Entertainment · Film · 2 hrs ago
‘Okinawa Saudade’ Follows Brazilian Dancers Exploring Their Island Roots
Director Matsubayashi Yoju’s documentary follows two Brazilian dancers of Okinawan descent as they travel to Okinawa.
Yumi studies Ryukyu Buyo, a classical dance, while Everton teaches Eisa, a drum-led festival dance, in Brazil.
Their exchange trip connects them with Okinawa’s history and culture, and gives the film a way to explore family roots and identity.
Matsubayashi began working with Brazilian Okinawans after spending a year in Brazil in 2016.
His earlier documentary, “Okinawa/Santos,” examined the wartime forced relocation of Japanese immigrants in Santos, many of them from Okinawa.
Brazil’s Amnesty Commission formally apologized in July 2024 for the state’s postwar persecution of Japanese immigrants, and Okinawan Brazilians were expected to receive exchange scholarships.
The new film is showing at the Tokyo International Film Festival in its Nippon Cinema Now selection.
Okinawa Saudade follows Brazilian Okinawan dancers Yumi and Everton as they travel to Okinawa to learn about the island’s history and culture.
The documentary is directed by Matsubayashi Yoju and is playing in the Nippon Cinema Now selection at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival.
Matsubayashi says the project grew from his connections with the Brazilian Okinawan community and its exchange and scholarship program.
The film explores the search for roots through Okinawan dance, including Ryukyu Buyo and Eisa.
Matsubayashi’s earlier documentary, Okinawa/Santos, examined the wartime forced relocation of Japanese Brazilians in Santos.
- Who
- Director Matsubayashi Yoju and Brazilian Okinawan dancers Yumi and Everton.
- What
- Okinawa Saudade follows Yumi and Everton on an exchange trip to Okinawa to learn about the island’s history and culture.
- When
- It is playing at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival. The festival dates are not stated.
- Where
- The story connects Brazil and Okinawa, Japan.
- Why
- Matsubayashi built the film around a search for one’s roots and Okinawan dance.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Matsubayashi says he lived in Brazil for one year and learned about the forced relocation of Japanese Brazilians in Santos.
Matsubayashi’s documentary Okinawa/Santos focused on the wartime relocation.
Brazil’s Amnesty Commission formally apologized for the state’s post-World War II persecution of Japanese immigrants.
The exchange program was expected to include training, according to what Matsubayashi had heard.
Okinawa Saudade was reported as playing in the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival’s Nippon Cinema Now selection.
- Director
- Matsubayashi Yoju
- Dancers
- Yumi and Everton
- Festival selection
- Nippon Cinema Now, 39th Tokyo International Film Festival
- Earlier documentary
- Okinawa/Santos, released in 2020
- Brazil stay
- One year, in 2016
- Forced relocation
- About 60% of Japanese immigrants forced out were from Okinawa
What people are saying
So that’s actually the starting point of the project.
Meaning that the Okinawans left a lot of records of themselves.
I think that if I hadn’t developed ‘Okinawa/Santos’ as a film, I wouldn’t be able to have this film ‘Okinawa Saudade,’