Dimapur, February 7 (MTNews): The North East Japan Caravan was held for the first time in Nagaland on February 3 and 4 at C-Edge College, Dimapur in collaboration with Japan Foundation, New Delhi.
An eight member team from Japan Foundation led by Ms. Aoi Ishimaru, Director of Arts & Culture Exchange and Mr. Taisei Toyomaru, Director of Language graced the two days event.
Er Moa Aier, President of the College delivered the welcome address and acknowledged the team from Japan Foundation. In his welcome address, he highlighted the College relationship with Japan Foundation New Delhi with the perspective to help the younger generation in learning a new language purely on economic factors.
He also stressed about inculcating mother tongue language in the younger generation which the College had emphasized through its various programs since the last five years. He mentioned that it is important to be rooted in our own language but it is also important in this present time that learning a new language related to international trade and commerce such as Japanese will help in the next level of economic competitiveness.
This was followed by a talk on Japan Caravan by Ms Aoi Ishimaru, Director of Arts & Culture Exchange, Japan Foundation. She highlighted the purpose and the objective of Japan Caravan and also about Japan Foundation and it’s linked to the government of Japan that focuses on Japanese language and culture dissemination worldwide.
She mentioned that the event has been successful in the North East with positive responses and that she looks forward to more events in the future. She also remarked that she really enjoyed the “We are Nagas” performance by the students.
The two-day Japan Caravan featured the much demanded Calligraphy workshop where visitors were taught the artistic writing of the Japanese language. It also featured the Yukata Workshop on the style of wearing the light cotton Japanese Kimono which was accepted with delight by everyone through vibrant photo shoots.
In addition, four Japanese Anime Films namely Garden of Words, Place Promised in Our Early Days, anime 5 Centimeters per Second, and Children Who Chase Lost Voices were screened. The event also featured Voice Acting based on the Anime films and the mini game Fukuwari. The two days free entry Japan Caravan witnessed a positive turnout from visitors from different schools and colleges.