Implementation of ONLINE JAPAN WEEK in BHUTAN 2021

In a bid to further promote cultural exchanges between Japan and Bhutan, the Embassy of Japan, the Japan Foundation New Delhi, and JICA Bhutan Office, with the cooperation of the Royal Government of Bhutan, jointly held the “ONLINE JAPAN WEEK in Bhutan 2021” from 9^th to 14^th October, 2021.
The Opening Ceremony of the JAPAN WEEK was held in the morning, and the Judo Dojo Inauguration Ceremony in the afternoon on 9^th October. The Japan Foundation held online events from 11^th to 13^th October.
During the week, in addition to these events, Japanese TV programmes "Explore Japan", co-produced by the Japan Foundation and NHK were broadcast on BBS 2.
 
 (For the information: Introduction of ONLINE JAPAN WEEK in BHUTAN 2021)
　https://www.in.emb-japan.go.jp/jointad/bt/itpr_en/11_000001_00313.html

On 9^th October, 2021, the "Opening Ceremony of JAPAN WEEK" was held virtually as the flagship event of Japan Week.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the national anthems of Japan and Bhutan were played, and a welcome dance was performed by the students of the Pelkil School. This was followed by opening remarks by Ambassador Suzuki and remarks by H. E. Dr. Tandi Dorji, Foreign Minister of Bhutan.  A judo demonstration and judo dance by the Bhutan Judo Association, a karate demonstration by the Bhutan Karate Association, and a cultural dance by the students of the Pelkil School were also performed. At the end of the ceremony, Mr. Watanabe, Chief Representative of JICA Bhutan Office, delivered a closing speech.
 
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Suzuki congratulated the athletes who participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and stressed the importance of future development of human exchanges between Japan and Bhutan. (Click here for Ambassador’s opening remarks)
H. E. Dr. Tandi Dorji, Foreign Minister of Bhutan, expressed his hope that the JAPAN WEEK would be an opportunity to celebrate the friendship between Japan and Bhutan and to contribute to mutual understanding and cooperation. He also congratulated the Government of Japan for the success of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games despite the challenges faced by the COVID-19 pandemic. He also thanked the Government of Japan for its various supports, including development cooperation with Bhutan, and expressed his wish to further strengthen the friendly and cooperative relationship between Japan and Bhutan.

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Live streaming video of the Opening Ceremony of JAPAN WEEK

Based on the completion of the Project of Jujo Dojo construction in Thimphu in July, which was the first-ever project under the Japan's Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Project in Bhutan, the Judo Dojo Inauguration Ceremony was held online at the Pelkhil School premises on 9^th October, 2021.
Japanese organizations concerned, including the Embassy of Japan, the Kodokan, the All Japan Judo Federation, and Konan University, attended the event with great fanfare.
 
"The Project of Judo Dojo Construction” was implemented with the aim of promoting Judo in Bhutan, improving the training environment, and enhancing the competitiveness of Bhutanese judokas. In 2018, The signing ceremony of documents for Grant Contract (G/C) was held and the Judo Dojo with two Judo courts complied with international standards was constructed by the Bhutan Judo Association, at the Pelkil School in Thimphu.
 
At the beginning of the event, H. E. Dr. Tandi Dorji, Foreign Minister of Bhutan, attended the plaque unveiling ceremony of the Judo Dojo and the plaque indicating Japan's support for the Dojo was unveiled. This was followed by opening remarks by Ambassador Suzuki, remarks by H. E. Dr. Tandi Dorji, Foreign Minister of Bhutan, congratulatory speeches by Mr. Haruki Uemura, President of the Kodokan and Mr. Yasuhiro Yamashita, President of the All Japan Judo Federation, and lectures by Mr. Shunsuke Yamasaki, Professor of Konan University, and Mr. Ngawang Namgyel, a judoka in the men's 60kg judo class at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. In addition, a judo demonstration and judo dance were performed by the Bhutan Judo Association, and the ceremony concluded with the closing remarks by Mr. Karma L Dorji, President of the Bhutan Judo Association.
 
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Suzuki expressed his profound gratitude to all those involved in the completion and opening of the Judo Dojo in Bhutan and Japan, especially to His Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who has built a bridge of friendship between the two countries through Judo. He also extended his congratulations to the judoka and coaches of the Bhutan Judo Association for participating in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  He hoped for the further development of judo in Bhutan and the strengthening of friendship between Japan and Bhutan. (Click here for Ambassador’s opening remarks)
H. E. Dr. Tandi Dorji, Foreign Minister of Bhutan, expressed his congratulations on the success of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and his gratitude for the support provided by the Government of Japan to Bhutan over the years, including the Judo Dojo. He also expressed his hope that the Judo Dojo will be a place for Bhutanese judokas to train and that it will contribute to further strengthening the bonds of friendship between Japan and Bhutan, as well as mutual understanding and cooperation.
 

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Live streaming video of the Judo Dojo Inauguration Ceremony

On 10^th October, 2021, in cooperation with the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan, the Online Event “Expressing Japanese Poetry: Waka, Confectionery, Song and Dance” was held.
In this event, Mr. Sotatsu OTA, Japan Cultural Envoy, performed the creation of Wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets, along with Japanese poetry and dance. The event also introduced the similarities between Japan and Bhutan, such as cherry autumn blossoms in the Himalayas, which are assumed to be the origin of autumn cherry blossoms in Japan, and the "Rhododendron Festival" in Bhutan and cherry blossom viewing “Ohanami” in Japan.
This event was the first online event conducted by the Japan Cultural Envoy in the COVID-19 situation.
 

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Live streaming video of the online event

The online event was live-streamed on the YouTube channel of the Embassy of Japan. You can watch it at the following link.

https://youtu.be/DidJG6ZDBOg

From 11th to 13^th October, 2021, the online events "Origami Workshop," "Ikebana Demonstration" and "Bon Odori Workshop" were held by the Japan Foundation New Delhi.

Online event "Origami Workshop"

On 11th October 2021, the online event “Origami Workshop” was conducted for students of two primary schools in Bhutan with Ms. Amandeep Kaur, President of Origami Oritai, a Delhi-based origami enthusiasts' group.
During the workshop, she showed the students how to fold four types of origami - a headpiece, a heart, a swan and a star-shaped box. The students, who had never folded origami before, were very enthusiastic and helped each other to complete their work.
 
The online event was live-streamed on the YouTube channel of the Japan Foundation New Delhi. You can watch it at the following link.

https://youtu.be/UCjx_q0TdUE

Online event "Ikebana Demonstration"

On 12th October 2021, the online event “Ikebana Demonstation” was conducted with Ms. Veena Dass, Director of Sogetsu School of Ikebana Delhi Chapter.
She arranged four different styles of ikebana, the last of which was a dynamic piece inspired by the Bhutanese flag.
 
The online event was live-streamed on the YouTube channel of the Japan Foundation New Delhi. You can watch it at the following link.

https://youtu.be/B12CUwjgUHg

Online event "Bon Odori Workshop"

On 13 October 2021, the online event “Bon Odori Workshop” was conducted for students from three schools in Bhutan, with staffs from the Japan Foundation New Delhi as instructors. The students were introduced to the Japanese summer traditional dance, “Bon Odori”, and even though they found it hard initially to match the steps,, they soon learnt the movements and had a great time dancing together.
 
The online event was live-streamed on the YouTube channel of the Japan Foundation New Delhi. You can watch it at the following link.

https://youtu.be/YXGnoTH6VoE

Others
 

Flyer of the Japan Week

Please click and take a look at the flyer below.

Organizers of the Japan Week

Co-organizers: Embassy of Japan, Japan Foundation New Delhi, and JICA Bhutan Office
 
Cooperation: The Royal Government of Bhutan