MIYAGUSHIKO Kamado
Born: 1883 – Died: 9 October 1942
Particulars:
Kamado was born in Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. He was a single man with a brother in Tomigusuku in Okinawa. When the Pacific war broke out, Kamado was working as a miner in Kanaky / New Caledonia. He was taken to Australia and interned at Loveday Internment Camp in South Australia. He died of kidney disease at the age of 59. His grave is the Japanese Cemetery in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia.
–Mayu Kanamori
More info:
Yasue Taggart
Artist/s Statement:
I decided to create an artwork for Kamado san, because my great-grandmother’s name was also Kamado. The photo of the small island in the ocean was taken in my hometown in Okinawa, and I based my work on this image to let Kamado san experience the Okinawan ocean again.
Around 1883, when Kamado san was born, only a few years had passed since the Ryukyu Kingdom became Okinawa Prefecture of Japan. So, I searched for images of Shuri Castle and the streets of Okinawa from that time, applied a sketch effect, and included them.
The blue faced figure covered in white fur represents the Okinawan lion. The Sydney Okinawan Club and Eisa Champ Roo collaborated and handcrafted it in Sydney. We wrote the names of all the Okinawan detainees on the lion’s fur and held an event, where we dedicated a lion dance and eisa, an Okinawan traditional dance performed to honour our ancestors. I have included photos from that event also.
I wanted to share with Kamado san how, more than 80 years later, we dedicated eisa and a lion dance in remembrance of those who passed away in Australia. I also wrote his birth year and the years he lived as his symbolic mark.
I originally thought that ‘Kamado’ was a woman’s name in Okinawa, but through my research, I discovered that men also had this name. Through making this artwork for him, I was able to learn more about Okinawa in 1883. I appreciated how strong our ancestors were, to know that he worked as a miner until the age of 59.
Artist Bio:
Yasue Taggart is originally from Nago City in Okinawa, Japan and moved to Sydney, Australia in 2013 to marry her Australian husband, John. She is president of the Sydney Okinawan Club and founder of Eisa Champ Roo (Sydney Okinawa Drum Dance group).