Implementation of JAPAN WEEK in BHUTAN 2022

2022/10/19

The Embassy of Japan in Bhutan, the Japan Foundation, New Delhi, and JICA Bhutan Office have organized the “Japan Week in Bhutan 2022” in cooperation with the Royal Government of Bhutan in order to commemorate the year 2022 which marks the Japan-Southwest Asia Exchange, the 30^th anniversary of the death of the father of modern agriculture in Bhutan, Dasho NISHIOKA Keiji, as well as the 35^th anniversary of the conclusion of the JOCV(Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers) Agreement between Japan and Bhutan.

On Saturday 15 October, the first day of the Japan Week, the opening ceremony of the Japan Week took place at the Clock Tower Square, where booths were set up by the JICA Bhutan Office to introduce Japanese culture and other activities. From the evening of the same day until Sunday 16 October, the “Mini Japan Anime Film Festival” took place at the Clock Tower Square and at a cinema in Thimphu.
On 16 October, as part of the Japan Week, the JAAB (Japan Alumni Association of Bhutan) Membership Expansion Ceremony took place.
On 17 October, a sports promotion event was organized by the Bhutan Judo Association for local students, and from the same day to 18 October, a Japanese culture and Japanese language workshop was held by the Japan Foundation, New Delhi office at schools in Thimphu.

(Reference) Announcement of JAPAN WEEK in BHUTAN 2022
　https://www.in.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/11_000001_00817.html

日本週間オープニングセレモニー

On 15 October, the Opening Ceremony of Japan Week was held at the Clock Tower Square as the flagship event of Japan Week.

At the beginning of the ceremony, opening remarks were made by Mr. KAWAZU, Chargé d'Affaires of Japan to Bhutan and remarks were made by H. E. Dr. Tandi Dorji, Foreign Minister of Bhutan. A karate demonstration by the Bhutan Karate Association, a judo demonstration by the Bhutan Judo Association were performed.
This was followed by a hand-over ceremony to donate Kinnikuman T-shirts and proteins to the Bhutan Judo Association, with the support of Yudetamago, the author of Kinnikuman, Xtend and the Kobe Bhutan Friendship Association.
The second half of the opening ceremony featured a performance by students of the Perkil School of music from the Japanese manga “Naruto” anime, as well as a video performance of live music using the Tsugaru shamisen and Japanese drum.
The ceremony concluded with closing remarks by Mr. Yamada, Chief Representative of JICA Bhutan Office.

In the opening remarks of Mr. KAWAZU, Chargé d'Affaires, he congratulated the Japan Week 2022 in Bhutan for being able to hold the event for the first time in three years, and appreciated the presence of HRH Princess Sonam Dechen Wangchuck at the funeral of former Prime Minister Abe as well as her great contributions to further closer Japan-Bhutan relationship. He also expressed his hope that the Japan Week in Bhutan would help many Bhutanese to develop an interest in Japanese culture and contribute to the expansion of Japan-Bhutan relations in the future.
Foreign Minister Dr. Tandi Dorji mentioned that Japan Week gave opportunities to celebrate the special bond between the royal family of Bhutan and the royal family of Japan, to deepen knowledge and insight into Japanese culture, and to understand the rich culture and heritage of Japan. He also expressed his gratitude for the various support provided by the Government of Japan for the development of Bhutan and expressed his wish to strengthen the friendly and cooperative relationship between Japan and Bhutan in the future.

Pictures of the Opening Ceremony

Pictures of Hand-over Ceremony of supplies donated to the Bhutan Judo Association

Pictures of Booths of the JICA Bhutan Office

Mini Japan Anime Festival

As part of the Japan Week, the “Mini Japan Anime Film Festival” was organized by theEmbassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation, New Delhi on 15^th and 16^th October at the Clock Tower Square and a cinema in Thimphu.
The festival featured animation films by Makoto SHINKAI*, who is a Japanese film director, animator, cinematographer and manga artist.
On the first day, “The Garden of Words” (2013: 46mins) and “5 Centimeters Per Second” (2007: 63mins) were screened, while on the second and final day, “The Place Promised in Our Early Days” (2004: 91mins) and “Children Who Chase Lost Voices” (2011: 116mins) were screened.

In the opening remarks of Mr. KAWAZU, Chargé d'Affaires, hopeed that the films would help many Bhutanese to appreciate the fascination of Japanese animation and develop an interest in the Japanese language and culture, and that as many Bhutanese as possible would actually visit Japan for tourism and other purposes, thereby promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges between Japan and Bhutan.

Many students came to the festival on both days and enjoyed the Japanese animation films.

*Makoto SHINKAI Bio
Born in Nagano Prefecture, Japan in 1973, Makoto Shinkai made his commercial debut with the short film he produced on his own, “Voices of a Distant Star.”
Since then, every project he directed has been very well-received, including the 2004 “The Place Promised in Our Early Days” which won the Animated Feature awards at the 59th Mainichi Film Concours; the 2007 “5 Centimeters Per Second” which won the Best Animated Feature Film awards at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards; the 2011 “Children Who Chase Lost Voices,” which won the 8th Annual CICAF “Golden Monkey King” award; and the 2013 “The Garden of Words,” which won the Best Feature Animation award at the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film.
More recently, his 2016 film “Your Name.” became an international sensation and social phenomenon, smashing Japanese box office records, winning several awards at the 40th Japan Academy Film Prize, including Excellent Prize for Animation Film (”Your Name.”), Excellent Prize for Director (Makoto Shinkai), and Excellent Prize for Screenplay (Makoto Shinkai), as well as Best Animated Film at the 49th Sitges Film Festival and the 42nd Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Feature.
Makoto was quick to follow up that success with his 2019 picture, “Weathering With You,” which drew over 10 million people to the theaters and represented Japan for the Best International Feature Film in the 92nd Academy Awards. Furthermore, in India, it garnered more than 50,000 signatures petitioning its theatrical release, which made it the first Japanese original animation to achieve a commercial theatrical release in India.
His most recent film, “Suzume” is scheduled to be released theatrically in Japan on November 11, 2022.

Pictures of the Festival

JAAB (Japan Alumni Association of Bhutan) Membership Expansion Ceremony

On 18^th October, whereas there has been no alumni association for former international students in Bhutan, the JICA Alumni Association of Bhutan for JICA training, has been extended membership to play the role of the Japan alumni association for the former international students, and the name of the association has been changed to the Japan Alumni Association of Bhutan (JAAB).
To commemorate these changes, a ceremony took place on 16 October at Hotel White Tara, in the presence of Mr. Kawazu, Charge d'Affaires and Mr. Yamada, Chief Representative of JICA Bhutan Office, as well as to promote exchanges between old and new JAAB members.
About 30 new and old JAAB members attended the ceremony, where JAAB Chairman Dawa Penjo expressed his enthusiasm for the future activities of the JAAB, and introduced the JAAB's activities, followed by presentations by the former international students and former JICA trainees on their experiences in Japan and how they used what they learnt in Japan after returning to Bhutan. Afterwards, intercultural exchanges took place between all the participants.

Pictures of the ceremony

Sports Promotion Event by the Bhutan Judo Association

On 16^th October, as part of the Japan Week, a Judo class was held by the Bhutan Judo Association at the Judo Dojo (Hall) which was built last year as the first-ever project under the Japan's Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Project in Bhutan.
About 80 fourth-graders from neighboring primary schools took part in the event and enjoyed judo-related preparatory exercises, games and the experience of trying on judo uniforms under the guidance of instructors dispatched as JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and Bhutanese coaches and athletes.
Although many of the students knew about judo, it was the first time for them to see and experience judo, and some of them expressed their desire to start judo after the event.
All the Participants were given some items provided by Panasonic India.

Pictures of the event

Events by the Japan Foundation New Delhi

On 17^th and 18^th October, Japanese culture and Japanese language workshops organised by the Japan Foundation New Delhi was held for schools in Thimphu. A total of about 600 students participated in the workshops held in four schools.
In the workshops, Japanese culture quizzes and hiragana-karuta were introduced and the participating students enjoyed learning about Japan through the quizzes and karuta.