Sri Lanka Festival in Japan:

Fusion of traditional and modern performances

It was a weekend that showcased Sri Lanka's diverse culture, tourism and investment potential to thousands of people in Japan. Both Sri Lankans and Japanese alike thronged Yogogi Park of Shibuya in Tokyo to get the real Sri Lankan feeling while enjoying its spicy food, music and friendship at this venue. For the Japanese it was a great opportunity to feast on some spicy food and drinks. It was the annual Sri Lanka Festival in Tokyo, organised by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Japan.

The Festival held on September 21 and 22 entertained around 200,000 visitors and had over 100 trade stalls. There were many cultural events performed by Sri Lankan groups such as Channa Upuli Dance Troupe, Bhatiya Santhush Group and the Dance Academy of Kotte. In addition to these group performances, the festival featured individual items by Jananath Warakagoda and Dushyanth Weeraman.

A scene from the Sri Lanka Festival in Japan

That was not all. Japanese performers including traditional drummers, violinists and singers also entertained the elated crowd. Their performances ranged from traditional, modern to fusion, And the visitors simply enjoyed the best of both cultures.

Some of the young Japanese visitors whom we spoke to said they are regular visitors to the event band they love the music played by the Sri Lankans. "We also like Sri Lankan food, especially the dishes which are spicy. In act, there is a trend in Japan that many restaurants now serve rice and curry. So here we get to eat freshly cooked curry and rice," Isuru, one of the youngsters said. To satisfy their taste buds, there were many Sri Lankan food stalls which sold curries, rice, sweets and tea cocktails. There were also shops selling Ceylon tea, handmade clothes, handicrafts, coconut oil, skin care and Ayurveda products.

Ayurveda treatment

Japanese are very fond of Ayurveda treatment and they were seen buying the products as well as getting treatment at the Ayurveda parlour set up at the premises.

Sachiko, a middle aged female who complained of a knee pain was given a therapeutic massage plus some Ayurveda medicine. She was also given instructions on pain controlling methods.

Kazumi who had visited Sri Lanka once was very appreciative of the treatment she received at the venue. Visitors also had the chance to know about Ayurveda tourism packages, from the representatives of Siddhalepa Ayurveda resorts.

Ushan of Siddhalepa who is fluent in Japanese continued to educate the would-be travellers of many Ayurveda facilities that Sri Lanka would offer to the foreign traveller.

The Ministry of Crabs of Dharshan Munidasa drew large crowds. The tea cocktail he served with the right amount of lime and soda (without alcohol) was fantastic. In that hot climate it was divine.

In another corner of the park was engineer Tilak Perera who continously cut thambili to serve his many customers; most of them were Japanese. "I bring down thambili for this festival every year; the people come for the festival love thambili.

This is a very hot time in Japan and thambili is a refreshing drink," says Tilak. In addition to thambili, he was seen selling curd and treacle for the visitors.

"This year I introduced curd and Kithul treacle. I got down a big stock of curd pots (small), but almost everything was sold on the first day itself," he said triumphantly as we met him on the ever of day one.

Sarees

In the shopping section, there were many things for the bargain hunter-basically almost everything from Sri Lanka was available there.

"I like to get a saree"; a young Japanese girl who was already wearing a Batik saree from Sri Lanka was looking for a hand-woven saree.

Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Ambassador of Sri Lanka says, "There are a few other countries which organise their cultural festivals at the same park; however, Sri Lanka event is now well known and people are looking forward to this annual event."

Visitors to the park both Japanese and Sri Lankans enjoyed B and S music and Channa and Upuli's graceful Kandyan dance and the crowd danced along with the performers. 'Wes' dancer Lal Thilakarathna was certainly a crowd puller.

Entertainer Wicky conducted a special-feature program called "The Talk Show by Wicky". A Sri Lankan living in Japan for a few decades, Wicky is a known figure in Japan. Being a presenter of NHK Japan. Wicky could easily entertain the crowd with unique humour.

For Sri Lankan expatriates, the annual festival is the most jubilant event of the year.

They come there with their families and friends, for some it is an outing, and a merry making activity. For others it is a moment to feel the Lankan traditions and live with that feeling for another year.

It was certainly fun to experience the Sri Lankan culture in Tokyo together with the natives of the land of the rising sun.

Among the other Japanese and Sri Lankan dignitaries who graced the occasion were Chief Guest, Yoshitaka Shindo, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan, guests of Honour, Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan for Peace, Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka and Pandu Bandaranaike, Deputy Minister of Indigenous Medicine of Sri Lanka.

CJ