"Sister and Friendship City Days"
Commemorative Events for Citizens
to Deepen Experience Other Cultures |
| Hiroshima City has signed sister and friendship city agreements with six
overseas cities. In 2001, the city established a "Sister and Friendship
City Day" for each of these cities, with commemorative events to develop
a greater affinity with these cities among Hiroshima citizens and also
to further their understanding. From 2003, this project was given to this
Foundation by Hiroshima City. Each of the events has been emceed by "Hiroshima
Messengers". |
Commemorative photo wearing Korean clothes |
Daegu Day
The commemorative event was held from May 3 (Mon, public holiday), 2010, to May 5 (Wed, public holiday), 2010, at the Hiroshima Flower Festival venue. Organizer: 2010 Daegu Day Executive Committee.
On May 3, the opening ceremony was held, and this was followed by a taiko drum performance and a traditional Korean dance performance by HATA, an
arts group from Daegu Metropolitan City. There was also a drum performance
by Taiko-Honpo KABURAYA, a wadaiko drum group from Hiroshima City, and a joint performance by the two groups, which greatly excited the audience. |
Over the three days, "Daegu Korea Madan (Square)" was set up, to promote goods and tourism for Daegu Metropolitan
City. Participants could take commemorative photographs wearing Korean
clothes, information was provided on the Korean Proficiency Test, and home-style
cooking from Korea, which is popular every year, was on sale. Exchange
students from Korea and Hiroshima citizens had fun interacting with each
other. There was also a performance of the large drum given to Hiroshima
City by Daegu Metropolitan City. With a total of 8,130 visitors, the event
was a great success.
Hanover Day
The commemorative event was held on May 23 (Sun), 2010, at Hiroshima City International House. Organizer: 2010 Hanover Day Executive Committee.
The event included the Ueda Soko-style Japanese tea ceremony experience,
baumkuchen cake making in the original German way, a demonstration of sausage-making
and taste-testing, as well as Luettje Lagen (different liquor is served in two glasses, which are then drunk in one
gulp). At the German music concert, professional musicians gave a wonderful
performance, which was followed by the audience singing (in German) the
song Heidenröslein: Rose on the Heath.
The event also included a display introducing Hanover and Germany, paper
crafting of Hanover trains, and a display and reading of German picture
books, which was very popular with the children.
Through the varied program, visitors gained a deeper understanding, in
a fun way, of Hanover and Germany.
Montreal Day
The commemorative event was held on July 25 (Sun), 2010, at Hiroshima City International House. Organizer: 2010 Montreal Day Executive Committee.
The event started with taste-testing of Canadian beef, Boston lettuce
and Poutine (a traditional dish from Quebec), which visitors could enjoy
together with maple coffee. Next were presentations by exchange students
from Montreal City, followed by an introductory film of ZED, a work of
Cirque du Soleil. The event ended with a concert by Midi-Elephant, a Celt
folk music band of Canadians living in Japan.
The event also included a display of goods from Canada and items commemorating
the 10th anniversary of the sister city relationship with Montreal, as
well as distribution of the special Montreal Day issue of the information
magazine, CocoMontreal.
Visitors enjoyed themselves at the event and gained a greater understanding
of Montreal and Canada. |
Volgograd Day
On September 12 (Sun), 2010, this commemorative event was held at Hiroshima City International House. Organizer: 2010 Volgograd Day Executive Committee.
The visitors first viewed photos in the display corner, of exchange activities
with the citizens of Volgograd and of the city itself, after which they
enjoyed taste-testing of Piroshki and Borscht, as well as Georgian wine and Russian tea. Following on from the ceremony
were a quiz and games with exchange students from Russia and presentations
by children who had participated in home stays. |
Chorus of Russian folk song Troika
|
A concert featured a piano performance and chorus, an ensemble
of various instruments, and a marimba percussion ensemble group. The three
groups performed mainly Russian music. This was followed by a chorus of
the Russian folk song Troika (triplet) bringing audience and performers
together as one.
The event included a Russian cooking class the day before, and approximately
300 people attended the event, gaining a greater understanding of Russia
and Volgograd. |
Chongqing Day
This commemorative event was held at Hiroshima City International House on October 17 (Sun), 2010. Organizer: 2010 Chongqing Day Executive Committee
First, participants tasted two varieties of Chinese tea. They then enjoyed
the delicious flavors of two types of dim sum, which use tea leaves: tea
eggs and tea cake, as well as tasting Sichuan-style roast pork. This was
followed by an easy-to-understand introduction by the Coordinator for International
Relations from Chongqing City, describing the lifestyle of the people of
Chongqing, including the city landscape and typical food eaten.
The memorial concert started with a koto performance by Ms. Shi Shan, a native of Chongqing and an exchange student
at Hiroshima Bunka Gakuen University. There was then a demonstration |
Concert by Mr. Zhao Rongchun |
of the Chinese martial arts tai chi chuan and 32 shi tai ji jian by the members of the Hiroshima Branch of Japan-China Friendship Association.
Visitors were all able to try tai chi chuan. A concert was given by Mr. Zhao Rongchun, a Chinese two-string fiddle
(erhu) performer who lives in Hiroshima. The concert ended with everyone singing
in Japanese and Chinese Furusato (hometown), accompanied by Mr. Zhao.
There was also a display of goods and books from Chongqing. Approximately
300 visitors enjoyed themselves while gaining a greater understanding of
Chongqing City and China. |
Honolulu Day
On November 6 (Sat), 2010, the Honolulu Hula Party was held at the underground event space at the South Exit of Hiroshima Station, as a commemorative event for Honolulu Day. Organizer: 2010 Honolulu Day Executive Committee.
The event began with a performance of kahiko, a classic hula dance, and the opening ceremony. This was followed by
an explanation of Honolulu's history, food culture, tourist spots and more
by |
four people: Hiroshima Messengers, the American Coordinator for International
Relations, and former language instruction assistants. Next was a full-scale
stage performance by three Hawaiian bands and a hula team, and the venue was filled with an exotic Hawaiian atmosphere. Between
songs, a quiz, with Hawaiian goods as prizes, really excited the audience.
In the end, the audience danced together with the performers, ending the
event with a chorus of "Hawaii Aloha".
The venue displaied and sold Hawaiian goods and helped visitors to make
their own ribbon leis. Approximately 500 citizens deepened their understandings
of America and Honolulu City. |
Performance by Hawaiian band and hula group |
|
|
(International Relations & Cooperation Division)
|
|
|
|
|
