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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 2023)
A.C.E. December 4, 2023 In Mexico, a Japanese traditional dancer shows how body movement speaks beyond culture and religion By María Teresa Hernández Reyes The Associated Press THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 15 Black Pearl Acupuncture Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine are great for: - Acute/Chronic Pain (i.e. neck, back, sciatica & shoulder) - Treating & Preventing the flu and colds - Stress Relief - Headaches/Migraines www.blackpearlacupuncture.com M EXICO CITY — When music requires her to cry, Japanese traditional dancer Naoko Kihara barely alters her expression. It’s her arms and torso that move like a slow-motion wave. “Expression is minimal because we cry with our body,” said Kihara, wrapped in her white and navy kimono, on a recent day at her dancing studio in Mexico, where an estimated 76,000 Japanese descen- dants live. “It is the dance that is speaking, interpreting, since we do not smile, shout, or laugh.” Kihara won’t reveal her age, but she’s been practicing Japanese traditional dance for almost 24 years. Born in Brazil from Japanese parents who later moved to Mexico City, she carries on the legacy of Tamiko Kawabe, her mentor and pioneer of Hanayagi-style dance in the country. For Latin American audiences, Kihara said, Japanese traditional dance might be hard to embrace. Unlike the fast-moving inter- preters of samba and salsa — widespread in Brazil and Mexico — Hanayagi dancers move quietly and gently, performing just a few moves that their bodies keep fully controlled. “Is this yoga?” a spectator once asked Kihara, who responded: “No, it’s an interpretation.” Some of her repertoires are almost sacred. Japanese dances as Hanayagi Sita Symonette Licensed Acupuncturist seasymonettea@gmail.com Call to schedule an appointment: (503) 308-9363 505 N.W. Ninth Ave., Portland, OR 97209 Welcome Home! Knights of Pythias Active Retirement Center EXPRESSIVE MOVEMENT. Aimi Kawasaki, a Japanese traditional Hanayagi-style dance stu- dent, practices in professor Naoko Kihara’s studio in Mexico City. For traditional dancers, choreog- raphy is a sign of respect and no detail is minor. How a woman holds her fan speaks of her sense of elegance and honor. “You are not taught a dance, but a way of living,” says Kawasaki. (AP Photo/ Ginnette Riquelme) and Kabuki have been historically their bodies toward the sky. “A Japanese dancer is rather performed to honor the emperor, considered a representative of god in crouched,” Kawasaki said, her teacher demonstrating the posture: the Shinto religion. For traditional dancers, choreo- firm torso, bent knees, and feet close graphy is a sign of respect and no together, as if she were a flower detail is minor. How a woman holds rooted to the ground. “It’s to be humble,” Kawasaki said, her fan speaks of her sense of and because Japanese traditional elegance and honor. “You are not taught a dance, but a dance maintains profound codes. “We move our bodies close to the way of living,” said Aimi Kawasaki, a 21-year-old student of Kihara who earth because we are part of nature,” will soon travel to Tokyo hoping to Kihara said. “It is a respect for the earth.” receive her dancing diploma. In the Japanese worldview, Kihara Born in Mexico after her parents moved from Japan, Kawasaki says said, dance originated from earth, air, that Hanayagi is like ballet, but with fire, and water. “That’s our essence; an important exception: While it’s our basis.” To keep this in mind, each Japanese traditional dancers are delicate and elegant, they never Hanayagi dancer takes an oath when stand on the tip of their toes or pull Continued on page 19 K-pop star Rosé joins first lady Jill Biden to talk mental health By Colleen Long The Associated Press 3409 Main Street Vancouver, WA 98663 Phone: (360) 696-4375 Website: www.koprc.com Options for seniors 62 + and under 62 with disability Subsidized and affordable Private Pay Rates Call or e-mail for more information: (360) 696-4375 or lori@koprc.com We offer options for a lunch meal, housekeeping and laundry. 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BLACKPINK musical performer Rosé, middle, speaks between Kim Keon Hee, the first lady of South Korea, left, and Rachael Marape, the spouse of Pa- pua New Guinea’s prime minister, during a talk about mental health at a spousal program held as part of APEC Leaders’ Week at the Apple campus in Cupertino, California. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. “People who are older — we never, ever spoke about mental health,” Biden said. “There was shame attached to it. But what I find as a teacher — and having my own younger grandchildren in their twenties — I think they’re much more open to talking to one another, I think there’s far less shame.” The event was moderated by Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Apple CEO Tim Cook opened the event but blanked briefly when the teleprompter went out. “Don’t you hate that. I hate that,” Biden said. Cook recovered, telling the crowd he’d “go ahead and ad lib,” then thanked everyone for coming and introduced the first lady. 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