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This past summer, the Foundation joined with the
Okinawa-American community of Los Angeles and the Worldwide Uchinanchu Business
Association North America in remembering General MacArthur’s legacy in Okinawa
following World War II. The Los Angeles Okinawa-American commmunity sponsored
the performance of a musical entitled "Pigs from the Sea" to a sold out
performance in the Marsee Auditorium at El Camino College in Torrance,
California.
This musical is based on the relief effort by the United
Okinawa Association in Hawaii in raising funds to provide recovery support to
the people of Okinawa following World War II. This effort involved the brave
efforts of seven Okinawa-Americans, the crew of the U.S.S. Owens and the
active support of General MacArthur. The musical is set in 1948 and tells the
story of the transportation of 550 pigs to Okinawa in order to stave off famine
and to reestablish Okinawa’s animal husbandry industry.
Performing in the musical was a cast from Okinawa,
supplemented by local performers from the Okinawa-American community of Los
Angeles. A special added attraction to the performance was the appearance by
Hollywood star George Takei as General MacArthur. Transforming Mr. Takei to
General MacArthur was Emmy Award winning markup artist Mrs. Kaori Nara Turner.
Also participating in the production were actress Tamlyn Tomita and vocal artist
Ayako Kawana.
This story is one of compassion and sacrifice and provided
the audience a clear understanding and appreciation for those Americans and
Okinawans who established a proud legacy of humanitarian service. The musical
format also served, as United States Consul General to Okinawa, Thomas Reich
wrote, as "an excellent vehicle of introducing the song and dance of Okinawa" to
the audience.

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MacArthur Report Index
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