A glimpse of Japanese culture in Pune

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Crazy about Manga, Anime? How about dressing up as one of your favourite characters, then head to Phoenix Marketcity on November 19-20 2022 to witness Cosplay in the ‘Konnichiwa Pune’, Indo-Japan cultural festival, organised by the Indo-Japan Business Council (IJBC). This festival is also part of the 70^th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Japan. The event has been co-organized with the Consulate General of Japan in Mumbai.

The cultural festival will begin from 3 PM on 19 and 20 at Libery Square, with fusion dance. Santoor player by Japanese Takahiro Arai, who is the disciple of Santoor Maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma will kickstart the festival. During the festival, Yoga expert from Japan Akiko Kato will address the audience. Akiko herself is a faculty of environment and information studies, Keio University, and a recipient of Miss World Japan Special Award.

There is also a performance by Noriko Shakti, a music producer, composer, and tabla player from Japan. She is taking Tabla lessons in India for a considerable period of time.

A performance by Hiroko Sarah, who is a Mumbai-based Japanese singer-songwriter and dancer. Hiroko, a disciple of Jayanti Mala Mishra, who performs Indian classical dance – Kathak, will be the cynosure of eyes at the event. Hiroko also is well-versed with other dance forms – Bollywood, Belly dance and Rajasthani dance.

Japanese artist Asano Fukui’s presentation of Japanese cultural songs is also the highlight of the first day.

Performances by other artists including team Mystic Jounetsu – Kushmir, Ibex and Hiroko Sarah, Calligrapher of “Shado” and Ura-Senko Sado master, Kazuko Barisic will also capture the attention of the viewers.

Fumie Negishi will showcase Indian classical performance. Negishi in 1997, while touring India, listened to Hindustani classical music and developed a serious interest in the art. Since 2015, Fumie has been awarded ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) scholarship from the Indian government to receive serious taaleem from Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr. Prabha Atre. Fumie has been translating the book ‘Enlightening the Listener’ authored by Dr. Atre on Contemporary Indian classical music performance from English to Japanese.

A host of other Japanese activities – Sado (Japanese tea ceremony), Shodo (Japanese calligraphy), Origami (Japanese art of paper folding), Furoshiki (traditional Japanese wearing clothes), Ikebana (Japanese art of flower arrangement) – will also be held over the two days.

Moreover, Japanese Anime Cosplay and Bon Odori – a traditional style of dancing performed during Obon, an annual Buddhist event to commemorate one’s ancestors, will also be on display. Punekars will also get to taste a variety of Japanese cuisines at the festival.