BYRON FIJA, Okinawa Sanshin & Language (Uchinaaguchi) Live - Gardena Buddhist ChurchNEW

Byron Fija, a musician and Uchinaaguchi (Okinawan language) teacher in Okinawa, will be making a special one-night-only appearance at the Gardena Buddhist Church (1517 West 166^th Street) on Saturday, July 20^th, 8:00 PM! After leading an Uchinaaguchi workshop at the 2013 Wakamono Taikai earlier that day, Mr. Fija will be giving a 1-hour public performance which will include uta-sanshin (traditional songs on an Okinawan banjo/lute-like instrument). There will be an English interpreter for Mr. Fija, who will be speaking entirely in Uchinaaguchi and Japanese. Admission is $15.00 for the public (free for registered Wakamono Taikai participants).

This will mark the beginning of Mr. Fija's Pirin-Paran USA Tour, which includes stops in Florida, Virginia, and Texas. The funding and planning of these performances were made possible by the Okinawan Cultural Association of Texas (OCAT) with Los Angeles promotion/sales support by the OAA and the World Youth Uchinanchu Association (WYUA) – USA Branch.

Mr. Fija (44 years old) has made a name for himself through the preservation and sharing of Uchinaaguchi, one of the 6 unique languages of the Ryukyu Islands that have been designated as "endangered" by UNESCO. In addition to giving lectures and performances, Mr. Fija also produced a show with Okinawa BBTV called "Pirin-Paran Katayabira" ("Let's Chat"), through which he gave Uchinaaguchi lessons, and has published works in the Okinawa Times and Ryukyu Shimpo.

Please don't miss this unique opportunity! Tickets now are available to purchase directly through the Okinawa Association of America (OAA). Please visit us or mail a check to 16500 South Western Avenue #203 (please make checks payable to "OCAT") or call 310-532-1929 for more information. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door, but we highly recommend purchasing tickets in advance.