Date and Time: Sunday, November 24, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Venue: Abiko Civic Plaza (Gallery, Murti-Purpose Hall, Salon, Japanese Room)
Participants: About 400 people (304 visitors and about 100 staff members and performers)              (No.24-17)

The international festival was held to promote exchange and mutual understanding between citizens and residents from abroad. The Republic of Cyprus and the Japan Uzbekistan Association participated again, making this year’s festival all the more international.

The events were held in three areas in Abiko Civic Plaza: 1. Gallery, where several countries were introduced, with crafts and various items exhibited and sold. 2. Hall, where traditional Japanese music and dances were performed, along with other performances. 3. Salon, where the Japanese Tea Ceremony, a traditional Japanese culture, was held.
In the Japanese Room, attendees had the opportunity to experience wearing kimonos.

[Gallery]
The Gallery opened at 11:00 a.m. Ten booths represented South Korea, Chile, Cyprus, the UK, Germany, Uzbekistan, China, Myanmar, and the AIRA Shop. Each booth introduced the countries through posters on the walls and hand-out pamphlets. Various folk crafts, foods, and drinks were displayed and sold, allowing visitors to try some foods and drinks.
Visitors flocked to the booths to buy unique foreign items at reasonable prices. Some booths were very popular, and people waited in line.

 

 

 

 

 

[Hall]
At noon, prior to the opening of the ceremony, a slide show titled “My Hometown”, created by Japanese Class students was presented. This slide show introduced their hometowns on the screen, which was different from the ordinary introduction of sightseeing spots.
At 1:00 p.m., the opening ceremony was held with the emcee of Ms. Shimizusawa and Ms. Watanabe, and AIRA President Omura and Abiko Mayor Hoshino made a brief greeting, followed by the guests' introduction.
The stage performances included songs by the students of AIRA foreign language classes, Kamishibai (story-telling with pictures) by Japanese Class students, traditional Japanese performing arts Shishimai and Ohayashi (Lion Dance and Music), a chorus by Abiko Rejoice Gospel Choir, Khoomei (Mongolian traditional singing) and modern Mongolian dancing accompanied by the flute by an exchange student from Chuo Gakuin University and kocarina music by the Abiko Kocarina Ensemble.

 

 

 

 

 

[Salon and Japanese Room]
The tea ceremony started at 10:00 in the salon. In the Japanese Room, foreigners experienced wearing kimonos. Dressed in beautiful Kimonos, they had their photos taken in front of the lovely flower arrangement with the gorgeous gold folding screen in the back, which was set up at the entrance of the Gallery.

 

 

 

After all the stage performances were finished, there was a raffle. All the prizes were donated by AIRA support members and the gallery booths. One of the winners was delighted to receive a pure wool doll from Uzbekistan.

The festival was concluded with a speech by the chief of the festival committee.

(Translated by Chizu Yamaguchi)