The Story of Taketonbo.org...
... or how I became
president of the North American Branch of the
International Taketonbo
Association
Part of the Fulbight
Memorial Fund study trip is a two day home stay with a Japanese family. I was
assigned the Kazuo Miyashita family. I
met Kazuo (Kaz) and his wife Hisae during our welcome reception Monday June
26, 2000 in Kaga, Ishikawa, Japan. I met Kazuo a second time during our Thursday
June 29, 2000 visit to Higashi Taniguchi Primary School. He was involved in
one of his favorite hobbies. During the afternoon he led the fourth graders
(and others) through a modified take tonbo (bamboo dragonfly) competition. On
Saturday afternoon July 1, 2000, after our home stay began, I went with my home
stay host to Tukizu Primary School where he led a crowd of 200+ teachers, parents
and students through a traditional take tonbo competition. From 13:00 - 15:30
an entire gymnasium full of people were busy carving and
assembling bamboo dragon flies. From 15:30-16:30 there were two
competition zones laid out in the school yard; one for distance and one
for flight duration (height). At his home that evening, I was designated not
only to take this traditional Japanese toy ³back to America,² but also encouraged
to return with my own take tonbo in October to the year 2000 International
Take Tonbo Associationıs Tokyo competition. Little did I know that when
my feet left American soil for Japan that I would return as the International
Taketonbo Association American branch president. Complete with a hand lettered
(in kangi) teaching license and a happi coat from the Japanese president of
the Ishikawa branch of the International Taketonbo Association. I was given
charge by Kazuo to evangelize the art and tradition of the Bamboo Dragonfly
in America.
Click
here for more info about the Fulbright Memorial Fund Programs