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Nakagusuku Sonjin Kai

Notes by Yoshio Miyashiro and George Kobashigawa:
(1) Prior to World War II, Nakagusuku people had one Sonjinkai. After the war when the northern part of Nakagusuku-son, Okinawa, became a separate son and was renamed Ita (North) Nakagusuku-son, the group separated into two clubs. In 1948, before the separation, the local Nakagusuku Sonjinkai sent, among other relief items, an organ each to the Kishaba, Nakagusuku, and Tsuha Elementary Schools and a duplicating machine to the Nakagusuku Village Office. George Higa, who has contributed much to the Minami Nakagusuku Sonjinkai, was very active in doing relief work. In 1978, on behalf of the people of Nakagusuku-son, Okinawa, the mayor of Nakagusuku, Seihan Arakaki, presented the Minami Nakagusuku Sonjinkai with a generous gift of $500. Along with the gift, the mayor conveyed a message of appreciation for the postwar aid.
(2) The Minami Nakagusuku Sonjinkai was an active participant in the Hui Makaala softball league in the 1950s. At the beginning of the league, there was some confusion as Nakagusuku players were not certain of which son they belonged to. For example, star pitcher Toshi Higa pitched and won a game for Kita Nakagusuku before he realized he should have been pitching for Minami Nakagusuku.
(3) The Minami Nakagusuku Sonjinkai has a club maku (curtain), which was made in 1952 and is used annually at the New Year’s party. The maku design, created by Joji Wao, includes the headpiece used in Okinawan dance and names of aza that comprise Minami Nakagusuku-son. The president of the club, by tradition, is the keeper of the maku.

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