This poem was written by Eiki Shiroma (1908-1992), the 14th head of the Shiroma family, which had been the creators of Ryukyu bingata for centuries. Ryukyu bingata is a traditional fabric-dyeing art form, a legacy of the Ryukyu Kingdom (15th-19th century), which became Okinawa, Japan, in 1879. During World War II, much of Okinawa, including the city of Shuri, was devastated. After the war, Eiki Shiroma stood motionless before the ruins, having lost nearly all the pattern papers and tools necessary for his craft. After this destruction, he wrote a poem expressing his determination to rebuild and move forward despite the profound loss. Though he struggled, Eiki ultimately succeeded in reviving Ryukyu bingata, now recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of Okinawa. He was designated as the of this cultural heritage.

This story was featured in a TV documentary commemorating the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's return to Japan from U.S. administration in 2022. Our artistic director, Ruriko Miura, happened to watch it and was deeply moved. Inspired by the story, she decided to use this poem to mark the 20th anniversary of the San Francisco Forest Choir (SFFC). She commissioned her friend, composer Asuka Takahashi, to set the poem to music. To deepen their understanding of the poem, both Ruriko and Asuka visited Okinawa, where they met Eiki's grandson, Eiichi, the 16th head of the Shiroma family, and visited their workshop.

The SFFC premiered this song as a women's choir in May 2024, and this performance marks its debut as a mixed choir. We hope you enjoy the beautiful poem and the music.