Private Project

Chijuyaa

Chijuyaa – the plover. Descendants of Okinawan immigrants in Hawai‘i perform a traditional Ryūkyūan song and dance, evoking memories of the past, and emotions of loneliness and yearning. Sung in Uchinaaguchi, one of the endangered Ryūkyūan languages.

  • Brandon Ufugusuku Ing
    Director
  • Derek Fujio
    Key Cast
    "Oboe and sanshin"
  • Brandon Ufugusuku Ing
    Key Cast
    "Guitar and vocal"
  • Jesse Shiroma
    Key Cast
    "Accordion"
  • Aiko Yamashiro
    Key Cast
    "Traditional dancer"
  • Yukie Shiroma
    Key Cast
    "Traditional dancer"
  • Brandon Ufugusuku Ing
    Editor
  • Jesse Shiroma
    Audio
  • Brandon Ufugusuku Ing
    Audio
  • Carolina Higa
    Cinematographer
  • Brandon Ufugusuku Ing
    Cinematographer
  • Jesse Shiroma
    Cinematographer
  • Joseph Yoshimasu Kamiya
    Associate Producer
  • Project Type:
    Music Video
  • Genres:
    Music Video
  • Completion Date:
    September 5, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Other
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Brandon Ufugusuku Ing

Born and raised in Hawai’i on the island of O’ahu, Brandon is a 4th generation Ryukyuan (Okinawan) on his mother’s side. Also a practitioner of the sanshin and traditional Okinawan music, Brandon spent one year studying at the Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, and four years teaching English at elementary schools in Okinawa. During this time he continued to study sanshin as well as Uchinaaguchi (the indigenous Okinawan language) on his own time. He has since moved back to Hawaiʻi, and in addition to leading Uchinaaguchi study sessions with Ukwanshin Kabudan, Brandon currently writes songs using Uchinaaguchi, hoping to spread awareness and help revive the language.

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Director Statement

Ryūkyūan (Okinawan) culture is oftentimes overshadowed by Japanese culture and is thus underrepresented in the broader scope of Asian diasporic voices. Our performance is an attempt to bring more attention to this, shining a light on the traditional Ryūkyūan performing arts and one of the endangered Ryūkyūan languages (which has endured attempted erasure by colonization and forced assimilation). The song being performed speaks of loneliness and yearning, and was beloved among first-generation Okinawan immigrants in Hawaiʻi who dreamed of returning to their homeland. Many were unable to, and ended up settling on Kānaka Maoli lands. As descendants of those immigrants who arrived more than a century ago, we also hope that our performance encourages the younger generations to reconnect with and embrace their cultural heritage.