Grand Opening JCCH Exhibit - Obama no Obama - Kaimuki

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Kaimuki, Hawaii
Event Calendar Item
Grand Opening JCCH Exhibit - Obama no Obama
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Type: Art Exhibit
Date: Thursday - 11/10/2011
Time: see notes
Location:
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i
Community Gallery
2454 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, Hawai'i 96826

For more information call (808) 945-7633
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Cost: Free

Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i Presents Obama no Obama (Obama’s Obama):
An Exhibition About Politics, Celebrity, and International Ties Maya Soetoro-Ng, Obama City Mayor Koji Matsuzaki. Obama Girls and Boys hula troupe, and samplings from Pavaraga Coffee and Island Snow all part of the grand opening ceremony on Thursday, November 10

The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i (JCCH) is proud to present Obama no Obama (Obama’s Obama): An Exhibition About Politics, Celebrity, and International Ties with a grand opening scheduled for Thursday, November 10 at 5:00 pm.

The story of Obama-shi’s (Obama town in Japan) adoption of Barack Obama and subsequent development of Obama goods begins with a duly noted incident: when then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama was interviewed in 2006 by Japanese television network TBS, he noted that Japanese immigration officials looked at his visa and said that he must be from the town of Obama. This caught the attention of a few individuals in Obama-shi in Fukui prefecture, who were pleased and felt that a connection with Obama could be good for the town. The desire to develop ties to Barack Obama grew rapidly through a consortium of businessmen and city officials. The Obama for Obama Support Group was born with unofficial backing of the city administration. The rest – branded goods with Barack Obama’s figure, statue in town, Obama Girls and Boys hula troupe, and more – is history.

“The exhibition explores the international ties between politics and celebrity, focused specifically on U.S. President Barack Obama,” said Christine R. Yano, curator for Obama no Obama exhibition. “By examining the commercial goods that have been developed in Japan and Hawai‘i depicting President Obama, the exhibit places a spotlight on the creation and selling of images, as well as its effect upon public culture.”

Some of these products will also be on sale in the adjacent Gift Shop while supplies last.

The exhibit will run from November 5 – December 2 with the grand opening ceremony on Thursday, November 10 at 5:00 pm in the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i Teruya Courtyard.

The grand opening will be an event to remember as Barack Obama’s sister Maya Soetoro-Ng will be speaking along with Mayor Koji Matsuzaki from Obama-shi. There will also be a performance by the Obama Girls and Boys hula troupe and special samplings of Pavaraga Coffee and Island Snow shave ice.

Pavaraga Coffee will also display their Signature Espresso, Cloud Valley and Manoa Valley (Kahiko) coffees sold exclusively at Neiman Marcus and serve samplings of its Neiman Marcus coffee Kahiko as well as Hawaiian Mango Tea, and Affogato (espresso shot over a scoop of vanilla ice cream). There will also be a display of the Pavaraga Civet Coffee that was given to President Barack Obama with a chance to win samplings of the renowned coffee that retails for $250 a cup! Select Pavaraga Coffee will also be sold at the grand opening event.

A rare one-of-a-kind painting by famed-artist Elver Usaraga of his interpretation of a young Barack Obama will also be up in a silent auction that will run through the close of the exhibit. Usaraga said he wanted to choose a neutral portrait which shows Obama’s connection to Hawai‘i prior to politics. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to charity. Usaraga is an artist in Hollywood that specializes in the human figure and portraits whose clientele includes celebrities in movie, television, and the music industries as well as private collectors. He grew up as a child on O‘ahu before moving to California. Many of the celebrities who own some of his paintings, include Bob Hope (actor/ comedian), Stephanie Seymore (super model), Billy Zane (actor), C. Thomas Howell (actor) and many others.

Admission to exhibit and the grand opening event is free and open to the public.

The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i, a non-profit organization, strives to strengthen our diverse community by educating present and future generations in the evolving Japanese American experience in Hawai‘i. Founded on May 28, 1987, the Center celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2012. The Cultural Center has more than 4,800 members and annually connects to more than 30,000 residents and visitors through its programs and events. The Cultural Center features a historical museum, an exhibition gallery, library/archive center, the Kenshikan martial arts d j , the Seik an Japanese teahouse, and a Gift Shop. For more information call (808) 945-7633.

An Exhibition About Politics, Celebrity, and International Ties.

November 5–December 2
Opening Ceremony
Thursday, November 10–5:00 pm

Obama-shi, Fukui Prefecture: Town of “Yes We Can!”
By: Christine R. Yano

The story of Obama-shi’s (Obama town) adoption of Barack Obama and subsequent development of Obama goods takes place amidst a backdrop of economic struggle common to rural areas in Japan in the 2000s. The crux here is a strongly entrepreneurial spirit bolstered by what might be called— in the words of a popular Obama catch-phrase—“Yes we can!”. That sentiment may also be echoed in the Japanese value of gambaru (striving with perseverance). This is part of what links this exhibition with the Cultural Center and its emphasis on values.

The story of Obama-shi as a town of “Yes we can!” begins with a duly noted incident: when then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama was interviewed in 2006 by Japanese television network TBS, he noted that Japanese immigration officials looked at his visa and said that he must be from the town of Obama. This caught the attention of a few individuals in Obama-shi in Fukui prefecture, who were pleased and felt that a connection with the U.S. presidential candidate could be good for the town. Then-Mayor Toshio Murakami sent Obama a pair of the local lacquer chopsticks and a letter wishing him well. The desire to develop ties to Barack Obama grew rapidly through a consortium of businessmen and city officials. For political reasons, these efforts could not be an official project of the city government; thus, the “Obama for Obama Support Group” was born, headed by businessman Seiji Fujiwara with unofficial backing of the city administration. The rest—branded goods with Barack Obama’s figure, statue in town, Obama Girls and Boys hula troupe, and more—is history.

The portrait of Obama-shi and its spearheading of Obama-mania in Japan must be framed within the “Yes we can!” spirit of gambaru— developing economic opportunities upon the most tentative of ties, growing a brand to create an identity, spinning new ideas of viability. Even when sales of Obama goods show signs of waning, the spirit continues. That spirit finds its way through the halls of the city government, through businesses that keep plugging away, through a hula troupe that continues to practice and perform, spreading good cheer. Throughout our stay, we noted again and again the energetic drive, initiative, and personal concern that brings the caption “Obama—The ‘Yes we can!’ Town” to life. The exhibition will also include Obama goods from Hawai’i allowing for a comparison with Japanese Obama goods.

For the grand opening of the exhibit on November 10, we have invited Mayor Koji Matsuzaki, Mr. Seiji Fujiwara, head of “Obama for Obama Support Group,” and members of the Obama Girls and Boys hula troupe. They are busy making their travel plans. We invite you to join us in welcoming them and celebrating their “Yes we can!” spirit.

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Kaimuki, Hawaii Event Calendar Item

Grand Opening JCCH Exhibit - Obama no Obama

Kaimuki, Hawaii
Event Calendar Item