Kizuna Festival in Cambodia

Kizuna Festival in Cambodia

Introduction

CJCC festival (Japan-Cambodia Kizuna Festival) is conducted once a year taking around 3 days with the cooperation with the Embassy of Japan. This is the biggest event which was conducted to celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of CJCC, and a combination of CJCC festival and Japan week festival of the Embassy of Japan for the purpose of introducing Japanese traditional and modern culture in Cambodia and promoting cultural exchange between the two nations. During the three days, there are various kinds of events including culture related program, Japanese language related seminar, exhibition and special shows, etc. 10,000 people were estimated to join this event last year. It began in 2012 by Cambodia-Japan coopreation centre and Japan Embassy of Cambodia.

Etymology

The word Kizuna (絆) is a Japanese word meaning bond or connections between people.

Years of event

2012

For the purpose of introducing Japanese traditional and modern culture in Cambodia and promoting cultural exchange between the two nations, the Embassy of Japan in collaboration with Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center (CJCC) is proud to present the Japan-Cambodia Kizuna Festival, to be held on February 16-19, 2012 at CJCC. Various cultural events and exhibitions will be organized during the festival.

The Opening Ceremony of the festival is planned to take place on Thursday, February 16 at 18:00 at the Angkor-Kizuna Hall of CJCC. The ceremony will be highlighted by a music performance by AUN, a world famous unit of traditional Japanese musical instruments in collaboration with Cambodian musicians.

Another highlight of the festival is the Premier Roadshow of a Japanese movie titled “WE CAN'T CHANGE THE WORLD. But we wanna build a school in Cambodia”. The movie is based on a real experience of a Japanese student who built a school in Cambodia. The movie featuring major Japanese actor Mr. Osamu MUKAI, Goodwill Ambassador between Japan and Cambodia, will be screened on Friday, February 17 at 18:00 at the Angkor Kizuna Hall.

A powerful Japanese POP concert by a Japanese popular group “RAM WIRE” will be presented on Saturday, February 18, at 18:00. Their first release “Ayumi” in 2011 was chosen as the theme song of the movie, “We Can’t Change the World.” as well as the theme of the Festival.

The festival features more events such as Karate-do and Kendo demonstrations, Japanese cinema show, Honda YES Awards Ceremony, Japanese Speech Contest, various lectures by Japanese scholars, flower arrangement, Origami, Mochitsuki, Science Show and so on. Information session on study in Japan and a Job Fair by Japanese companies will also take place during the festival.

2013

Japan-Cambodia Kizuna Festival 2013, which is the combination of CJCC Festival and Japan Week Festival of Embassy of Japan for the purpose of introducing Japanese traditional and modern culture in Cambodia and promoting cultural exchange between the two nations, to be held from 21-24 February 2013 with the cooperation between Embassy of Japan and Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center (CJCC).

Various cultural events and exhibitions will be organized during the festival as the following:

• Performances (by Japanese musicians and Cambodian dancers)
• Japanese Song Contest (Nodojiman)
• Japanese and Cambodian Cultural Related Events (Mochitsuki, Ombok, Tea Ceremony…)
• JICA Public Relation Seminar
• Japanese Movie Show “ WE CAN’T CHANGE THE WORLD But, we wanna build a school in Cambodia”
• Exchange Program between Japanese and Cambodian Students
• Honda YES Awards Ceremony
• Quiz Game on Japan and Cambodia
• Aikido, Kendo and Karate Demonstration
• Japan-Cambodia Friendship Concert
• Shamisen Live by Sho Asano
• Japanese Cosplay Show
• Japan-Cambodia Fashion Show
• Workshop
• Exhibition
• Lectures
• Others

2014

Japan-Cambodia Kizuna Festival 2014 Held in Phnom Penh.

The Embassy of Japan in Cambodia has been hosting the 3rd Japan-Cambodia Kizuna Festival at the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center (CJCC) in Phnom Penh.

The four-day event was opened on Feb. 20 under the presidency of Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sok An, Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, and H.E. Yuji Kumamaru, Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia, with the participation of many other high-ranking officials.

The annual festival is aimed to introduce Japanese traditional and modern culture in Cambodia and to promote cultural exchange between the two countries, said the Japanese diplomat.

The festival features different events including Japan-Cambodia Friendship Concert, “Washoku” Japanese Cuisine Show, Okinawa Amami Music Concert, Let’s Try Football by Albirex Niigata Phnom Penh FC, Miss & Mr. Yukata Contest in Cambodia, Cosplay Show and so on, added H.E. Yuji Kumamaru.

Addressing to the opening ceremony, H.E. Sok An highly valued the Japan-Cambodia Kizuna Festival, stressing that it contributes more significantly to the deepening of the exchange and cooperation between Cambodia and Japan, not only in the field of culture but also in a wide range of fields mutually beneficial to our two nations.

“Culture is the mirror through which we see ourselves and our own nation. Culture is thus a bridge and a communication factor between people and nations,” he said.

According to the Cambodian DPM, Cambodia and Japan have an immense wealth of cultural heritage and traditions. They share a number of fundamental cultural values. Through this kind of event, people of both nations will appreciate these values, and understand and respect each other’s culture. It is important that the young generations need to be kept aware of the value of ancient traditions so that they can nurture their culture and respect the diversity of others as well.

“Cambodia and Japan have recently become strategic partners as a result of the official visits of the top leaders of the two governments, and I am confident that our bond of friendship and relations will be further strengthened. We have become strong partners in safeguarding and promoting the heritage of humanity, cultural values and diversity,” said H.E. Sok An.

2015

Japan-Cambodia Kizuna Festival 2015, which is the combination of CJCC Festival and Japan Week Festival of Embassy of Japan for the purpose of introducing Japanese traditional and modern culture in Cambodia and promoting cultural exchange between the two nations, to be held from 05-08 March 2015. The theme of Kizuna Festival 2015 is “Experiencing the Beauty of Japan”. Moreover, this year some of events are celebrating for International Women’s Day as well.

Various cultural events and exhibitions will be organized during the festival as the following:

• Performances (by Japanese and Cambodian Arties)
• Japanese and Cambodian Cultural Related Events (Mochitsuki, Ombok, Ikebana, Origami, Calligraphy)
• Japanese Cuisine Show “BENTO”
• Study-in-Japan and Scholarship Explanation session
• Trying Music Instruments with YAMAHA, WSO & Okinawa Prefectural Univ. of Arts
• Cambodia-Japan Documentary Movie “For Our Future”
• Fashion Show “Hidden Beauty of Khmer Silk”
• Honda Y-E-S Awards Ceremony
• Japan-Cambodia Quiz Game
• Martial Art
• Japan-Cambodia Friendship Concert
• Okinawa Dance Performance
• Miss and Mister Yukata Contest in Cambodia 2015
• Worldship Orchestra Classic Concert
• Beauty Seminar by Japanese Salons
• JICA Public Relation Seminar
• Shibata Brothers & Sisters Shamisen Concert
• Workshop
• Exhibition
• Lectures
• Others

2016

Japan-Cambodia Kizuna Festival 2016, which is the combination of CJCC Festival and Japan Week Festival of Embassy of Japan for the purpose of introducing Japanese traditional and modern culture in Cambodia and promoting cultural exchange between the two nations, to be held from 18-21 February 2016. The theme of Kizuna Festival 2016 is “Let’s dance together”.

Various cultural events and exhibitions will be organized during the festival as the following:

• Performances (by Japanese and Cambodian Arties)
• Japanese and Cambodian Cultural Related Events (Ikebana, Origami & Calligraphy)
• Study-in-Japan Explanation session
• Honda Y-E-S Awards Ceremony
• Japan-Cambodia Quiz Game
• Martial Art
• The 9th Japan-Cambodia Friendship Classic Concert
• Yukata Contest in Cambodia 2016
• JICA Public Relation Seminar
• Nodojiman Grand Championships Contest
• Awa Odori Festival in Cambodia
• Let’s try Nagashi Somen!
• Experiencing the Foot Spa with Seaweed Bath Salt
• Let’s Cook Takoyaki!
• Experiencing Yukata Wearing with Japanese Hair Style
• Japanese Tea Ceremony
• Udon Noodle Master Class
• Study Tour Culture and Education Exchange Program
• Let's cook "My Seaweed Rice Seasoning"
• Cosplay Collection 006 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Workshop
• Exhibition
• Lectures
• Others

2017

Japan-Cambodia Kizuna Festival 2017, which is the combination of CJCC Festival and Japan Week Festival of Embassy of Japan for the purpose of introducing Japanese traditional and modern culture in Cambodia and promoting cultural exchange between the two nations, to be held from 23rd to 26th February 2017. The theme of Kizuna Festival 2017 is “Fly to Japan”.

Various cultural events and exhibitions will be organized during the festival as the following:

• Performances (by Japanese and Cambodian Artists)
• Japanese and Cambodian Cultural Related Events (Ikebana, Origami & Calligraphy)
• Japan-Cambodia Quiz Game
• Tokiko Kato Concert in Cambodia 2017
• Japanese & Khmer Martial Art
• The 10th Japan-Cambodia Friendship Classic Concert
• Yukata Contest in Cambodia 2017
• JICA Public Relation Seminar
• Experiencing Kyoto Culture
• Japanese Sake Seminar
• Let’s Cook Khmer Food and Dessert (Noum Pom, Noum Plae Ai and Noum Krok)
• Let’s Cook Japanese Food and Dessert (Taiyaki, Dorayaki, Takoyaki and Nagashi Somen)
• Experiencing Yukata Wearing with Japanese Hair Style
• Kimono Show
• The Fashion Show “My Rubbish”
• TEMPURA KIDZ Performance
• Worldship Orchestra Concert
• Our Chapey, Our Heritage
• Udon Noodle Master Class
• Study Tour Culture and Education Exchange Program
• Cosplay Show
• Study-in-Japan Information Corner
• Workshop
• Exhibition
• Lectures
• Others

2018

2019
2020
2021
2022

Guest Performers from Japan and Cambodia

1. RAM WIRE (Hip-hop band from Chiba, Japan/Member: Ryll, Yuzu and Monch) [2012]
2. AUN (Kohei & Ryohei Inoue/井上良平 & 井上公平) & HIDE (Traditional band from Osaka, Japan) [2012]
3. Sho Asano (浅野祥) (Enka singer who can sings and plays Shamisen from Sendai, Japan) [2013]
4. Hikari Shirafuji (白藤ひかり) (Member of KiKi (輝＆輝) from Fukuoka, Japan) [2013]
5. Sachie Asano (浅野咲千絵) (Sho's sister who can dances and plays Shamisen from Sendai, Japan) [2013]
6. Koki Miura (三浦公規) (A member of Kodo (鼓童) who can plays the Taikos from Chiba, Japan) [2013]
7. Shoji Morifuji (森藤晶司) (Pianist who can plays Accordion and Piano from Hyogo, Japan) [2013]
8. Saori Kawabata (川畑さおり) (Artists who can plays Sanshin and sings from Amami, Japan) [2014]
9. Narumi Ii (伊成実) (Member of Tsumomo who can plays Sanshin and sings from Amami, Japan) [2014]
10. Kenta Tanahara (棚原健太) (Artist who can plays Sanshin, fiddle and sings from Okinawa, Japan) [2014]
11. Taiki Tokuda (徳田泰樹) (Artist who can plays Sanshin and sings from Okinawa, Japan) [2014]
12. TWIGGZ FAM (Big Twiggz JUN, Jr Twiggz NAOKI, Lil Twiggz REO, Boi Twiggz GUN, Young Twiggz TOMO, Baby Twiggz SHUN and Soulja) [2015]
13. Shibata Siblings (柴田三兄妹) Shamisen Unit (Masato (雅人), Ai (愛) and Yuri (佑梨) from Miyagi, Japan) [2015]
14. GOLD RUSH (HyROSSI, PInO, MASAYA and KOTA) [2016]
15. Mad Skills Styler (YOSHIKI and RYUICHI) [2016]
16. Yumiko Hirakata (平方友実子) and Uno Gosuke (宇野豪佑) (J-Pop duo from Kyoto and Nara, Japan) [2016]
17. Ahoren (阿呆連) group of Awa Odori Dance Troupe (Dancers from Tokushima, Japan) [2016]
18. Ebisu-za (えびす座) (Senior puppet dance troupe from Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan) [2016]
19. Itsuki Akira (五木あきら) (Cosplayer from Chiba, Japan) [2016]
20. Department of Performing Arts (MOCFA from Phnom Penh, Cambodia) [2012-present]
21. RUFA music ensemble (Music group from Phnom Penh, Cambodia) [2012]
22. Ryukyu University (琉球大学) art troupe (performing arts from Okinawa, Japan) [2015]
23. Cambodia Living Arts (RUFA from Phnom Penh, Cambodia) (2015-present)
24. CJCC Volunteers art troupe (CJCC of RUPP from Phnom Penh, Cambodia) [2014-present]
25. TEMPURA KIDZ (Member: YU-KA, KARIN, P→★, NaNaHo and AO/J-Pop band from Tokyo, Japan) [2017]
26. CLA Chapey association (RUFA from Phnom Penh, Cambodia) [2017]
27. Tena and Yaa Hoo (Khmer pop singer and rapper from Phnom Penh, Cambodia) [2017]
28. Tokiko Kato (加藤登紀子) (Senior songwriter, singer and actress from Harbin, China) [2017]

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