Southern California Amamikai 50th anniversary

On November 22, the Amami Shimauta and Oshima Tsumugi Show was held in Torrance.
The event commemorated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Southern California Amamikai, a social association formed by people from the Amami Islands.

The Amami Islands are part of Kagoshima Prefecture and consist mainly of eight inhabited islands, including Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima, located between southern Kyushu and Okinawa.

On this day, an Amami product fair was also held at the venue.
One item in particular drew attention, Oshima Tsumugi.
Oshima Tsumugi is a traditional silk textile primarily produced on Amami Oshima and is regarded as one of the world’s three great textiles, alongside France’s Gobelin tapestries and Iran’s Persian carpets.

The show opened with a Ryukyu-style lion dance performed by Shishigumi LA.
Representing the guests from Amami, Amami City Mayor Sohei Yasuda delivered a greeting, expressing respect and gratitude for the association’s 50 years of activities.

For the Shimauta performance, two singers active in Amami were invited and showcased the appeal of the island songs through traditional pieces as well as collaborations with modern dance.

In the Oshima Tsumugi fashion show, the versatility of the textile was presented through designs ranging from traditional kimono to Western-style dresses.

The event concluded with performers and audience members coming together in lively Amami-style dancing and singing, creating a festive and energetic finale.