Enjoy traditional and contemporary Japanese delights

A spectacular celebration of Japanese culture gets underway at the Wellington Town Hall on Friday July 10 and Saturday July 11.

The inaugural Japan Festival of Wellington is organised by Wellington City Council with support from the Embassy of Japan and Asia New Zealand Foundation.

Bring along family or friends and relax in the tranquil ambience of the age-old Japanese tea ceremony, try your hand at writing a haiku poem or take part in a challenge to roll New Zealand’s longest sushi.

International performers include the amazing Clown Loto!!, puppeteers Darumamori and Eriko, and hip hop Japanese-style from Sydney’s famous Dancekool.

Renowned classical musicians from Japan will give two free concerts at the Ilott Theatre during the festival, one on Friday July 10 at 7pm and the second on Saturday July 11 at 7pm.

There’ll also be food stalls, Japanese traditional and street fashion, children’s entertainment and language competition.

This exciting free festival celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Japan Society of Wellington and the 15th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Wellington and Sakai.

For more information, go to Asia:NZ Online at http://www.asianz.org.nz.

Music Fair of Japan 2009

Two free Music Fair of Japan concerts featuring leading Japanese musicians will be one of the definite highlights at the Japan Festival of Wellington.

The concert on Friday July 10 at 7pm will include solo and ensemble performances on piano, flute, violin, koto and shinobue. On Saturday July 11 the concert will also feature a guest performance by NZSO Principal Contrabassist Hiroshi Ikematsu.

The Music Fair of Japan is presented by the Embassy of Japan in association with the Japan Foundation. While the concerts are free of charge, bookings are required to secure seats (children must be six years and above).

Tickets are complimentary - bookings open at 9am on Wednesday June 24. For enquiries or further information, please contact the Embassy of Japan on (04) 495 8333 or email: japan.cul@eoj.org.nz

Clown LOTO!!

Japan’s award-winning Clown LOTO!! will be one of the highlights of the inaugural Japan Festival of Wellington. Whether its rhythmic gymnastics, pantomime, magic or juggling, Clown Loto!! is guaranteed to have you in stitches.

Look out for Clown LOTO!! busking around Wellington in the run up to the Japan Festival of Wellington as well as on the Festival Day at the Town Hall on Saturday July 11.

Gothic Lolita street fashion

Japan’s Gothic Lolita street fashion phenomenon, better known as Loli-Goth, hits the runway at the Japan Festival of Wellington on Saturday July 11.

Aucklanders Bevan Chuang, Anny Wang, Szu Kao and Bomi Park will stage a fashion parade and presentation based on the 2007 Auckland War Memorial Museum exhibition Loli-Pop, which was supported by Asia:NZ. The exhibition was curated by Kathryn Hardy Bernal in association with Bevan.

Hip Hop Japanese-style

The Natural High Dance Team from Sydney’s renowned Dancekool studio is to be one of the star attractions at the Japan Festival of Wellington.

Top hip hop Dancekool members Satoshi (Japan), Jono (New Zealand), Masaki (Japan), Hyungik (Korea) and Naohisa (Japan) will perform a dance choreographed especially for the Japan Festival on Saturday July 11 at Wellington Town Hall.

Japanese puppets

Whoever heard of a two-humped camel getting lost in the desert? Or stranger still, a mermaid in an oasis? These are just some of the strange goings-on in a musical puppetry show by Japanese puppeteers Darumamori and Eriko at the Japan Festival of Wellington on Saturday July 11.

Do not miss this spectacular mix of music, puppetry and storytelling brought to you by the Japan Foundation and the Embassy of Japan.

ENDS

© Scoop Media