Japanese culture month to take place in HCMC

A series of cultural events highlighting Japanese culture as part of the Japanese Culture Month in Ho Chi Minh City will take place from November 10 to December 10.
Kicking off with performances of Japanese theatrical dance group Chura Hura from Okinawa on November 10, the month-long celebration will also mark the Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009.
The exchange year is aimed at boosting cultural and economic ties between Japan and Mekong Region countries of (excluding China) Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
The 22 traditional artists of Chura Hura will offer two nights of performances on November 10 and 11 at the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Music, at 112 Nguyen Du Street, District 1.
Tickets are available at the institute and the festival’s organizer, the Japanese Consulate General in HCMC, at 13 – 17, Nguyen Hue Street, District 1.
City residents will have a whole month packed with cultural events brought to them by Japanese and local organizations.
They include an exhibition of modern Japanese architecture, a seminar on Japanese education, a Japanese film festival and an award ceremony for Japan’s traditional haiku poetry contest.
Professor Momoki Shiro of Osaka University will also hold two talks about the study of Japan and Asia in Vietnam and the measures to boost understanding between the two countries in the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in HCMC on November 30 and December 1.
The festival month will conclude with a traditional Japanese drum performance and a robot showcase on December 10 at the HCMC Opera House.