AIRA has been preparing for its annual festival, in hope that some actions might be useful to enhance international exchange under the pandemic in which most events have been cancelled or suspended. (No.21-11)
AIRA International Festival was cancelled last year due to the spread of the COVID-19. However, marking the 30th anniversary this year, AIRA considered whether it was possible to hold the festival together with the 30th anniversary ceremony.
Big hurdle remained on holding the festival, but AIRA decide to take place it, thanks to finding ways to deal with the infectious disease better than last year.
In this situation, the first planning meeting for the festival was held on July 16th, one month later than usual. The total 33 planning committee members were present, including 8 college students who have taken a class of studying volunteer activities from Chiba University and Chuo Gakuin University.
The agenda is shown below:
1) In what way the festival will be held?
2) Will stage performances such as singing, performances, playing musical instruments be taken place?
3) Will fork art and food from other countries be displayed or sold ?
4) Will it be possible to open experience events like the tea ceremony and the kimono dressing.
The above three events were unfortunately excluded from the event．After the heated discussion, they decided to hold events shown below:
1) Airing videos recorded and edited in advance at the venue
2) Limiting the number of guests
3) Airing performances on web
This type of the festival was the first attempt for AIRA, so that the committee members started preparations for the festival with anxiety.
On October 10th (Sun):
Ms. Adachi, AIRA Japanese instructor, took an interview titled “Ask Chinese staying in Japan” to a Chinese couple who came to Japan 10 years ago and have been studying Japanese in AIRA Japanese class. The interview covered from their impression about living in Japan and things they enjoyed to their feedback of their teacher for this term, and others.
At first, the AIRA camera crew made mistakes such as forgetting to have turned on the recording button. Solving the troubles, the crew could get a good shot using some cameras and smartphones effectively with good advice by Fuse-san, Student of Chou Gakuin University.
On October 17(Sun)
Under the title of “Introduction of Tajik cuisine ” ,the AIRA camera crew videotaped Tajik pilaf and salad, cooked by one of the AIRA members from Republic of Tadzhikistan.
On October 22(Fri) 
The AIRA crew videotaped Vietnamese deep-fried spring-rolls and Okonomiyaki cooked by the other AIRA member from Vietnam. At the spot, two university students, Nomura-san and Kato-san took notes about the ingredients and the cooking procedure. They will rewrite the memo into a recipe which will be give out at the festival. The video was shot by AIRA crew and Fuse-san.
Other videos will be aired at the festival venue such as how to make Taiwanese tea, dolls in Chinese way, steamed meat bun, and others, which are under way.
As AIRA members face many unfamiliar things they have never experienced, the help by university students is invaluable for realizing this new style festival.
The AIRA festival is scheduled to be held on November 28th (Sun). Let’s take part in the special event with us.
(Translated by Hitomi Koyama)
