Dushanbe, 11.03.2016. (NIAT “Khovar”). — Organized by the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Tajikistan, the Japanese cultural fair «JAPAN DAYS» will take place at the Ismaili Center in Dushanbe on March 12th and 13th, 2016.

This first-ever Japanese cultural fair in Tajikistan, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Committee for Youth, Sports and Tourism under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, will be an admission-free event with a variety of demonstrations and exhibitions on the cultures and traditions of Japan.

The two-day Japan Days will contain the following events:

On Saturday the 12th, the Japan Days begins at 10:00am with the demonstration of ikebana, the art of flower arrangement, by the master of Japanese traditional arts, Ms. Midori Yamada. Concurrently there will be all-day special booths exhibiting shodo, Japanese traditional calligraphy, and origami, art of paper folding by the leading origami artist Ms. Zohreh Bahrololumi. There will also be booths for visitors to try on traditional Japanese garment, yukata, and play with wooden-made traditional toys. In addition, Tajik students who have studied in Japan will hold a unique presentatin session where they will share intriguing first-hand stories of living and studying abroad in Japan.

In the afternoon, the Koto and Shamisen Concert will take place from 1:00pm. The concert will be followed by the Kimono Fashion Show. Koto and shamisen are traditional Japanese stringed instruments, which Ms. Natalia Golubinskaya and Ms. Natalia Grigorovich, renowned musicians from the Moscow Conservatory, will play to create the melodious afternoon. The subsequent Kimono Fashion Show will be a unique opportunity for visitors to enjoy a variety of kimonos worn in different occasions in Japan.

Concomitantly throughout the afternoon, there will be film-viewing sessions, featuring recent Japanese movie and anime films. The first will be the anime The Garden of Words and then the movie From Me to You follows.

On Sunday the 13th, the second day of the Japan Days, multiple events will again simultaneously take place throughout the day. In the morning, there will be viewing of the short anime film The Voice of a Distant Star, followed by another anime film The Garden of Words.

Alongside, the special booths will be showcasing shodo, origami, and traditional toys, as well as yukata try-on event will be inviting all guests to join in.

From 11:30am, an exciting mochi-making event will take place. Mochi is a traditional rice cake made of steamed rice. Visitors are encouraged to take part in making this traditional food and in the tasting afterwards. Simultaneously, the master of sadothe art of Japanese tea preparation and serving-will demonstrate the Japanese tea ceremony, creating the serene moment.

In the afternoon, the Koto and Shamisen Concert will take place, creating the euphonious, relaxing afternoon with the sound of traditional stringed instruments. Then at 2:00pm the electrifying Budo Demonstration begins. Experts from the associations of judo, aikido, karate, sumo, kudo, new full contact karate, and kyokushin-karate in Tajikistan will demonstrate different styles of Japanese martial arts.

Following the captivating Budo Demonstration is the traditional Japanese dance, awa-odori. This unique awa-odori dance hails from the Shikoku island of Japan. The performers led by the Japanese awa-odori masters will demonstrate the refined movements while also inviting visitors to join in the dancing.

The eventful two days at the Japan Days will serve as the opportunity to demonstrate the friendship between the Republic of Tajikistan and Japan, and a great opportunity for all visitors to enjoy the cultures and traditions of Japan in the lively atmosphere.