Three spaces in the City of Culture welcomed Sunday, February 9, the Japanese festival. With several cultural events and an audience of the big days.
What to remember from the Japan festival which took place yesterday, Sunday February 9 at the Cité de la Culture? Three remarks make it possible to answer this question.
First, the strong presence of the public was a considerable factor in the success of this great feast of friendship of the Tunisian and Japanese peoples. Throughout the day, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., a continuous flow of visitors converged on the City of Culture. More than 2,000 visitors went to the Opera Theater, in its central home and also to the Théâtre des Jeunes designers.
Then, the strong presence of Tunisian and Japanese volunteers brought a touch of enthusiasm to this celebration inaugurated by Mr. Takeshi Osuga, Japan ambassador to Tunisia. Mainly young and students, these volunteers and their hectic activity perfectly underlined the impregnation of new generations by Japanese culture.
Ambassador Takeshi Osuga
Likewise, Japanese volunteers in several areas of cooperation were very present and gave the best of themselves for the success of this great event.
In this sense, it is important to also mention that this human and fraternal dimension of this Japanese festival was also represented by the involvement of Tunisian civil society.
Indeed, three major associations were present: the Tunisia-Japon friendship association, the Tunisian-Japanese Chamber of Commerce and the former Tunisian students in Japan. These three structures were associated with the organization of the event as well as the JICA, the Japanese international cooperation agency which was celebrated yesterday, the fiftieth of the presence in Tunisia.
Finally, public membership in all cultural proposals has been remarkable. On the one hand, the Japanese artists were very applauded in particular those of all the Wako Rising Sun drums which enchanted the public twice.
On the other hand, the demonstrations of Budo, Kimono and other Japanese cultural expressions have associated young Tunisians who have demonstrated their mastery of martial arts and their ease of learning the techniques of folding paper or interpreting traditional tales of Japan. This proximity between young people has constituted a striking fact of this Japanese festival.
Between cinema, martial arts, music and dance, five hours have passed in full theaters and around stands that did not meal.
Demonstration of Tunisian Budokas
Last but not least, an excellent documentary exhibition allowed all visitors to assess fifty years of achievements supported by JICA in Tunisia since 1975.
Finally, as the Ambassador Takeshi Osuga pointed out, this Japanese festival marks both continuity and a prelude. Continuity in relation to the Focus Japan demonstration which had the Cité de la Culture in November 2021 and March 2022. Continuity also compared to the Ticad 8 which was held in August 2022 at the Cité de la Culture.
Also prelude from the Universal Exhibition which will take place in Osaka in April 2025 and the Ticad 9 which will be held in Yokohama in August 2025. Prelude to the celebration in 2026 of the seventieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Tunisia and Japan.
Frequent success for this Japanese festival which started yesterday at 11 a.m. to the rhythm of the Taiko troop drums and ended at 4 p.m. with the same drums that symbolically closed the day of celebration by opening new cycles in front of friendship between Tunisia and Japan.
