Report for August activities

• Aug 1, 2022 ~ Aug 31, 2022

Report for August, 2022

Arts and Culture activities at JFYG culture center

 

Highlights of August cultural events in JFYG

 The month of August starts with the air of Obon season at JFYG culture center. A Yagura stage in the center of space, Obon chouchins hung in the air, a pair of Syoryou-Uma (eggplants and cucumber) are decorated to give the visual representation of the actual Obon atmosphere in Japanese neighborhood.

Culture center continues to be open on every Saturday with specific cultural events held by JFYG and some events by Japanese cultural clubs. JFYG endeavors to deliver the cultural events according to the request and interest of the public collected from the surveys. In August, we conducted Obon Festival, Do Talk#6 Kendo workshop and Summer festival. As usual, Kendo club does weekly keiko training for beginners and seniors. Origami club organized a recruitment event calling for more club members. Details of each event will be reported below along with photos.

 

(1) Obon Festival

Active participation of the public in Tanabata festival encouraged us to organize another seasonal community cultural event in August. On 13^th of August, which is the last day of Obon festival, we did the Obon Festival with Bon Odori dance session in our culture center from 2 pm to 4 pm. 21 people registered for the festival. Tominaga sensei and another volunteer from Japanese school were invited as the dance instructors.

The festival starts with an explanation about the history of Obon festival and Bon Odori by the program officer, followed by the participants wearing Yukata and dancing the Bon Odori songs. Sensei-s introduced Tokyo Ondo and Tanko Bushi songs, explained the dance moves to the participants and finally danced together circling the yagura stage. Everyone could follow the dance and enjoyed the dance session.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2) Do Talk#6 Kendo

After physical events resume in JFYG culture center and after the Kendo Club starts doing training at JFYG space in July, we planned to organize the Kendo Talk event as the final event of Do Talk series based on the theme of Spirit of Budo. On 27 August, the event was held in 2 sessions: from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 4 pm. 24 people joined for morning session and 17 people joined for evening session.

Originally, Do Talk program was designed for the one of the Japan Foundation Travelling Exhibitions: Sprit of Budo as a fringe, and as Samurai is popular Pop culture and Kendo is still new to Myanmar people, JFYG prepared not only for talk session but also to feel the aesthetic and essence of authentic Budo Culture and history.

To show the transformation from Bujutsu to Budo, Yoroi and Kendo gear Bogu were displayed side by side on the stage. The event started with the presentation about the Spirit of Budo and its relation with Do Talk series, followed by the introductory presentation about Kendo by Kendo Club, Kendo demonstration led by Dezaki sensei and finally Kendo workshop. The demonstration includes Rei, kihon-geiko, gokaku-geiko and mohan geiko and the workshop includes how to strike the shinai and hit the Men. Just as the first physical Do Talk event and the last to wrap up the Do Talk series, we hope we could send out the spirit of Budo to the participants.

 

 

(3) Natsu Matsuri (Feel the summer in Japan)

“Feel the Summer in Japan” is another seasonal event that is held for 3 days from 30 August to 1 September, featuring the virtual Hanabi and summer games to give the summer vibe in Japan. There is no registration required and participants can come and enjoy anytime between 9:30 am to 4 pm. After watching the virtual Hanabi on the Tatami mat in the hall room, the participants played Wanage (ring toss game), Nurie (coloring) activity, Karuta card games and Igo. 40 participants visited during the event and the participants said in survey that they enjoyed the summer atmosphere in culture center.

 

 

 

 

 

(4) Recruitment Day by Origami Club

To reach out to more Origami folders in Myanmar and to sustain the club, Origami Club organized a recruitment day along with the mini Origami exhibition at JFYG culture center on 20^th of August from 2 pm to 4 pm. 22 interested people joined on that day. Before the signing up session of the participants, the core Origami club members did the presentation on the basic knowledge of Origami and explained the goals and objectives of the club. After that, the club members guided the participants, toured around the exhibited Origami models, and explained about the techniques and folding materials of each Origami model. In addition, they taught the more advanced and alternative ways of folding a paper crane to the participants. Everyone enjoyed folding the advanced cranes and seeing the various types of Origami displayed for the exhibition. Some of the attendees signed up to become the new club members.