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