Mini Japan descends on Delhi as Konnichiwa Japan Festival rocks for 2 days

NEW DELHI/TOKYO: A contingent of 21 Japanese artists from Japan including two SUMOs set the stage on fire with their scintillating and jaw-dropping performances during the 2-day Konnichiwa Japan Festival held in New Delhi on December 2-3. SUMO wrestling, KIMONO wearing, Fashion-show, Indian & Japanese-food-Stalls, Cosplay show, Japanese-songs, Japanese-traditional-dance, Origami, India-Japan HIP-HOP live, Bollywood dances by Japanese artists & much more turned the venue DLF Avenue Saket into a sort of ‘Mini Japan’ for two days.

Organized by Konnichiwa Japan Club in collaboration with Discovery India Club and title sponsor Asahi Japanese Destination Management Company, the festival captivated Indian and Japanese audiences with a myriad of authentic Japanese delicacies, captivating performances, and engaging talks.

The day 1 took off with drums by Satomi with Aroon and introduction of all KJC members and artists on stage, and KJC chairman Marcus greetings the guests, dignitaries and audience followed by ribbon cutting and Kagami Biraki. Then followed Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki’s Video Message, and welcoming Koji Yoshida, Counsellor-PR & Culture-Japan Embassy, and a speech by Suzuki Takashi, Chief DG of JETRO India, and welcome of Ms. Aoi Ishimaru, Director, Arts & Culture, Japan Foundation, New Delhi.

Also present on the occasion were Air India personnel, Kailash Chandra Pandey, Exec. Sec. Blind Relief Association, Delhi, Abhishek Shrivastava, VP, Cluster DLF Malls, Delhi, Kaneko, DIC-Tokyo, Brijesh ISUZU, and KJC Members Markus, Alka, Prakash Yadav, Sanjeev K Ahuja, Selyucus, Ms. Sukanya, Gajender, Ikjot Bhasin, and Rahul. Nupur Tewari was the MC for the event.

The planned performances began with Odissi dance by Kaori Naka’s, Chigusa, Vaishali Kala Kendra followed by Japanese Songs Blind Relief Assn. Children & Sensei’s show, Lucky Draw, Japanese Song/Music by Reiko Sakanoue, Kimono/Yukata Show, dance by Ayako ‘Chakrika’, mock Sumo Wrestling, dance by Mario Tsukijoh, Japanese songs by Aaryahi Pavith (Kaori Naka Group), drums by Satomi Konno with Aroon, talk by ACN Network’s Sanjeev K Ahuja, Cosplay by Anime Group India, and dance by Nojima Yuko.

Then followed another cultural performances including second round of Mock Sumo Wrestling, Arai Sensei singing and RPS school group performance, Kimono/Yukata Show, tlk on Indo-Japan Culture similarities by KJC chairman Markus, performance by Satomi Konno, and superb dance show by Ayako ‘Chakrika’ group.

The Day -2, Sunday witnessed more crowd visiting Konnichiwa Japan Festival and all cultural performances of the previous day were repeated. However what stole the show on Sunday was a record-breaking performance by the amateur group band performance by Japan Foundation Director Koji Sato, JETRO India’s Chief DG Suzuki Takashi, and Japan Foundation’s Taisei Toyomaru. The trio-band delivered Sato san singing Hindi songs – ‘Chhoo Lo‘ a popular song among the youths by a famous band The Local Train. Another it played was ‘Bole Chudiyaan Bole Kangana,‘ from blockbuster Bollywood film ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham,’ and Sato san sang duet of male and female all together in this song. This performance turned out to be the show stopper one on Sunday evening. Suzuki Takashi played guitar, and Toyomaru the drum.

After the performance, a score of audience became the fan of this band and queued up to shoot photos and selfies photos with the members of this band. According to Sato san, the band would come up in a big way with the passage of time and would like to perform again during the 8^th edition of Konnichiwa Japan Festival next year in 2024 also.

The Konnichiwa Japan Festival will featured an array of engaging activities for all ages, including a Gaming Zone, Japan Travel Booth, and a Japanese Cocktail Zone by Social Drinks with authentic Japanese beverages including Sake and whiskies. Culinary enthusiasts were in for a grand treat with Japanese Food stalls from Asagao, Ebisu Japanese restaurant, AJU Nagomi Family Dining, and Reve Restaurant offering an authentic taste of Japan’s diverse gastronomy.

The festival is proud to have the support of its esteemed associate sponsors, ISUZU, Air India, Formula Group, Skycity Hotels, Veena World, Isuzu India, Sony PlayStation, Aju Nihon Edutech, ACN Network, and Aju Japanese Hotels. The festival garnered participation from renowned brands such as Sony, Japan Foundation, Japanese Embassy, JCCII, JNTO, and others who are committed to enriching this cultural celebration.

Formula Group offered complimentary logistic support in ferrying the Japanese artists and others related to the Konnichiwa Japan Club from airport to hotel, and further to the festival venue and back from December 1 to 4. AJU Group of Hotels offered complimentary lodging & Boarding to the Japanese artists.