The Consul-General of Japan in Sydney's Newsletter - Past Issues
No. 5 Japanese Cultural Festivals -
Contributing to Australian Multiculturalism - December 20, 2019
Since arriving in Sydney just over two months ago, I have participated in a variety of Japanese cultural festivals held in the city. I have been impressed by the scale and the quality of the events. While introducing the series of events I have had the pleasure to attend, I would like to reflect upon the role and significance of Japanese cultural festivals.
Okinawa Soul Festival
On 10 November, ‘Okinawa Soul Festival’ was held in the Sydney suburb of Paddington. The main organizer was the Sydney Okinawan Association (Sydney Okinawa Kenjinkai). Okinawan cultural groups from Sydney and Perth gained cooperation and support from Okinawa Prefecture and put on performances of Eisa dance, sanshin music and Okinawan karate. It was a full crowd and the audience, which included many Australians, really enjoyed the performances. As understanding of Japanese culture in Australia is deepening, events such as this increase the appreciation of Japan’s various regional identities.
Remarks by Cr Robert Kok of the City of Sydney at the Japanese Film Festival Opening Event
On 14 November, the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) was held at the Event Cinemas in Sydney. JFF began in 1997 as a free film festival run by The Japan Foundation Sydney with just three film titles. Today is it is one of the largest Japanese film festivals in the world with more than 30,000 people attending JFF in Australia. Complementing the “Japan Supernatural” exhibition, a Classic Horror film festival was held at the Art Gallery of NSW. The main JFF in Sydney featured a line-up over two weeks of approximately 30 films which are mainly recent releases from the last year.
This year’s opening film was ‘Masquerade Hotel’ and you could hear laughs coming from here and there in the audience. One of the local supporters was Kinokuniya Bookstores, the largest bookstore in Sydney, and you could always find JFF pamphlets stacked next to the sales points. It is wonderful to see how Australians can learn about the latest trends in Japan through the festival.
KAGAMIBIRAKI at the opening ceremony of Matsuri Japan Festival in Sydney
Photo courtesy of Nathan Souriyavong-NS Studio
On 7 December, Matsuri Japan Festival took place at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour, Sydney. This festival started in 2006 on the occasion of the Australia-Japan Year of Exchange, and the event has become the largest Japanese festival in the southern hemisphere with around 30,000 people attending this year. At the opening ceremony, Cr Robert Kok of the City of Sydney was invited to participate in the KAGAMI-BIRAKI (the ceremonial breaking open of a sake barrel) along with representatives of Japan Club of Sydney, Japanese Society of Sydney and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Sydney, and me.
A karate demonstration at Matsuri Japan Festival
What I felt most strongly when taking part in the event myself was that Matsuri Festival Japan is truly a community event, with the Japan Club of Sydney and Japanese permanent residents at its heart and Japanese cultural groups that also include many Australian members - among them martial arts, ikebana flower arrangement, tea ceremony, calligraphy, music, dance and cosplay groups. In addition to stage performances and workshops, Japanese companies and local governments set up booths and food stalls, and they added an extra something to the great atmosphere at the festival.
Japan Spectacular 2019
On 16 December, Japan Spectacular 2019 was at the Sydney Opera House. Koto, ikebana, Japanese dance (nihon-buyo), Okinawan sanshin music, sword dancing (kenmai), Japanese drumming were among the performances. The spectacular was presented by Japan Club of Sydney’s Rainbow Project, which was established locally to support reconstruction after the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster. Proceeds from this event will be used towards projects nurturing global youth in the affected region. Tickets for the spectacular sold from the most expensive ones first and the theatre was full, with many Australians part of the audience.
At the get-together with organizers, performers and volunteers of Japanese cultural festivals
Having taken part in the series of events above, what I realized is that Japanese culture does not just rest with Japanese people living here. It has been widely embraced by Australians and in fact the appreciation of Japanese culture is only becoming stronger.
On 14 December, a get-together was held for the organizers, performers and volunteers of recent Japanese cultural festivals at my official residence and we exchanged ideas about future activities. For my part, I suggested that rather than referring to the ‘Japanese community’ we should be thinking of the ‘Japanese culture community’ which includes Australian fans of Japanese culture, and I said how wonderful it is to observe this contribution to Australia’s multiculturalism.
Japanese culture no longer just belongs to Japanese people. Universal elements of Japanese culture can enrich the lives of Australians and people around the world. Next year, there are Japanese cultural festivals planned around Australia. I would like to continue working so that Australia with its advanced multiculturalism will develop deeper understanding of aspects of Japanese culture and make them part of Australian culture, thus realising ever closer ties between Australia and Japan.
Okinawa Soul Festival
https://www.facebook.com/events/694814417630867/
Japanese Film Festival Australia
https://japanesefilmfestival.net/
Matsuri Japan Festival
https://matsurisydney.com/
Japan Spectacular and Rainbow Project
https://www.jculture.net/
https://jcsrainbow.com/en/