| times on this day people
would drive away evil
spirits using irises. It also
used to be a day for wishing
for the growth of
boys, but now all children
are celebrated,
although families with
boys in them carry out
special rituals, displaying
model armour and
warriors’ helmets and
putting up carp streamers.
Carp are fish that
swim powerfully against
strong currents, and the
streamers symbolize the
wish that boys will achieve success and become strong and
confident.
The event started with a poetry session with the participation
of a large number of dignitaries and writers. A
Japanese poet recited the Komori Uta – Lorigeet, and its
Hindi translation was presented by Dr. Raj Buddhiraja.
Some of the other Japanese poems recited on the occasion
were O Hina Sama, Koi Nobri, Sakura, O Shyogatsu,
Tanabala, Nen Nen Sai-Dai, Ado Komori Uta, Haru ga
Kita, Mori Sa Komori Sa, Akai Yama, Oi Yama Yuki, Zo San,
etc., which were well liked by the audience. The main
attraction was some poems of popular Indian medieval
poets like Surdass and Tulsidass, in Brij-bhasha, Awadhibhasha,
as well as their Japanese translations.
Dr. Buddhiraja pointed out that while it is a pity that Indians
are forgetting their rich literary past, ICJC has had the honour
of sending a booklet of these popular Indian poems to Japan, in the shape of a booklet, as
a gift from Indian children
to Japanese
children, just like the gift
of a baby elephant to the
children of Japan, by
India’s first Prime Minister,
Pt. Jawahar Lal
Nehru, many decades
back. The event was
therefore of great significance
as a Sanskrit poem
was translated into both
Hindi and Japanese.
In the afternoon session,
the opening
ceremony of the exhibition
was performed by Mrs. Enoki, wife of the Japanese
Ambassador Mr. Yasukuni Enoki. The exhibition featured
exhibits such as Ohinasama, Tango-no-Sekku, Momo-no-
Sekku, Kimonos, Koinobori, wooden toys and lacquer-ware,
etc. Mr. Kikuchi, Principal of the Japanese School in Delhi,
made some opening remarks on the occasion. The Delhi
Wadaiko Club also presented a Japanese drums performance
on the occasion.
On the 7th and 8th of May 2007, an Origami demonstration
was conducted, in which students and teachers of Hillwood
School and Mother Teresa School participated. Mr. Matsumura,
Director of Japan Information Centre, Embassy of Japan,
presented gifts to the children and ICJC members present on
the occasion.
It is hoped events such as this would help familiarize the
Indian audience with one of the integral and popular aspects of
Japanese culture.
IMPORTANT SIGNING CEREMONIES
CONDUCTED BY THE EMBASSY
OF JAPAN
Government of Japan extends US$ 37,189 Grant Assistance
to Lady Willingdon Hospital for its Grassroots Project
The Embassy of Japan in India, under its scheme ‘Grant
Assistance for Grassroots Projects’, decided to extend a grant
assistance totaling US$ 37,189 (approximately equivalent to
Rs.17 lacs) to Lady Willingdon Hospital, Himachal Pradesh,
to support a medical care project undertaken by it to install a
new ultrasound diagnostic machine, which would help the
rural poor patients in the Kullu and Lahaul & Spiti valleys in
the state.
The Signing Ceremony to formalize the arrangements took
place on February 5, 2007, at the Embassy of Japan, between
H.E. Mr. Yasukuni Enoki, Ambassador of Japan, and the
representatives of the Lady Willingdon Hospital.
Government of Japan extends US$70,638 Grant Assistance
to Jawaharlal Nehru University for its Cultural
Grassroots Project
The Embassy of Japan in India, under its scheme “Grant
Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects”, decided to extend
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