'Japan Week' begins at Shanghai Expo, Hatoyama celebrates+

SHANGHAI, June 12 Kyodo -
The Shanghai World Expo marked ''Japan Day'' on Saturday, commencing a weeklong
series of events to introduce classical and contemporary Japanese arts and
culture to visitors from China and other parts of the world.
''I hope the Shanghai Expo will contribute to ensuring world peace and
strengthening cooperation between Japan and China,'' said former Japanese Prime
Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who visited the Expo as special envoy for Prime
Minister Naoto Kan, at a ceremony to mark Japan's national pavilion day.
Referring to an agreement that he made with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in late
May to set up a ''hotline'' between the Japanese and Chinese leaders, Hatoyama
voiced confidence that the world's second- and third-largest economies will
boost ties through such a channel as well as increased youth exchange.
Hatoyama's wife Miyuki, who was born in Shanghai and was clad in a kimono, and
political and business leaders, including former Foreign Minister Masahiko
Komura, took part in the ceremony.
The seven-day ''Japan Week'' features a packed schedule of events, ranging from
folk dancing and live performances of classical instruments such as the koto,
''shamisen'' and ''taiko'' drum, to shows about animation, ''manga'' comic
books, fashion and contemporary music.
On Saturday evening, about 3,800 people, mostly Chinese youth, were crazed by a
''cosplay'' show by Japanese model Anne and actress Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, both of
whom wore angel costumes, along with 10 ''Kawaii (cute) Angels,'' five Japanese
and five Chinese girls wearing similar costumes.
''The word 'kawaii' has become popular around the world. I came here to further
spread it with you all,'' Anne told the audience at Asia Square in the Expo
site.
The youth responded by saying, ''Yes, let us promote 'Kawaii Peace''' in the
world.
The audience shouted in joy when Japanese ''anime'' singer Ichiro Mizuki sang
popular anime tracks, including theme songs for the Japanese TV series ''Kamen
Rider,'' known as ''Masked Rider'' abroad.
Earlier in the day, Hatoyama visited the Japan Pavilion, the China Pavilion,
the Japan Industry Pavilion and the Osaka Pavilion before attending an event
involving Japanese singer Shinji Tanimura, who teaches at the Shanghai
Conservatory of Music.
In a move to highlight exchanges between Japan and China in ancient times, a
replica of a ship used in Japanese missions to China's Tang Dynasty, known as
''Kento-shi'' (630-894) in Japan, which led to the importation of Chinese
culture, paraded on the Huangpu River, which divides the Expo site, on Saturday
afternoon.
Japanese officials expressed hope that young people from China and abroad will
''feel and learn'' Japanese culture through the weeklong events and the
Japanese pavilions.
''We would like visitors from China and abroad to experience Japan's pop
culture, the latest science and technology, and other attractions of Japan,''
said Atsuhiko Hatano, minister for commercial affairs at the Japanese Embassy
in Beijing.
''Japan will ease visa regulations for individual Chinese tourists from July 1.
We hope the Shanghai Expo, especially Japan Week, will be a driving force in
increasing the number of Chinese tourists to Japan and bringing the two
countries closer,'' Hatano told Kyodo News in Shanghai.
With the theme, ''Better City, Better Life,'' the Shanghai Expo, which opened
to the public on May 1, will run through Oct. 31. The world fair is expected to
attract about 70 million visitors from China and abroad.
==Kyodo
2010-06-12 23:48:28


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