The event "Tsuruga International Cultural Exchange Festival 2019" will be held

Tanseisha is participating as a member of the Tsuruga International Cultural Exchange Festival Executive Committee and will be holding the Tsuruga International Cultural Exchange Festival 2019 in Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture on November 9th (Sat) and 10th (Sun).

Tsuruga City is a city with a history of being the place where Polish orphans landed in the 1920s, and many Jewish refugees who were rescued by visas issued by Chiune Sugihara in the 1940s. The compassionate response of Tsuruga citizens to the orphans and refugees at that time and their interactions with them built friendly relations with countries such as Poland and Israel that continue to this day. This event, which is being held for the second time since last year, will look back on the history of this port of humanitarianism and allow people to enjoy and experience the cultures of Poland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Israel, in order to connect the bonds of friendship between Tsuruga and the countries with which it has ties to the next generation.

Through this event, we hope that the citizens of Tsuruga and the surrounding area will be able to recall the period from 1920 to 1940, while also deepening exchanges with the cultures and people of each country, and passing on the friendly relations and cultural exchanges with the four countries into the future. We also hope that the cultures of each country will take root in the local area, and that it will help Tsuruga develop into a city of true cultural exchange.

We look forward to seeing you all there.

Overview of "Tsuruga International Cultural Exchange Festival 2019"

Event details

• (1) Damon & Naomi, the band that inherited the legacy of Chiune Sugihara, will perform in Japan
  Many Sugihara survivors were saved by the visas issued by Chiune Sugihara. Damon Krukowski, a son of a Sugihara survivor who has become a musician and is active around the world, is coming to Tsuruga! Guitarist Michio Kurihara will also be making an appearance.
  [Date and time] Sunday, November 10, 2019, 11:00am onwards [Fee] 1,500 yen
  [Application] From 9:00 on October 10th Event Website First come, first served

• (2) Junichi Kajioka Film Screening & Talk Show(London-based film director, screenwriter, and actor)
  "What happened to the Jews whose lives were saved by Chiune Sugihara's visas?"
  Along with the backstory surrounding the filming of the documentary "The Story of Life Connected by Chiune Sugihara: Jews and Japanese, Past and Future," the program also introduces his experiences as a film director and actor working around the world.

• (3) Lecture by Michiko Noma(Novelist)
  "Relay of Life: Past, Present and Future - From the Netherlands, Poland, Lithuania, Israel and Tsuruga to the World"
  Why did Tsuruga come to be called the "Port of Humanity"? From Poland to the Netherlands, Lithuania, Israel, and finally to Tsuruga. This book traces the history of Tsuruga and introduces the story that continues to this day in an easy-to-understand way for parents and children.

• (4) Lecture by Ton van Zeeland(former staff member of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
  "Policies and achievements of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and Dutch diplomats during the Second World War"
  This program explains the situation and policies that the Netherlands found itself in during World War II. It also highlights the diplomat Jan Zwartendijk, who bravely saved lives during the war.

• (5) Jinta-la-Mvta performance
  The band "Shikaramuta" is known for its unique international music, with overwhelming festiveness and experimentalism. The band is led by Okuma Wataru (clarinet, etc.) and Kogure Miwazo (chindon drums, vocals). They have performed overseas many times as a uniquely Japanese klezmer/world music. Don't miss the fun and educational talk!

• (6) Salam Kaijo's "Introduction to Tsuruga City World Music" lecture(music critic)
  The lecturer, known as the DJ for NHK FM's "Music Sightseeing Flight," will provide a three-dimensional explanation of world music, which is born between traditional and global cultures, using the latest footage shot on location.

• (7) Dance performance by the Kansai Polish Dance Enthusiasts Club "Kurako"
  This is a Polish dance performance by the widely active group "Kurako," which won the grand prize at the "Dance Summit in Japan 2013" contest (organized by the Dance Summit in Japan Executive Committee, supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and others) in December 2013. Please enjoy the beautiful national costumes.

• (8) Crystal Sounds Artist Clair performs "Pray to BE - Dedicate yourself to the natural beauty"
  The sound of the crystal bowls creates a soothing space that resonates with you! Why not try remembering your true self while listening to the resonating sound of the crystal bowls?

(9) Sale of food and crafts from Poland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Israel

Projects

"Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse Diorama Museum" - Japan's largest railway diorama that recreates the good old streets of Tsuruga