It is not surprising that I often become quite involved with readers and their problems. Take June Wong, who grew up in Hawaii but had to come to Japan to learn the hula. She was impressed by a group of Japanese women dancers and joined them. "I love my teacher and every one of my hula sisters," she wrote. Her teacher, who in turn loved Hawaii and the hula, hoped to share her enthusiasm with anyone who wanted to learn. It was an unknown and carefree group until this year when they entered the King Kamehameha Hula Competition in Okinawa. The winner would qualify for the finals in Honolulu in June. Although they had no expectation whatsoever of winning, they did.
The teacher, not wanting to leave anyone out, has added all of her other students who want to go, increasing the group from 15 to 26. Some are only beginners, but they are all working hard. At first they could not find music to perform to that had not already been chosen, but then they were given a new song that no group has ever danced to composed by Johnny Lum Ho, a famous performer and teacher on the island of Hawaii. In addition to as much practice as can be scheduled, they must find time to raise funds for travel and other expenses. They hoped to hold a craft fair where they would sell craft goods and food and provide entertainment. She wanted to find an outdoor public or private space that they could use. In Hawaii, she wrote, all she would have to do would be go to the Parks and Recreation Office for a permit.
It does not work like that in Japan. Both public and private space is expensive here and would probably defeat the money-making goal of the dancers. It may come as a surprise to those of you who have enjoyed various street entertainers to learn that impromptu entertainment in streets or parks is illegal. While no permits can be issued for such activities, there is an occasional inability to see them when they are happening. This obliviousness allows occasional and unexpected surprises in our city, like the traffic-stopping show in Shibuya not so long ago, and musical performances near station entrances and other populated places. I remember a bagpipe player in Yurakucho and a Peruvian band in Shinbashi. But performers must always be ready for a speedy departure; life is unpredictable. There are a few public parks with stages, but these are booked well into the future.