HCM CITY — Dozens of activities featuring traditional and modern Japanese culture will be the highlight of the Viet Nam – Japan Day in HCM City tomorrow.
The annual event is organised by the General Consulate of Japan in HCM City and the Youth Cultural House.
The opening festivities of the day will include a demonstration and workshop on ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement.
Sasaki Yasuhito, an expert in ikebana, who teaches at one of Japan's oldest ikebana schools, the Ikenobo, will be the instructor for the workshop.
Yasuhito, who is also a Japan cultural envoy from the Agency for Cultural Affairs for the Japansese government, has been an ikebana instructor in the US and Canada.
After his visit in HCM City, he will tour Ha Noi, Thailand and Singapore.
Students from HCM City universities will perform Japanese drama plays while members of the HCM City Martial Arts Federation will demonstrate kendo, a modern Japanese martial art that involves sword-fighting.
Vietnamese artists, including actor Thanh Loc, film director Nguyen Quang Dung, music composer Duc Tri, artist Nhu Huy and singers including Hien Thuc, Minh Thu and Phu Sa Group, will share their feelings and impressions about Japan.
Teenagers are expected to enjoy the Cosplay performance in which performers dress up in elaborate costumes worn as popular characters in Japanese comics.
The cultural day also features Japanese food, toys and origami demonstrations, as well as exhibitions on Japanese picture books, paintings and dolls.
Admission is free from 8.45am to 6pm at the Youth Cultural House at 4 Pham Ngoc Thach Street, District 1. — VNS