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Seoul has hosted a retrospective festival on the past five decades of friendship between Korea and Japan, with a hope that the amicable ties will continue for the next 50 years.
The Korea Japan Festival, held at the COEX exhibition center on Oct. 2, began with a collaboration between the Seoul Metropolitan Junior Chorus and the Japanese School in Seoul. The young singers from the two countries reaffirmed their friendship, singing together their respective language's children’s songs.
The Kim Deok-su Samulnori group, a samulnori percussion quartet, gave a concert with the Japanese taiko drumming troupe Kodo, a modern rendition of tunes mixed with traditional Korean and Japanese rhythms.
Seven groups of musicians and dancers from both nations came to the stage, ramping up cheers from the audience. The Yoshida Brothers, a two-member Japanese group, played the shamisen, a three-stringed Japanese instrument, followed by a flashy performance of “Gwangtal” (광탈), a mask dance that incorporates multimedia technology using rays of light.
The acclimations that filled the hall reached a climax when the K-pop and J-pop groups came to the stage. The Korean girl group April and Amatsuki, a popular Japanese singer, showed off their singing and dancing skills. The highlight of the festival was a taekwondo demonstration given by Legend Movement, a taekwondo demonstration team, as the concert wrapped up.
Near the stage was a series of booths where people could have hands-on experiences of traditions and cuisine from the two countries. Some were spotted trying on traditional Korean Hanbok and Japanese kimono garb, whereas others played folk games, such as Korea’s shuttlecock kicking, known as jegichagi, its seasaw game, neolttwigi, and Japan’s wanage (輪投げ), a game of quoits. One of the most visitor-studded booths was where people could sample some traditional Japanese cuisine, including ramyeon noodles, fried croquettes and bread.
“This year means a lot to our nations as it marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations, and takes the first step toward the next 50 years of our relationship,” said Japanese Ambassador to Korea Yasumasa Nagamine (長嶺安政). The ambassador continued to say that, “My goal as Japanese ambassador to Seoul is to go all out to take one or two steps toward an improved Seoul-Tokyo relationship.”
“Just as a tree with deeper roots is less likely to sway in the wind, if we water properly and take more care of our tree, it will be deeper-rooted and bear more fruit,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se, stressing the need for the sustainable development of the Korea-Japan relationship.
The Korea Japan Festival started in Seoul in 2005 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral diplomatic ties. The festival has also been held in Tokyo since 2009.
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: the Korea Japan Festival in Seoul, Yonhap News
jiae5853@korea.kr
The Korea Japan Festival, held at the COEX exhibition center on Oct. 2, began with a collaboration between the Seoul Metropolitan Junior Chorus and the Japanese School in Seoul. The young singers from the two countries reaffirmed their friendship, singing together their respective language's children’s songs.
The Kim Deok-su Samulnori group and the Japanese taiko drumming troupe Kodo perform together at the Korea Japan Festival on Oct. 2.
The Kim Deok-su Samulnori group, a samulnori percussion quartet, gave a concert with the Japanese taiko drumming troupe Kodo, a modern rendition of tunes mixed with traditional Korean and Japanese rhythms.
Seven groups of musicians and dancers from both nations came to the stage, ramping up cheers from the audience. The Yoshida Brothers, a two-member Japanese group, played the shamisen, a three-stringed Japanese instrument, followed by a flashy performance of “Gwangtal” (광탈), a mask dance that incorporates multimedia technology using rays of light.
The acclimations that filled the hall reached a climax when the K-pop and J-pop groups came to the stage. The Korean girl group April and Amatsuki, a popular Japanese singer, showed off their singing and dancing skills. The highlight of the festival was a taekwondo demonstration given by Legend Movement, a taekwondo demonstration team, as the concert wrapped up.
Visitors try on some traditional Japanese garb in a booth at the Korea Japan Festival in Seoul on Oct. 2.
Visitors, clad in traditional Korean and Japanese costumes pose for a commemorative photo.
Near the stage was a series of booths where people could have hands-on experiences of traditions and cuisine from the two countries. Some were spotted trying on traditional Korean Hanbok and Japanese kimono garb, whereas others played folk games, such as Korea’s shuttlecock kicking, known as jegichagi, its seasaw game, neolttwigi, and Japan’s wanage (輪投げ), a game of quoits. One of the most visitor-studded booths was where people could sample some traditional Japanese cuisine, including ramyeon noodles, fried croquettes and bread.
“This year means a lot to our nations as it marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations, and takes the first step toward the next 50 years of our relationship,” said Japanese Ambassador to Korea Yasumasa Nagamine (長嶺安政). The ambassador continued to say that, “My goal as Japanese ambassador to Seoul is to go all out to take one or two steps toward an improved Seoul-Tokyo relationship.”
“Just as a tree with deeper roots is less likely to sway in the wind, if we water properly and take more care of our tree, it will be deeper-rooted and bear more fruit,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se, stressing the need for the sustainable development of the Korea-Japan relationship.
Representatives from the Korean and Japanese governments, including Japanese Ambassador to Korea Yasumasa Nagamine (front, left), Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se (third from right, front) and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Cho Yoonsun (second from right, front), applaud during the Korea Japan Festival, in Seoul on Oct. 2.
The Korea Japan Festival started in Seoul in 2005 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral diplomatic ties. The festival has also been held in Tokyo since 2009.
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: the Korea Japan Festival in Seoul, Yonhap News
jiae5853@korea.kr
