Curtains came down on Focus Japan II, at the City of Culture which presented a renewed chance to discover Japanese culture.
Focus Japan was organised by the Tunis Opera Theatre and Japan’s embassy in celebration of Japanese culture. This was as part of a close partnership between Tunisian, Japanese and French creators.
The Tunisian public in awe:
Overlapping with the school holidays, the Tunisian public of diverse age groups attended the various workshops and events presented in the program and was capable to discover the heritage of Japan and contemporary artistic expressions. This event delivered the public an introductory course in the Japanese language, a conference debate about Japanese literature through the works of Haruki Murakami followed by a screening of the film “Drive my car”, an adaption of a novel by Murakami and winner of the Golden Globes and the César 2022 for best foreign film. The event also offered a workshop on Japanese and Tunisian calligraphy and an anime orchestra film concert and Karate shows.
Olfa Daboussi: “Focus Japan II is a taste of the next TICAD 8 summit, but not only!”
Olfa Dabboussi, a research engineer in the field of environment and energy who is likewise an activist in civil society and culture told Tunisienumerique that she is one of the coordinators of a parallel event at the TICAD 8 summit. “Focus Japan II is an event that seeks to promote Japanese culture and language among Tunisians and is part of the preparation for TICAD 8 which will take place this summer, in August (..) This 2nd edition concentrated on everything connected to the Japanese language and calligraphy to convey to Tunisians the thought and discipline of the Japanese. We are currently organising TICAD GAMES which is a parallel event to TICAD 8. It encloses the cultural, linguistic and sports characteristics through ikebana, origami, calligraphy and karaoke workshops and let’s not overlook that the goal of these events is to attract Japanese investment and revitalise the economy and tourism in Tunisia,” she said.
Below are the FOCUS JAPAN II events and workshops in pictures:
Introductory Japanese language course given by Ms Kaouther Bousetta, former Japanese Government scholarship holder and Japanese language teacher:
Literary conference in collaboration with the Maison du Roman on the theme: “Murakami’s public position based on his comments on the commitment of writers, with regard to his novels” with the speaker: Mr Antonin Bechler, Lecturer and professor at the Japanese Studies Department of the University of Strasbourg, and the moderator Mr Mohamed Harmel, young Tunisian writer, an architect by training and a researcher in philosophy.
Screening of the film “Drive my Car” directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Karate show by the Ariana Karate Challenge Association:
Calligraphy workshops by Makiko Takei with the collaboration of Mr Tarek Abid, calligraphic artist:
What's happening in Tunisia?
Subscribe to our Youtube channel for updates.
