Japan festival slated in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines—The Japan Festival 2012 will be held on Aug. 11-12 at the Ayala Activity Center in Cebu City in celebration of Philippines-Japan Friendship Month.

The annual Japanese Film Festival will also be held on Aug. 7-12 at Ayala Center. Ten movies will be screened where admission is free.

The festival will be held in Cebu for the first time. The Japanese consular office in Cebu said it was a way of expressing gratitude and appreciation to Cebu province for its support for the Japanese people after the Great East Japan 2011 earthquake. It said it was also in response to the Cebuanos’ interest in learning more about Japanese culture and experience it.

The Wako Daiko Drum Club from Japan, composed of 17 members, including women and children, will perform on Japanese drums.  Established in 1975, Wako Daiko is  well-known all over Japan. The band has also performed in Rome, London, San Francisco, Beijing and Beirut.

The Japanese traditional dance, Awa Odori, will be presented on Aug. 11 at Ayala Center. A number of Japanese and Filipino dancers wearing summer “Yukata” kimonos  will perform to choreography from an expert in Manila.

Karate demonstrations will be conducted by an instructor from the Japan Karate Associaion (JKA-Japan).

Filipino university students, will introduce anime characters.

Japanese food lovers will be treated to a free cooking demonstration organized by Japanese restaurants in Cebu.

There will be a karaoke singing competition for Japanese contestants who will sing Filipino songs and Filipino contestants who will sing Japanese songs.  All events are free to the public.