If you don’t have a language class in the humanities building you may be missing out.
There is an array of art and kimonos on display in the hallway on the third floor. Some of the kimonos are for everyday wear but the two in the left hand display case are from Opera Santa Barbara’s production of “Madame Butterfly” last October.
Also in the case on the left are wall decorations and art for Girl’s Day, now known as Doll’s Day. There are also small porcelain figures representing the Emperor and Empress of Japan sitting in front of a brilliant gold screen.
Kate Yamasaki, department aide for the School of Modern Languages, said the kimonos she provided in the right hand display case are for everyday wear. “The short blue one is kind of like a uniform that you might wear if you worked in a store,” she said. “Some people do still wear kimonos everyday.”
Along with the everyday kimonos are recreations of Japanese woodblock prints including a number of pieces by Utagawa Hiroshige from the series “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.”
Japanese language instructor Takeko Wakita provided the kimonos from “Madame Butterfly.”
“I actually played the mother of Madame Butterfly in the opera and was the Japanese culture consultant,” Wakita said. “I also played Madame Butterfly herself 20 years ago at the Music Center Pavilion in Los Angeles.”
Wakita, who has been teaching Japanese at City College since 1984, was asked by her department chair if she had anything from Japan to put on display.
“I have been doing the sister cities program for Santa Barbara and Toda, Japan for 28 years so I have a lot of Japanese stuff,” she said. “I have more than 50 kimonos at home myself.”
In fact, Wakita just returned from a trip to Toda with Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum and Blum’s husband as well as nine “I Madonnari” artists. The group went to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Toda’s incorporation as a city. Toda is famous for its Mikimoto pearls.
“It was the mayor and her husband’s first time in Japan,” Wakita said. “I think they never expected such wonderful warm hospitality and they loved the people and the food – everything. I think it was a little overwhelming for them.”
Wakita said her favorite pieces in the display are the origami pieces, the shiki shiki paintings by Hanako Inoue and Setsuko Tsuzuki, and the uchiwa fans.
Those interested in getting their hands on their own kimonos can find some at Julian’s Antiques and Art Gallery on De La Vina, Yamasaki said. For those interested in a taste of Japanese culture the Japanese Language department will sponsor a tea ceremony demonstration at 2 p.m. on Friday in the Tea House at the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens. There is a cost of $3 for materials. Those interested in learning more can call Takeko Wakita at 964-7559 or Yachiyo Roberts at 961-4465.
A taste of the Orient
Marie Albu
May 5, 2005
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