The Activities of the Japan Foundation
The Japan Foundation Asia Center
Arts and Cultural Exchange Programs
Asia Center promotes exchange programs among the people of Asia in a wide range of fields such as art, films, performing arts, sports, grassroots exchange and intellectual exchange. We created a new Asian culture together through interaction, collaboration and respect for diversity and people’s identity.
Film Culture Exchange Projects with the 34th Tokyo International Film Festival
(c)2021 TIFF
The “Conversation Series at Asia Lounge” with Asian filmmakers, which we held in collaboration with the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), has been popular, being viewed by approximately 40,000 people in more than 48 countries around the world, either live or from the archive, in addition to participants at the venue. Additionally, the “CROSSCUT ASIA” we held online as part of the TIFF was revived as a two-part special feature which we streamed for free as a total of 13 programs.
Online Exchange Dialogue “Asia Center Crosstalk”
To encourage mutual understanding between pacesetters in arts and culture with a view towards developing this activity into a specific post-COVID-19 exchange project, we produced and distributed a total of 10 videos containing online dialogues between such people from Japan and various countries in Southeast Asia. The videos covered a broad range of topics including performance, contemporary dance, sustainable design, crafts, contemporary art, traditional performing arts, festival and community, orchestra and architecture.
Cultural Activities Linking Asia and the Regions of Japan
At the Sanriku International Arts Festival 2021, traditional performing arts and folk entertainment groups from Indonesia, Cambodia and the Sanriku region (northeastern Honshu) collaborated to produce Kaminagahime (Princess of Long Tresses): An Asian Tale for the bamboo flute based on a folktale from the Sanriku region. It was broadcast online to the whole world. We also organized activities where various regions in Okinawa connected with Asian countries and regions and held seminars where they discussed common problems as well as activities introducing the traditional arts of each country.
