The Japanese Embassy will host a series of events for February and March here starting with an Ikebana Workshop.
“We will have a demonstration on Ikebana, the art of flower arrangement, on February 4 where we will invite a teacher from Japan. Plans will have to be finalised next week,” said Masashi Kimura, press attaché at the Japanese Embassy.
Kimura said the Embassy will celebrate the Hina-matsuri or Dolls Festival by the end of February.
Hina-matsuri, which is also called Momo No Sekku or Peach Festival, is usually held on March 3. Japanese, on this day, pray for Japanese girls’ growth and happiness.
On this festival, platforms with a red hi-mosen are used to display a set of ornamental dolls which represent the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period.
On March 19, the Embassy will invite Hisako Tokue and Seizo Azuma to perform here. Tokue, who began playing the violin at 4 years old and made her debut at the age of 12 with the Tokyo Symphony Conservatory, is an award-winning violinist.
Her awards include the Mainichi and NHK Music Contest in Tokyo, the Aspen (CO) International Music Competition, the Long and Thibaud International Competition in France and the Paganini Competition in Italy. Tokue, who is from Tokyo, has performed in famous concert halls worldwide like the Royal Albert Hall in London and the Royal Festival Hall, among others. After 10 years of performing with the Seiji Ozawa’s Orchestra (Saito Kinen), Tokue has recently focused on performing solo recitals, duets and trios.
Azuma started his professional debut in 1993 after winning prizes at many international competitions.
Since then he has performed with many domestic and foreign orchestras and has held solo recitals in Europe, the United States and China where his technique and interpretation have been highly acclaimed.
“These dates are still subject to change but these are definitely the plans the Embassy has for the next couple of months,” said Kimura.
http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=January2009&file=Local_News200901181049.xml
Follow us on our social media channels:
@ILQlive
@ILQlive
@ILoveQtr
ILoveQatar
