Embassy of Japan

Press Release
20 August 2014

Japan Festival

Wellington 2014

11am - 6pm, Saturday, 23 August 2014
TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Free Admission

The Embassy of Japan, in cooperation with Wellington City Council and Asia New Zealand Foundation, is very pleased to inform you of the above festival.

This year, the extremely popular Japanese-themed festival will feature a variety of cultural performances, including music, dance, calligraphy, flower arrangement, tea ceremony and martial arts. A giant kimono will be on display thanks to the coordination efforts of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme’s Alumni Association of Wellington. It is formed from individual panels painted by schools in Japan and New Zealand. There will also be many food stalls selling an array of Japanese food. It is a great opportunity to experience a variety of Japanese culture under one roof.

A highlight of the stage performances will be George and Noriko, who were finalists in 'Australia's Got Talent' in 2012 and have since played at a large number of music and cultural festivals. They have been invited under a Japan Foundation grant to share their unique style of mixing the traditional Japanese shamisen instrument with a blues guitar. Calligraphy master Akiko Crowther from Nelson will also take centre stage as she demonstrates the powerful art of writing giant characters.

This year is a particularly important year in New Zealand – Japan relations, highlighted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s recent visit to New Zealand. It also marks the 20th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between the cities Wellington and Sakai in Japan and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of the Japan Society of Wellington.

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