Rice & Roses presents CANEFIELD SONGS Holehole Bushi

Summary

This video explores the history and cultural significance of *Holy Holy Bushi*, a genre of songs created by Japanese immigrants working on sugar plantations in Hawaii. The music reflects their struggles, joys, and deep emotional connection to their homeland. Through the work of Harry Urata, a music teacher dedicated to preserving these songs, we learn about the lives of early immigrants, particularly women, and their use of music as a form of expression and resilience. The video highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage and the impact of these songs on future generations, ensuring that the stories of these workers are remembered.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 'holy holy bushy' songs are an important part of the cultural heritage of Japanese immigrants who worked on Hawaii’s sugar plantations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• 😀 These songs were sung by plantation workers, primarily women, and reflect their joys, sorrows, and experiences in a foreign land.
• 😀 The word 'holy holy' refers to dried cane leaves in Hawaiian, while 'bushy' is a Japanese term for melody or tune, creating a fusion of Hawaiian and Japanese cultures.
• 😀 Music educator Harry Urata played a pivotal role in preserving and documenting these folk songs, ensuring that the history of Japanese American immigrants was passed down to future generations.
• 😀 Urata's recordings of over 50 songs serve as historical records, offering insights into the lives of immigrants and their struggles on the plantations.
• 😀 The lyrics of 'holy holy bushy' songs often reflect the emotional and social challenges of plantation life, including the difficulty of adjusting to new environments and harsh working conditions.
• 😀 The songs provide a personal connection to history, especially from a woman's perspective, offering a window into their experiences and emotional lives during the early 20th century.
• 😀 The tradition of these songs was passed down through generations, with younger students learning about their cultural heritage through the stories behind the songs.
• 😀 Over time, 'holy holy bushy' songs evolved from work songs into leisure songs, performed at tea houses and social gatherings, reflecting the changing social dynamics of the Japanese community in Hawaii.
• 😀 Despite the challenges faced by the Japanese immigrants, including low wages, poor living conditions, and a difficult transition to life in Hawaii, the songs continued to be a vital expression of their culture and identity.
• 😀 Today, 'holy holy bushy' songs are still performed and appreciated worldwide, ensuring that the history and cultural legacy of the Japanese American experience in Hawaii are not forgotten.

Q & A

What are 'holy holy' and 'bushi,' and how do they relate to Japanese immigrant music in Hawaii?

'Holy holy' refers to dried cane leaves in Hawaiian, while 'bushi' is a Japanese term for melody or tune. These terms describe the unique music created by Japanese immigrants in Hawaii, especially the work songs sung in the sugar cane fields during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

How did the Japanese immigrant workers in Hawaii adapt their traditional music?

The first-generation Japanese immigrants, known as the ISE, brought their traditional music from Japan but modified the lyrics to reflect their experiences working in Hawaii's sugar plantations, transforming the music into a record of their joys, sorrows, and struggles.

What role did Harry Urata play in preserving the music of Japanese immigrants in Hawaii?

Harry Urata, a music teacher and radio host, played a pivotal role in preserving the music of Hawaii's plantation workers. In the 1960s, he recorded and documented these songs, ensuring they were passed down to future generations as a historical record of the immigrant experience.

Why is the music of the 'holy holy' and 'bushi' significant in understanding the history of Japanese immigrants in Hawaii?

The music is significant because it offers a direct, emotional connection to the lives of the immigrant workers, particularly women. Their songs reflect the hardships of plantation life, including low wages, difficult work, and the longing for their homeland.

What does Jake Shimabukuro believe about the power of music, particularly in the context of the 'bushi'?

Jake Shimabukuro believes that music communicates the purest form of human emotion. He emphasizes that traditional 'bushi' music, despite being simple in structure with only four lines of verse, holds deep emotional power and storytelling ability.

How did World War II impact Japanese Americans in Hawaii, particularly Harry Urata?

During World War II, Harry Urata, like many Japanese Americans, faced harsh treatment and was arrested and confined at the Honouliuli internment camp in Hawaii, where he continued to share stories and music about the early Japanese immigrants.

What role did women play in the production of 'holy holy' songs on the plantations?

Women were the primary singers of 'holy holy' songs as they worked in the sugarcane fields. Their music provided a way to express their emotions and experiences, particularly their longing for home and the difficulties they faced working in the plantations.

How did the plantation workers' conditions influence the development of their music?

The harsh working conditions, long hours, low pay, and the emotional strain of being far from home greatly influenced the content of the songs. The lyrics often reflected the workers' personal struggles, desires to return to Japan, and the harsh realities of plantation life.

What is the significance of the 'bonus system' on Hawaii's sugar plantations, as reflected in the songs?

The 'bonus system' was a form of payment that was part of the workers' wages, but it was often used as a tool to keep workers working even when they were sick. This system is reflected in songs that lament the hardships and injustices faced by the plantation workers.

What did the 1920 strike on the Hawaiian plantations represent for the workers?

The 1920 strike represented the workers' resistance to the harsh conditions, low pay, and the exploitation they faced. It was a collective action where workers marched to demand better wages and treatment, and it remains a significant part of Hawaii's labor history.