Convergence 2006 – The Abalone Connection
April 29, 2006, Monterey, California
A
special delegation from Minamiboso Japan is bringing a remarkable historic
artifact to the Monterey Bay Region. The relic, a century-old celebratory
jacket called a maiwai has
the words “Monterey” and “USA” emblazoned on it
indicating the historic connection between the two places.
Click HERE
to find out the location of Minamiboso.
The Maiwai Comes Home to Monterey
 This remarkable garment was made in Japan and distributed sometime between 1899 and 1901 to the employees of the Ide & Company, an abalone diving company located at Point Lobos. The jacket was owned by the Kurihara family of Senda Japan, and they have given us the jacket so that it can be put on display for all of California to see. |
Click HERE for more information
on maiwai “Good Catch” jackets and this particular jacket.
Saturday, April 29 Symposium Day – Various locations in
downtown Monterey - All events are free and open to the public.
10:00 AM - Noon– Presentations – Maritime Museum Theater
A series of presentations on the science of abalone, the history of abalone
harvesting, the equipment, techniques used in Japan and the present state
of abalone around the Pacific. Presenters will include experts from both
sides of the Pacific.
For further details about the presentations see HERE
12:00 PM – 5:00 – Abalone Fest – Custom House
Plaza, Monterey
•
Abalone Races - the first international Abalone Derby
Angel’s Camp has its jumping frogs. Monterey
will have its racing abalone!
Up to 10 abalone will compete with each other to be crowned the World’s
Fastest Abalone. Individuals or companies may sponsor the individual Abalones,
or the overall derby. The races will be strictly monitored and a set of
rules will be provided the abalone handlers. A licensed veterinarian will
be in attendance. A chef, too.
So, you think watching racing abalone will be boring? Come and see! You’ll
be surprised!
• Breath-Holding Contest: Test your ability to
hold your breath against professional Japanese free divers! Do you think
you’ve got big lungs? Bring them and we’ll put you on the
clock and see!
• Abalone Shell Contest: Finding the Biggest and
Best Shells in the World – Do you think you have one of the biggest
abalone shells? Bring it on!
 Tim Thomas with huge abalone shell, Senda Village, Japan. This abalone shell was harvested near Monterey and taken home to Japan as a souvenir. |
Rules for
measuring and seeing if your shell meets the
minimum size to enter the contest.
• Abalone Poetry Contest: Reviving a poetic tradition
invented in Monterey and going back almost a century
• Abalone Crafts and Information: Other Abalone
Fest activities will include historic diving gear displays, abalone jewelry
booths, demonstrations!
2:00 – 4:00 PM – Live Videoconference Feed from the
Cabin at Point Lobos to Maritime Museum Auditorium and other possible
venues in Monterey
Stories from Beneath the Sea
Using footage
of two Japanese ama (women divers) diving in Whaler’s Cove shot
previously, there will be a discussion of the history of abalone diving
at Point Lobos that began in 1897 with the arrival of Japanese divers
from Minamiboso.
The presentations will include the history of abalone diving in Japan,
traditional and modern gear, and the history of abalone diving at Point
Lobos.
Included will be a discussion lead by anthropologist Bethany Grenald with
the two ama from Minamiboso. Ms. Grenald lived and dove with the two ama
in the mid 1990s.
This feed will be interactive and viewers will be able to ask questions
of those gathered over at Point Lobos.
4:00 – 5:00 PM – Meet the Ama, Maritime Museum
 |
For more
information on the Ama, click HERE
A discussion and interview with the two ama divers from Minamiboso including
anthropologist Bethany Grenald who lived and dove with the ama in Japan
in the mid-1990s.
 |
 Reiko Miyamoto (left) and Emiko Yoshida are professional Japanese free divers that will be doing a filmed dive at Point Lobos prior to the Symposium. The film will be shown and you will be able to ask questions of them. They will have examples of their traditional equipment with them as well. |
7:00 PM – Celebration! – Golden State Theatre, 417
Alvarado St., Monterey.
Free and open to the public.
The Symposium will conclude with an evening of song and story as we celebrate
the historic connection between Minamiboso and the Monterey Bay Region.
The evening will include some history, the announcement of prizewinners,
presentations and music.
The evening will conclude with the singing of several traditional Japanese
songs including the “Blue-Eyed Doll” that was written in 1921
to connect the United States with Japan and continues to do so.
 |
Professional
Japanese storyteller Reiko Matsunae will perform at the symposium
and will tell the wonderful story of the Blue-Eyed Dolls, and the
Return Dolls that were exchanged between Japan and the United States
in 1927. |
For more information about the Blue-Eyed Dolls and their songs, click
HERE
A Special Chorus assembled by Cheryl Anderson, Cabrillo College’s
internationally acclaimed choral conductor! Special arrangements of traditional
Japanese songs by arranger Stephen Tosh.
Sandy Lydon is taking a group to Minamiboso this coming September!
Come visit the ama and all our Japanese friends! For
more information about the trip click HERE