International Friendship Festa 2008

International Friendship Festa 2008

We are all friends. The earth is the one and only.

Under the words “Let’s be acquainted with foreign people living in our neighborhoods”, The International Friendship Festival 2008 was held at Noda City Hall, on 19th of October. There were more than 200 peoples visited, joined and enjoyed the various interesting events.

☆At 11:00, the opening ceremony was started with;

Greetings by three gentlemen, Mr. Matsumura, the president of NIA,
Mr. Nemoto, the Mayor of Noda City, and Mr. Miyauchi, the superintendent of education.

☆At 11:30,

Exhibition Booths of Various Foreign Countries opened.
China, Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Argentina, Brazil, Romania,

At the every exhibition booths, they displayed their own various folk pieces, scenic photographs, native costumes, simple native languages, and so on.
They were all worth looking at, trying, and tasting. At the Chinese booth you could also enjoy free trials of the seal engravings.

English Speeches by pupils of elementary and junior high schools in Noda City.

The 6th grade-pupils from Hokubu Elementary School spoke about their own school lives in English and they sang English song of “Do Re Mi”. It was cute.

The students from Nanbu Junior High School made wonderful English speeches in good pronunciation about their dreams for the future.

Japanese Speeches by learners in Japanese Language Class of NIA.
Vietnam, Philippine, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma).

When I was adjusting the rail fare at a JR station, the station officer said to me, “Where did you come from?” I replied, “I came from Vietnam." He made a humorous speech about his experiences in Japan in good Japanese.

She is from Myanmar, and she spoke in fluent Japanese how she was naughty in her girlhood back in Burma.

☆At 12:30,

Trying-on Kimono
Experiencing a part of Japanese Culture?

So colorful are Japanese traditional bridal finery and long-sleeved kimono.

Trying-on Ethnic Costumes;Ao Dai(Vietnamese dress), Chinese dress, Thai dress, and Korean dress

Many visitors had and enjoyed their own photographs taken on-site wearing their favorite costumes.

The coffee bar was also opened for the visitors.

People could enjoy and taste various countries’ snacks, cookies, and refreshments.

Attractions

Kendo (swordplay) by boys and girls from the kendo federation

The young swordsmen performed beautiful patterns of sword fighting.

“Almighties” of the music band

Their witty and humorous music and small talk produced lively atmospheres in the hall.

Folk Dancing from Thailand

A little Thai dancer performed cute and beautifully as well as her mother together.

Folk Dancing from Philippine

It was fascinating as though even the flowers would be dancing together with the beautiful Filipinas.

Korean songs in the choir by the students of
Korean Language Classes of NIA

Clear singing voices of ladies abounded in the hall, which, somehow, made us feel so calm and happy.

A lady from Brazil was singing Japanese Enka!

How could she manage to sing of that profound Japanese feelings?

Now, everybody, let’s dance together for the finale!

We were most happy to have had more than 200 peoples enjoying the intercultural communication in the Festival 2008.

☆At 15:00, the closing.