By Meredith O’Donnell

A Japanese drama and dance troupe educated students on the traditional culture of the country.

On Tuesday, Sept. 28 in Monroe Lecture Center Theater, An Evening of Okinawa Kumiodori featured a play entitled, Nido Tekiuchi.

It was about two young brothers who vowed vengeance on their father’s power-hungry murderer and succeed in killing the culprit.

Although the actors spoke in Japanese, translations were provided at the door, including the script along with background and current information on the customs.

For many students, the presentation was the first personal experience they had with Japanese culture.

“It’s great that the school is promoting studies of cultural diversity. If there’s anything that the youth of America could use right now it’s new ideas to open minds,” senior Dave Schildhorn said. “It’s important to not only see the differences [between cultures], but to also learn about them,” Dr. Patricia Welch, assistant professor of Japanese and comparative literature and director of Asian studies, said. “What is so unique about Japan is that they have taken ideas and beliefs from other societies to revise their own. America could do that to turn it around in a more positive direction,”

The Okinawa Prefecture is located at the southwestern tip of the Japanese archipelago and is the home of Kumiodori, the artistic expression demonstrated, which combines song, text and dance to create a theatrical form of drama. It began in the 18th century.

“I was happy to have the opportunity to introduce students to Okinawa music and dance,” Welch said. “I was hoping to spark people’s interest and show a side to Japan that maybe they hadn’t seen before, encouraging them to pursue other aspects of the culture.”