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Ninufabushi Miiati (Guided by the North Star)

Told through watercolor illustrations and a traditional Okinawan folk song, "Ninufabushi Miiati" follows an emigrant's journey from Okinawa to Argentina in the early 1900s. This project was an international collaboration by four descendants of Uchinaanchu (Okinawan) immigrants in Argentina and the United States.

(Final project will have English subtitles)

  • Flor Kaneshiro
    Director
  • Flor Kaneshiro
    Writer
  • Flor Kaneshiro
    Illustrator
  • Flor Kaneshiro
    Producer
  • Joseph Yoshimasu Kamiya
    Producer
  • Brandon Ufugusuku Ing
    Music
  • Carolina Higa
    Music
  • Joseph Yoshimasu Kamiya
    Editor
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Ninufabushi Miiati (Guiado por la estrella del Norte)
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Genres:
    Animation, Historical, Drama
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 33 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 25, 2019
  • Country of Origin:
    Argentina
  • Country of Filming:
    Argentina
  • Language:
    Other
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 3° Salón de Arte Joven Nikkei de la Asociación Peruano Japonesa (Japanese Peruvian Association's 3rd Young Nikkei Art Showcase)
    Lima
    Peru
    April 25, 2019
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2020
    VIRTUAL
    United States
    October 1, 2020
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Hawai‘i International Film Festival 2021
    Honolulu
    United States
    November 7, 2021
    Hawai‘ian Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Flor Kaneshiro

Flor Kaneshiro is a 3rd generation Uchinaanchu (Okinawan) born in La Plata, Argentina, 1983.

She received a bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts from the National University of La Plata’s Faculty of Fine Arts. Her work experience includes traditional animation, animation for cell phone games, conceptual art for advertising, and illustration of educational manuals and children’s books.

She studied traditional arts at the Okinawa Prefecture University of Arts, Japan, with a grant awarded by the Okinawa Prefectural Government and the Okinawan Center of Argentina.

She is currently a freelance illustrator.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Desde la cordillera del los Andes, el agua fluye por los ríos hasta conectar con los océanos. Desde las montañas de los Andes hasta las Islas del Ryūkyū, envío un barco ilustrado, un mensaje de gratitud hacia Oji y Oba, quienes trazaron primero el camino. A partir de recuerdos, anécdotas, dibujo un relato ficcional de viajes, búsquedas y reencuentros, para abrazar una historia familiar.

From the Andes mountain range, water flows through the rivers until it connects with the oceans. From the mountains of the Andes to the Ryūkyū Islands, I send an illustrated ship, a message of gratitude to Oji and Oba (my grandparents), who first drew the path. From memories, anecdotes, I draw a fictional story of travels, pursuits and reunions, to embrace a family history.