Embassy of Japan in Kenya
在ケニア日本国大使館

 

43 students from Arya Girls Secondary School recently visited the Embassy to learn about Japan and Japanese culture.

The students were first introduced to a video entitled “Japan- Land of Vitality”, which gave them insight into what Japan is all about and this led the students to ask many questions.

The Japanese tea ceremony was then introduced. The students were taught a brief history and the basics of the tea ceremony and even one student actually prepared the Japanese tea. They enjoyed the tea served to them as the guests but were more fascinated by the ambience surrounding the tea ceremony.

 

Tea ceremony demonstration	Students enjoying the Japanese Tea

They were next introduced to Origami, which is Japanese Art of paper folding. They were taught how to make a “box” using six papers. The students were overjoyed when each one of them had made a box by herself.

Students trying out Origami

To add to their excitement, they were shown a Japanese theatrical animation entitled “The Girl who Lept Through Time” which is mainly about a 17 year old school girl called Makoto Konno, whose everyday life is suddenly recomposed once she becomes a latest heroine who leaps across the 21st Century.
To sum up the lessons on Japanese culture, the students were introduced to Ikebana (Japanese art of flower arrangement), whereby they were given a brief history of Ikebana, and then they were taught about the main pillars of Ikebana. The girls were exalted by the flower arrangements and as they tried it out, they came to realize that it was not actually that hard.

 

 

Students listening to explanations on Ikebana and looking at the finished Ikebana	Students with their finished pieces of Origami

The students thanked the JICC staff for hosting them and for the lessons they learnt on the various Japanese cultures and promised to come again and learn more.

 

 

 

On January 8, 2010, the 12 member Kenyan delegation for the 22nd Ship of the World Youth Programme assembled at the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The function was the farewell party for the delegation just prior to their departure to Japan on January 11, with the attendance of Mr. James Muiru Waweru, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and other officials, the representative of the Bata shoe company(Kenya) ltd. and the three ex-participants of this Programme.

 

Farewell Party for the Kenyan delegation of the 22nd Ship of the World Youth	The 22nd Ship of the World Youth participants

The Ship of the World Youth Programme administered by the Cabinet Office of the Government of Japan, is aimed at promoting understanding and friendship between Japanese and foreign youth as well as cultivating the spirit of international cooperation and the competence to practice it, among others.  Under the current 22nd Programme 279 youngsters from 13 different nations, i.e. Australia, Bahrain, Ecuador, Egypt, Hellenic Republic, India, Japan, kenya, Oman, Sri Lanka, Turkey, UAE, Republic of Yemen, will get on board the ship which will set sail from Tokyo on January 22, 2010 and then proceed to Singapore, Dubai Chennai (India), Singapore, Naha (Japan) and return Tokyo on March 5, 2010.

At the ceremony Mr. Julius N. Kubai, Director, Youth Development of the Ministry, while appreciating the continued relations with the Government of Japan, stated that this was the 8th participation from Kenya to the same Programme and urged all the participants to be good ambassadors by positively interacting with other foreign delegates and others.

The JICC Director, Mr. Hitoshi Kikuchi, delivering his speech

 

Mr. Hitoshi Kikuchi, Director of Japan Information and Culture Center, in the meanwhile, stressed the importance of the promotion of mutual understanding and recognition among youth in the world who will constitute a main pillar in each society in future, thereby eventually contributing to the world peace. He also urged them to rectify the narrow perceptions held by average Japanese youngsters who tend to become more introvert and view Africa in a somewhat negative manner due to continued conflicts, etc.

 

The Kenyan delegation for the 22nd SWY performing a dance

The demonstration of a colorful dance by the Kenyan participants for this Programme was followed. They will have a lot of occasions to show their dynamic  performance during the entire itinerary, either in Japan, on board the ship or in the foreign countries where the Ship is schedule to make port calls. 

 

Then Mr. Peter Giathi, Human Resources Manager of the Bata Shoe Company (Kenya) ltd. Kindly donated shoes and shirts which the participants would wear, to Mr. Waweru, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.
.
Finally, the Permanent Secretary emphasized that these 13 people would represent not only Kenya but East Africa or otherwise Sub-Sahara Africa as a whole, because there is no other participating country from this region this time. In this regard, he also strongly urged them to be in full command of whatever questions that may be posed about Africa. 

 

 

 

The Japan Information and Culture Center of the Embassy of Japan will provide a wide variety of information on Japan and also invite you to various cultural activities.

The Center is also supporting the alumni association in Kenya and is convinced that forming a network with other former students will be very useful for your professional carrier in Kenya.

In this regard, the Center highly expects that you, especially those who returned to Kenya for the last five years, will join the Japanese alumni association in Kenya.

The Center appreciates it much if you can report and register now with the Center. Sincere thanks for your cooperation.

 

 

The Japan Information and Culture Centre lends its Conference room and Multi-purpose hall to Kenyan and Japanese organizations/individuals for the purpose of conducting cultural, sports, academic and educational events, including, performing arts, demonstrations, lectures, seminars and symposiums, during the week.

A conference hall with seating capacity of 50 can meet the needs of a variety of events such as lectures, symposiums, seminars and workshops, while Multi-purpose hall with seating capacity of 100 serves for perfoming arts, demonstrations and lectures.

For further information on how you can use the facilities, please contact Japan Information and Culture Centre, Embassy of Japan, Mara Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi, Kenya on Tel. 2898515. click here for application form

 

Entrance of the hall	Entrance lobby of the hall
Inside the hall	An event in the hall
Conference room entrance	Inside the conference room
Inside the conference room

 

EVENTS:

Wednesday 24th March 2010 CINEMA JAPAN:

5.00 pm Japan Video Topics (15 minutes),

5.15 pm feature film "Kodayu" Directed by SATO Jun'ya (125 minutes)
Venue: Multipurpose Hall, Japan Information and Culture Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
Admission: Free

See poster

 

 

Wednesday 14th April 2010 CINEMA JAPAN:

5.00 pm Japan Video Topics (15 minutes),

5.15 pm feature film "Tora-san To the Rescue" Directed by YAMADA Yoji (110 minutes)
Venue: Multipurpose Hall, Japan Information and Culture Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
Admission: Free

See poster

 

 

Wednesday 28th April 2010 CINEMA JAPAN:

5.00 pm Japan Video Topics (15 minutes),

5.15 pm feature film "Forest of the Little Bear" Directed by GOTO Toshio (117 minutes)
Venue: Multipurpose Hall, Japan Information and Culture Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
Admission: Free

See poster

 

 

 

The Japan Information and Culture Centre posseses many arts and crafts for its own cultural activities. Some samples are below. These arts and crafts can be borrowed by interested institutions for relevant cultural activities.