Costa Rica celebrates Japan Week

by crv.staff
05.09.09
6:00 AM UTC

Filed in Costa Rica

Japanese Ambassador to Costa Rica, Hidekazu Yamaguchi and Rectora of the University of Costa Rica, Dra. Yamileth González, inaugurating the Japanese Gardens. Photo by Omar Mena.

Source: Tico Times

By: Sean O’Hare

For the seventh year running, San José will celebrate Japanese Week, with cultural activities Sept. 4 through 20.

Lectures, exhibitions, cinema, competitions and concerts will be offered at various locations throughout the city, with something of interest for all ages.

The celebrations get underway this weekend with a festival of Japanese popular culture at the Centro Nacional de Cultura (CENAC). Participants can enjoy an inaugural ceremony and presentation by the Japanese School before choosing between demonstrations of five different martial arts or a Bonsai exhibition.

The Japanese ambassador Hidekazu Yamaguchi said: “We feel that interest and curiosity towards Asia is growing among Costa Ricans and I always consider this desire to know more about other cultures demonstrates the high level of cultural education in this country.

“This year we will share with the Costa Ricans our language by way of a Japanese language competition, our history with a photography exhibition, our sport, art and popular culture with a Japanese festival, our music with concerts and our harmony with nature through the bonsai tree,” Yamaguchi said.

Highlights include:

* An art exhibition and course given by Hajime Maboroshi, a Japanese Buddhist monk and artist, Sept. 3-15 at Alianza Francesa in San José.

* An exhibition of 100 photos documenting 60years of post-war life in Japan, Sept. 7-21, Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. –to 4 p.m. at the Universidad Nacional in Heredia.

* A free tour of the Japanese Garden at the Universidad de Costa Rica in San José Sept. 18.

Rating 4.00 out of 5