Punekars enthralled by Japanese Culture at Konnichiwa Pune 2023

Pune, 27th November 23: Punekars were in for a grand treat of Japanese culture and food at the two-day Indo-Japanese Cultural Fest- Konnichiwa Pune 2023. Konnichiwa Pune 2023 was held at Phoenix Market City on the 25th and 26th of November and was hosted by the Indo-Japan Business Council and the Consulate General of Japan in Mumbai

The festival showcased the Japanese Tea ceremony ‘Sadō’ demonstrated by Ms. Kazuko Barisic, the Japanese flower arrangement ‘Ikebana’ presented by Ikenobo Ikebana, Pune Chapter, Hindustani Classical Vocals of Raag Kirwani by Ms. Fumie Nagashi of Kirana Gharana and a disciple Padma Vibhushan Dr. Prabha Atre. Audiences were enthralled by the Santoor performance of Raag Mishra Khamaj by Japan’s Mr. Takahiro Arai – the direct disciple of Pt. Shivkumar Sharma. Noriko Shakti, a Goa-based Japanese DJ, and music composer, left the connoisseurs spellbound with her unique table performance. Punekars also participated in the energetic Japanese Anime Cosplay Competition.

This year’s Konnichiwa Pune also captivated the audience with Fusion Dance and Fusion Music by Nrityashri CreativeSpace, Japanese Calligraphy- Shodō, Origami, Japanese Art of Paper Folding, Furoshiki – Traditional Japanese Wrapping Cloths, Kimono, Traditional Japanese Clothes, Bon Odori, Japanese Dance Style and Karaoke. Asano Fukui presented a performance of Japanese Cultural songs but it was her Marathi song ‘Navrai Mazhi Laadachi’ that left the audience awestruck. Additionally, Punekars also relished a variety of Japanese cuisines and delicacies at the festival. The fest concluded with a grand Japanese Kimono Fashion Show with celebrity Tirrtha R. Murbaadkar as the show-stopper.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. Fukahori Yasukata, Consulate General at the Consulate General of Japan in Mumbai, said, “Pune is the hub of Indo-Japanese friendship. Being in Pune to witness Konnichiwa Pune has been on my bucket list, and now I have managed to tick that off”

“India and Japan have a lot of commonalities in their culture. Japan is greatly influenced by the Indian Gods and Goddesses like Shiva, Lakshmi, and Vishnu, which antecedes the influence of Buddhism, making us allies for centuries. He added further.