Onoe Kikunobu

HONOLULU, Hawaii (May 21, 2004)

Ms. Gertrude Tsutsumi has been instrumental in her efforts to perpetuate the Japanese culture in Hawaii and abroad through the art of dance. After years of studying and training in Tokyo, Japan under the late headmaster, Onoe Kikunojo I, Tsutsumi earned a Master of Dance diploma (shihan) in the classical Japanese dance called Nihon Buyo and was granted the professional name of Onoe Kikunobu in 1957. Upon earning her shihan, Tsutsumi soon established a classical and contemporary Japanese dance school of her own, called the Onoe Kikunobu Dance Company, which she still oversees in Hawaii today.

In addition to her dance company, Tsutsumi is a long-time lecturer in Japanese dance and Kabuki movement at the University of Hawaii (UH) at Manoa, and has served as the principal choreographer for many of the University’s acclaimed Kabuki productions. Prior to being a member of the UH faculty, Tsutsumi was a teacher at Royal Elementary School for over 30 years.

“We are very pleased to award Ms. Tsutsumi with this year’s Silversword Award,” said Dr. Albert Miyasato, chairman of the Pan-Pacific Festival. “Her contributions and lasting efforts to preserve the Japanese culture throughout Hawaii’s community embody the significance of the Festival and the Silversword Award.”

The Silversword Award honors members of the community who have contributed to enriching Hawaii’s cultural arts. The award is named after the Silversword plant, a rare species of flora that is found only on the summits of Haleakala. The Silversword is a symbol of strength and perseverance, traits of which are essential to the Pan-Pacific Festival Silversword Award for cultural excellence.

Other recipients of the Festival’s Silversword Award include bon dance master chanter, James Kunichika, of Iwakuni Bon Odori Aiko-kai (2003); Korean dance instructor, Mary Jo Freshley, of Halla Huhm Dance Studio (2002); and renowned musician and instructor, Harry Urata, of Urata Music Studio (2001).