Toshi & Iri Maruki
The Sad Song of Okinawa Picture Book
English Translation Project
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the sad song of okinawa
The
Sad Song of Okinawa~Life Itself is our Most Precious Treasure is the heart-wrenching story of the
Battle
of Okinawa, "World War II's longest and fiercest battle," as told from
the perspective of two young
Okinawan children. It is in the form of a picture book for young readers,
but certain to stimulate discussion
among all age groups about the nature of war and peace. The original Japanese version was meticulously
researched, written, and brilliantly
illustrated by Maruki Toshi and Maruki Iri, a husband-wife team of artists
whose work is known and respected worldwide.
The story begins with a delightful description of the beauty and joys of
life in Okinawa, with the impact of the
text multiplied by the vivid colors and whimsical illustrations. Young Tsuru and her even younger brother Saburo
live in this joyful land along with their parents and extended family.
After
impressing this charming setting firmly in the reader’s mind, the text
continues: “The war came to Little
Tsuru’s house when she was seven years old.” In both great and small ways, the life to which the children had
been accustomed begins to crack and crumble. The illustrations become darker and more chaotic. Though the text
continues in a matter-of-fact tone, the scenes that the words describe
make your hair stand on end. The desperate
reality of the situation is enhanced by many innocent-seeming details,
such as what the evacuees choose to take
from their homes as they flee, and the color of the mud puddle that the children must drink from to quench their
raging thirst.
The
Okinawan language, particularly in the form of a song Grandfather sings to the
accompaniment of the
sanshin
(Okinawan banjo), weaves through the text, adding further continuity to the
story. “Ikusayun shimachi, mirukuyun
yagati,
(the war will pass and there’ll be days of peace and pleasure) Nagikunayo shinka, nuchidu takara
( Don’t cry my friends, life itself is our most precious treasure).” The
story ends with a repetition of this last phrase
(“life itself is our most precious treasure”), which also serves as the
book’s subtitle.
The
publication of the English version of the book was made possible by the efforts
of The Sad Song of Okinawa
English Translation Project. It took three years for the project team to raise the funds necessary to get it published.
Project members Kinjo Haruna, Andrea Good, and Rob Witmer undertook the
translation of the original Japanese
(and Okinawan) into English.
I'm pleased to say that the book is finally in published form as part of
the RIC Story Chest series. As all books in
that series, The Sad Song of Okinawa comes with a CD recording of the story text to assist young readers and
speakers of English as a foreign language. Two Okinawan folk songs performed
by Nahgushiku Yoshimitsu are
also included in the CD. The book can be purchased from RIC Publications or from Amazon Japan (under its Japanese
title).
Debbie is a gifted
artist as well as a notable translator and educator. Be sure to check out her etegami blog
< http://etegamibydosankodebbie.blogspot.jp/> and her work on Ainu folklore
translations
<http://projectuepeker.blogspot.jp/>
Statement of Intention
THIS WE KNOW
Sixty-six years have passed since the end of World War II. Memories are fading and this
war is becoming increasingly distant for the majority of people. Yet, for some the effects
of this war are still very real. For Okinawa and its people, such is the case.
In The Battle of Okinawa (1945/04/01~06/22), called the largest, most savage,
most protracted
and most forgotten battle of the Pacific War, over 200,000 people were killed, over half being
Okinawan citizens, that is one-third of the local population. Sixty-five years have passed yet,
in one sense this war continues for still today one-fifth of Okinawa’s
land – its best land,
is occupied by U.S. and Japanese military installations. True peace will return to the
beautiful Okinawan islands only if we can reverse this sad situation.
THIS WE BELIEVE
Art can play a very important role in our coming to terms with past atrocities,
healing and transforming society. The Hiroshima Murals by Toshi & Iri Maruki called
one of the most profound works of art from the 20th century and having been viewed by
more then 10 million people the world over is a case in point. The Maruki’s historic
picture books have also contributed greatly to peace and environment education.
Hiroshima No Pika (Komine Shoten Publishers / English - HarperCollins)、
their most famous, has been translated into 16 languages and continues
to be used in the
worldwide campaign for nuclear disarmament.
Okinawa Shima no Koe -Nuchidu Takara
(Komine Shoten Publishers), read by over 50,000 children in Japan, has
done much to
inform both young and old of Okinawa’s recent history and the horrors
of war.
We believe an English translation of this title could do the same for English
speaking children.
THIS WE RESOLVE
Based on what we know and believe, we resolve first to translate the picture
book;
The Sad Song of Okinawa – Nuchidu Takara / Life Itself is Our Most Precious Treasure
into English. Next, in consultation with Komine Shoten Publishers, the publisher of this
book and the Maruki Gallery for the Hiroshima Panels we would like to
search for funding
necessary to bring about this publication and an English language publisher to publish
this picture book. Then finally, after publication, to help to advertise and promote the
distribution of this title.In so doing, we hope to advance the Maruki’s desire not to let
the world forget and their great passion for world peace.
Project Members March 8, 2009
Haruna Kinjyo (translator) – postgraduate student at Tokyo University of Social Welfare
Andrea Good (translator) – teacher and manager of English Language School,
aromatherapist
Peter Howlett (chairperson) – teacher at Hakodate La Salle Jr.& Sr.
High School
Yumitsu Takaishi – (co-chairperson)
President of Satsuki Education
Akio Nabeshima (secretariat) – retired public servant of Kobe
Sousuke Tomihama –elementary school teacher at Okinawa Saniku Elementary
School
Inge Arnold – graduate student at Sydney
University of Technology, peace and environmental activist
Keibo Oiwa (Shinichi Tusji) –Professor at Meiji Gakuin University
Ryuichi Nakamura – President of Windfarm Co.
Yukio Aki – teacher at Kawai Juku, peace and environmental
activist, non-violence training facilitator
Robert Witmer – translator, minister and teacher at Dohoku Center English
School (Nayoro)
CONTACT:
Yumitsu Takaishi TEL:080－9614－1103
e-mail : takaishi@msc.ncv.ne.jp 