and we welcome input from outside sources. ©2014 Official Contact Info: Please send postal correspondence to: Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai PO BOX 94 Elk Grove Village, IL 60009