THE PINNACLE AT SANTA MONICA

The TAMINARU YOGORE NO UTA has intrigued me, since the beginning of the post-World War II era. Not having been incarcerated during the shameful period of the barbed wire camps, I have been very naive of the camp life. However, I learned very quickly and am still learning why certain incidents occurred and of all the political and military ramifications of the evacuation.

Be that as it may, I remember when the Japanese TV program, DAIKON NO HANA, was dictating the social schedule. About that time, one Sunday afternoon I switched on the “Idiot Box”, (no snickering, please), and accidentally tuned into the Japanese talent show by NHK, broadcasting from the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. I thought, maybe, the program should be taped. Jumping around like a swivel hipped tailback, I got the recorder hooked to the TV. The interesting segments were taped as I enjoyed the program.

Our quiet household atmosphere totally erupted. Just like the Mt. Helena volcanic eruption, if not, that of Mt. Vesuvius! The chairman had just announced the contesting team representing Terminal Island! And my family, usually very laid back, thought I had gone completely NUTS I When the interview started, I learned that the singers were Charley Hamasaki, “Tiger” Iriye and Peter Shimada. Then Charley replied that the team was going to sing the YOGORE NO UTA, I was on “Cloud Nine” and couldn’t wait for the singing to begin. Evidently, the guys had qualified and were in the semi-final event. The interview, itself, was very entertaining and had the entire NHK crew from Tokyo and the audience in a tremendous, crescendo roar of approval.

Yuki told me that he had a bunch of TI rooters at the auditorium that night. With the Terminal Island banner waving madly overhead, shouting, “Oi You-ra GAMBARE Yo”, as they marched up and down the aisle. What a show! What a spirit!

The guys and the song were terrific, but they only sang one verse. This left me very hungry and unsatisfied. More! More!

True to form, Yuki came to my rescue and furnished all of the verses and the story behind the song. The song was written by Mr. Minoru Hinoki, naturally, a Terminal Islander. The lyric is very macho and emotionally inspiring. The music has a catchy tune and the rhythm is such as to make the singing easy. Upon studying the composition, one will be able to truly comprehend and share Mr. Hinoki’s passionate feelings, as he wrote the YOGORE NO UTA in Manzanar. The music is from the popular Japanese army song, SHANGHAI DAYORI, written during the Shanghai incident.

TAMINARU YOGORE NO UTA is one helluva song!