26 January 2015

Tomodachi Day celebrates 20 year friendship with Minoh

On Saturday 31 January, Hutt City will celebrate 20 years of being friends (tomodachi) with Minoh City in Japan. The pulse of taiko drumming and heart-warming waiata, will come together in a celebration from 1.30pm at the Little Theatre and Riddiford Gardens.

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace will welcome Minoh City Mayor Tetsuro Kurata, along with 21 representatives from Minoh City.

Mayor Ray Wallace says, “We have established strong bonds through our sister-city friendship and cultural exchange over the last 20 years.

“We enjoy an even closer relationship with Minoh City today, for example students from Tui Glen and Epuni schools have daily Skype links with sister schools in Japan. We also have regular exchanges between students and teachers at all school levels too, so it will be a great time for many friends to meet again.”

Tomodachi Day will begin with a formal pōwhiri at 1.30pm in the Little Theatre and will be followed by Japanese cultural displays and demonstrations in the adjacent Riddiford Gardens at 2.30pm. This will include Japanese taiko drumming, karate, sumo and dancing by local groups. Members of the Minoh group will also demonstrate origami, calligraphy, watercolour painting and a tea ceremony.

In the event of wet weather, all demonstrations will go ahead in the Little Theatre.

While in Hutt City, Mayor Kurata’s delegation will also spend time visiting local attractions and events including The Dowse Art Museum and Te Rā o te Raukura.

Tomodachi Day – FREE
From 1.30pm
Little Theatre and Riddiford Gardens
Queens Drive, Lower Hutt
All welcome

An International Cooperating Cities Agreement was signed in Lower Hutt on 16th of July 1995 between Lower Hutt City and Minoh City to promote understanding between their citizens by promoting educational and cultural exchanges and joint efforts to study and address local and global issues, plus promotion of tourism and investment.

Hutt Minoh Friendship House in Normandale is the focal point for the relationship, and acts as a Japanese Cultural Centre - a hub for learning and sharing the knowledge and skill of Japanese culture, language, arts and crafts - under the direction of the Hutt Minoh House Friendship Trust with trustees from three neighbouring councils, Hutt City and two from Minoh. More at www.huttminoh.org.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media