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CCuullttuurraall EEvveennttss
2011
This year the following five Sri Lankan artists received the prestigious Bunka
(Cultural) Awards.
Dr. Sriranganathan Darshanan - Music
Ms. Champani Devika Devaraja - Art & Poetry
Mrs. Tracy Holsinger - Theatre
Mr. Samarage Samantha Perera - Music
Mr. Nalaka Swarnathilake - Drama
Hon. T.B. Ekanayake, Minister of Culture and the Arts graced the occasion
as Chief Guest, while H.E. Mr. Nobuhito Hobo, Ambassador of Japan, Mr.
Akihiko Nakauchi and Prof. Carlo Fonseka, Co-Chairpersons of the Selection
Committee of the Japan Sri Lanka Friendship Cultural Fund and a
distinguished gathering of invitees including several renowned Sri Lankan
cultural artists were also present on this occasion.
Apart from the performances and presentations by the award winners
themselves, the highlight of the ceremony was a classical musical
performance by Special Guest artists Ms. Asa Nakajima, a talented violinist
from Japan, who was accompanied on piano by renowned Sri Lankan pianist
Mr. Eshantha J. Peiris.
The 18th Bunka (Cultural) Awards ceremony
organized by the Japan Sri Lanka Friendship
Cultural Fund was held on Saturday 22nd
October 2011 at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini
Corporation Colombo 07.
BUNKA AWARDS 22nd October 2011
For the first time in Sri Lanka, Rakugo, the traditional Japanese
stage comedy was performed at the Sasakawa Cultural Center
Auditorium. It was presented in English by the Rakugo Master
Utazo Katsura, a renowned Japanese comedian (Rakugo-Ka).
Rakugo is a Japanese humorous approach to fundamental human
experiences. It is the art of imagination and the audience is free to
imagine features and background of culture. The roots of Rakugo
can be traced to the end of 17th century and Rakugo stories were
intended to communicate the lighter side of what happens in
society and give people social knowledge. As it developed and
became entertainment for common people, the halls (Yose) where
Rakugo was performed became centers for social gathering in
Japan.
The Rakugo performance was organized by the Embassy of
Japan in collaboration with The Japan Foundation and the
Japanese Graduates Alumni Association of Sri Lanka (JAGAAS).
RAKUGO 22nd November 2011
Rakugo Master Utazo Katsura
Presenting Rakugo
JAPANESE EDUCATION SEMINAR 10TH
September 2011
A Japanese Education Seminar organized by
the Embassy of Japan together with the
Japanese Graduates Alumni Association of Sri
Lanka (JAGAAS), and the Japan International
Cooperation Centre (JICE) was held on
Saturday, September10, 2011, at the Sri Lanka
Foundation Institute Auditorium at
Independence Square Colombo 7 .
A total of seven universities in Japan
participated in this seminar. They were the
Asia Pacific University (APU), Ritsumeikan
University, Sophia University, University of
Kyoto, University of Tohoku, University of
Tsukuba and University of Yamaguchi. Opening
remarks and a presentation was made by three
representatives from JAGAAS,about their own
experiences in Japan.
The representatives explained
about the advantages of studying in
Japan and the salient features of
their respective universities. Many
students visited the university
booths to obtain information about
their higher education prospects.
SPECIAL GUEST LECTURE BY PROF.SHUJIRO URATA 9th
September 2011
A special guest lecture on “Regional
Economic Integration in East Asia
and Japan-Sri Lanka Economic
Relations” was delivered by Prof.
Shujiro Urata, Professor of
Economics, Graduate School of
Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda
University, Japan, at the Centre for
Banking Studies (CBS), Central
Bank of Sri Lanka, Rajagiriya on
Friday 9th September 2011.
The lecture which was organized by the
Embassy of Japan with a view to
promoting academic exchanges between
Japan and Sri Lanka was facilitated by
Prof. H.D. Karunaratne, University of
Colombo and was attended by an
appreciative audience which included
several senior government officials,
business entrepreneurs, academics,
members of the media, members of
Japan related associations and
representatives of the Japanese business
community in Sri Lanka . The lecture
concluded with by a Q & A session and a
fellowship.
Students obtaining information from university booths
JAPANESE AGRICULTURE SEMINAR 3rd
September 2011
A Japanese Agriculture Seminar organized
by the Japanese Graduates Alumni
Association of Sri Lanka (JAGAAS) and the
Embassy of japan was held on 3rd September
2011 at the University of Wayamba.
Members of JAGAAS, lectured at this
seminar and shared their experience based
upon their research in Japan. The title of the
lecture was “Reduction of Post-Harvest
losses of Agricultural Product: With reference
to experiences of Nokyo system”. A
workshop on post-harvest losses faced by Sri
Lanka was also held as part of this seminar
and was attended by both lecturers and
students of the Wayamba University. The
seminar was attended by 70 students from
the University of Agriculture and farmers
around the area.
YOSAKOI DANCE IN COLOMBO 27th
August 2011
The Japanese Yosakoi, dance organized by the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation was held on 27
thAugust, 2011,
at the New Town Hall, Colombo. Hokuto – gumi an elite unit of “Team Yamabiko” was dispatched from Kobe to perform in Sri Lanka. The second half of the concert provided
much entertainment to the audience who
were invited to come up on stage wearing
Yosakoi dance costumes and participate in
a demonstration of Yosakoi dance .
Yosakoi demonstration with
audience participation
Performance by Hokuto gumi
YOSAKOI DANCE IN PERADENIYA 25th
August 2011
The Japanese Yosakoi Dance organized by the University of Peradeniya in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan and the japan Foundation was held on 25
thAugust, 2011, at
the EOE Pereira Theatre University of Peradeniya as part of a Japanese Cultural Month. Yosakoi (Come at night) is a unique style of dance which originated in Japan. The style of dance is highly energetic, combining traditional Japanese dance movements to modern music.
A large number of academics and students of
University of Peradeniya came to the Theater to
enjoy this rare Japanese entertainment. An
interactive workshop with the audience was a
pleasurable event at the concert.
JAPANESE CULTURAL EXHIBITION 25th
August 2011
The Japanese Cultural Exhibition organized
by the Embassy of Japan in collaboration
with the Japanese Language Teacher‟s
Association of Sri Lanka was held on 20th
and 21st August, 2011, at the Lionel Went
Colombo.
The exhibits included a wide variety of
cultural features of Japan, such as Ikebana,
Bonsai, and Origami. In addition to exhibits
several Japan related organizations
demonstrated the techniques of these
Japanese Cultural features . Mr.Okazaki ,
Principal of the Japanese School in
Colombo, presented a very attractive
demonstration of calligraphy.
More than 2400 visited the exhibition on
these two days.
Audience at EOE Pereira
Theatre
Performance by Team Yamabiko
Calligraphy demonstration by Mr.Okazaki
Exhibits
A Japanese Film Festival was held
as part of the Japanese Cultural
Month in August from 5th to 8
th
August 2011 at the National Film
Corporation Auditorium. It was jointly
organized by the Embassy of Japan
and the National Film Corporation.
The film festival featured seven
contemporary films including two
animated movies namely, „Glass
Rabbit‟ and „Chibi Maruko-chan‟, a
Comedy movie entitled „Nabbi‟s
Love‟; a story based on an old
woman‟s incubated passionate love,
„A Stranger of Mine‟, „Hotel Hibiscus‟
and „Shangri-la‟ which were full of
excitement, adventure and
entertainment.
His Excellency Mr. Kunio
Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan
graced the occasion of the
opening ceremony which was
attended by an appreciative
audience of invitees consisting of
popular cinema and stage drama
personalities of Sri Lanka,
members of the diplomatic corps
and members of Japan related
associations.
JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL 5th
to 8th
August 2011
The Bon Odori organized by the Japanese Solidarity Association of Sri Lanka, the Japanese Graduates Alumni Association of Sri Lanka (JAGAAS) and the Embassy of Japan was held on Saturday 9th July, 2011, at the Mercantile Cricket Association Grounds, Colombo 7 At the commencement of the event, the 15-member tsunami disaster relief contingent from S.L was felicitated by the organizing committee. The Japanese Association also organized a fund raising support of rebuilding Japan after the Tsunami.
The festival began with a Bon Odori dance by ladies of the Japanese Association and Japanese Language Teachers‟ ssociation. Kids enjoyed participating in the “Anpanman “ march at this event. A variety of delicious Japanese cuisine further heightened the festive mood. Bon Dance has become a summer tradition in Colombo and a major social event.
BON DANCE 9th July 2011
“Anpanman Dance
The 23rd Japanese Language Speech Contest
organized by the Japanese Language Education
Association of Sri Lanka, with the assistance of the
Japan Foundation and the Embassy of Japan was
held on 12th March 2011 at the Sasakawa Hall
Auditorium, Colombo 4.
Several finalists who had been selected after
preliminary contests delivered speeches before an
audience and a panel of judges.
The following winners secured the first place in
each category;
Category A: Ms. Devkie Keerawella Bandara
Category B: Ms. M.R.Narmada Erandi Muthugala
Category C: Ms. Thilani Priyanwada Rupasinghe
Special Awards and Certificates were awarded to
the winners in each category
A Bonsai workshop organized by the Sri Lanka
Bonsai Association, the Embassy of Japan and the
Japan Foundation was held on 1st March 2011 at
the BMICH Colombo. Mr. Yasuhisa Yamaguchi, an
expert in bonsai conducted the work shop.
JAPANESE LANGUAGE SPEECH CONTEST 12th
March 2011
Bonsai Demonstration by Mr. Yamaguchi
Awards Recipients with Minister Shimazaki
WORKSHOP ON BONSAI – 1st March 2011
“Deyata Kirula 2011” a National Development
Exhibition was held at Buththala in Monaragala
district concurrently with the Independence Day
celebrations on 4th of February 2011. The
Embassy of Japan participated in this exhibition
for the first time. Japanese Dolls and posters of
popular Japanese tourism sites were on display at
the booth together with a multimedia presentation
about Japan. Visitors showed great interest in
knowing more about the Japanese culture and
university studies in Japan
A Lecture on “Characteristics of
Japanese gardens and the historical
epochs to develop the characters” was
delivered by Prof. Eijiro Fujii, Chiba
University, Japan on 28th February
2011 at BMICH, Colombo. This was
the first time that a lecture on Japanese
Gardens was held in Sri Lanka.
DEYATA KIRULA – 4th
to 10th
February
2011
Prof. Fuji delivering the lecture
LECTURE ON “CHARACTERISTICS OF JAPANESE GARDENS AND THE HISTORICAL
EPOCHS TO DEVELOP THE CHARACTERS” - 28th
February 2011