India Cultural Centre

Embassy of IndiaTokyo

Monthly Record of Events – October 2012

Kalaripayattu Martial Art Performance

As part of the celebration to mark the 60 th anniversary of establishment of India-Japan diplomatic relation an Indian Council for Cultural Relations sponsored 10-member Kalaripayattu troupe led by Mr. Babu Rajan Joseph visited Japan from 21 Sep to 8 Oct 2012 to perform in “Namaste India Festival” as well as other locations throughout the Japan. On 3rd October Group performed in Toyo University. President of Toyo University, Prof. Takamoto was the chief guest. Students, Parents and Professors of the university attended and witnessed the performance. The event was very successful and appreciated by organizer and audience.

On 5th October “Ishikawa-India Friendship Association” organized Kalaripayattu Performance at the Kanazawa city. Mayor of Nanoichi city Mr. Takaaki Awa was invited as chief guest. The organizers and the audience both appreciated the performance.

On 7th October the troupe performed at “Kala Mahotsav” India Mela in Kobe Prefecture. Vice Governor of Osaka Prefecture, Mr. Shinsaku Kimura, was invited as the Chief Guest. This year’s event was attended by more than 400 prominent guests, including members of the diplomatic corps, prominent members of the local Indian community and media persons. Show received an enthusiastic encore.

Monthly Discourse on Bhagavad Gita

Swami Medhasananda, President of the Vedanta Society of Japan conducted the monthly discourse on “Sri Bhagavad Geeta” in Japanese language at the ICC Multi-Function Room on 6 October. The Vedanta Society of Japan is a branch of “Ramakrishna Mission” in India.

“Splendors of Hindu Gods and Goddesses” Exhibition

To commemorate 60th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations, an Exhibition titled “Splendors of Hindu Gods and Goddesses” was inaugurated at the Yokohama Museum of Eurasian Cultures on 6 October. Exhibition displays paintings of Indian God and Goddesses painted by Japanese artists. Exhibition will remain open for all until 14 January 2013.

Cultural Festival by ICC and Fuji TV

In collaboration with Fuji TV Japan on the occasion of 60 th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations, India Cultural Centre, Embassy of India, Tokyo organized a cultural festival in Higashi Matsushima city in Miyagi prefecture on 6 October. The aim of the festival was to relieve the victims of earthquake and tsunami since the area was devastated by catastrophic earthquake and tsunami 2011 and to promote India-Japan culture relation between Japanese and Indian people. One day festival offered India Cuisine, Handicrafts, Yoga wWorkshop, Indian and Japanese folk dances. More than 1,000 visitors visited and enjoyed the festival.

Namaste India Festival in Kariya

Kariya International Friendship Association organized “Namaste India Festival” in Kariya City on 7 October. The Festival was supported by our Embassy on the occasion of 60 th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relation in order to promote friendship and mutual understanding between Japanese and Indian people.

ICC Outreach Activities

As part of ICC outreach activities, Dr. Sudarshan Ram, ICC Music Teacher gave a solo Tabla recital at the cultural programme on “Durga-Pooja” organized by Bengali Association of Tokyo on 14 October. The event was supported and promoted by our Embassy to promoting Indian sports, culture, friendship and mutual understanding between Japanese and Indian society.

Ustad Shujaat Khan Japan Tour

Shujaat Khan Tour Committee organized concert of Ustad Shujaat Khan, Indian sitar player in Japan from 13 to 15 October. The tour was supported and promoted by Embassy to promoting Indian sports, culture, friendship and mutual understanding between Japanese and Indian society.

Nakamura Hajime 100 th Birth Anniversary

Eastern Institute of Studies in Japan held a public memorial lecture on the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of Dr. Nakamura Hajime on 15 October. DCM Mr. Sanjay Panda delivered welcome speech during this occasion.

Japan-India Partnership Forum Poetry Reading

Japan India Partnership Forum held its annual poetry reading function at the ICC Auditorium on 16 October. The event was supported and promoted by Embassy. Ambassador Ms. Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa attended the event delivered a welcome speech.

Seminar by IT-Club

India IT-Club held a panel discussion/seminar at the ICC Multi-Function Room on 17 October with a theme “Indo-Japan Academic Collaborations for Global Information Society”. Professor Jun Murai who is known as the father of Japan’s internet delivered a speech at the seminar which was attended by IT professional from different IT companies. More than 60 members attended the event.

ICC Outreach Activities

As part of ICC outreach activities, Dr. Sudarshan Ram, ICC Music Teacher gave a solo Tabla recital at Yokohama YC & AC Club on 20 October to enhance the Indian Culture of playing Tabla among the international community in Yokohama. The event was supported and promoted by the Embassy.

JCOAL Japan Luncheon Meeting

In collaboration with the Embassy on the occasion of 60th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations, Japan Coal Energy Center (JCOAL) organized a luncheon meeting at the ICC auditorium/foyer on 20 October to support the development, commercialization, transfer and dissemination of coal technologies, human resource development and to ensure the international coal supply.

An Evening of Indian Folk Dance “Purulia-Chhau”

As part of the celebration to mark the 60 th anniversary of establishment of India-Japan diplomatic relation a programme titled “An Evening of Indian Folk Dance” organized at ICC Auditorium on 26 October. A 9-member dance troupe, led by Mr. Jagannath Chowdhuri sponsored by NPO Mithila Museum visited Japan. The dancers stayed in Japan for about a month and performed throughout Japan. The event was very successful and appreciated by the audience.

ICC Classes in October

Yoga

Teacher’s Name: Dr. Jeevan Lata Shukla No. of students in current session: 232No. of classes every week: 22No. of classes each student can attend: 2Content covered in this month: Taught stress management through Yoga. Some advance Asanas, Paranayama and Bandha practiced.

Tabla

Teacher’s Name: Dr. Sudarshan Ram No. of students in current session: 32No. of classes every week: 14No. of classes each student can attend: 2Content covered in this month: Important phrases in Tabla Playing Taal and Thaekas, Kaidas, Railas. Teen Tal 16 beat, 8 beats etc. practiced.

Vocal

Teacher’s Name: Dr. Sudarshan Ram No. of students in current session: 8No. of classes every week: 2No. of classes each student can attend: 2Content covered in this month: Definition of Nad (Sound), Raag & Bandish (Raag Baghesari and Bharavi) etc.

Bharatnatyam Dance

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Kyoko NobiNo. of students in current session: 11No. of classes every week: 4No. of classes each student can attend: 2Content covered in this month: Junior students finished “Ganesha-Kautvam”. Senior students continued learning Shabdam. “Asamuta-Hastas” and “Samuta-Hastas” also practiced.

Indian Contemporary Dance

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Kyoko Nobi No. of students in current session: 24No. of classes every week: 1Content covered in this month: Learned synchronization and basic steps for item songs.

Hindi Language

Teacher’s Name: Prof. Teji Sakata No. of students in current session: 12No. of classes every week: 1Content covered in this month: Practiced various forms of imperfect past based on Lesson No. 11, Reading “Hamaaraa Desh” based on Lesson No. 12. Explanation and practice of pronoun based on Lesson No. 13 from the text book “Saral Hindi Bhasha” (A Hindi text book, written by Prof. Teiji Sakata)

Bengali Language

Teacher’s Name: Prof. Tsuyoshi Nara No. of students in current session: 8No. of classes every week: 1Content covered in this month: Read and translated Bengali sentences and learnt lingual-cultural connections. Composed sentences of present perfect tense such as “Ye boita apni dhar korechen seta ami agei porechi” Composed sentences of simple past tense, read and translated Rabindranath Tagore’s short story called ‘Kabliwalla’ and explained its cultural background. All the students made remarkable progress in reading and composing any simple Bengali sentences.

Odissi

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Kazuko YasunobuNo. of students in current session: 14No. of classes every week: 3No. of classes each student can attend: 2Content covered in this month: On 4 beats step no. 1 to 7 and basic stepping no. 2 to 10 reviewed. Chouk and Tribangi pose making, Entrance part of Ganesha Bandana and theory of Mudras practiced.