After successfully doing cultural diplomacy to several neighbouring countries, International Relations Department of the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (HI UMM) welcomed a cultural visit from Nagoya University, Japan. The Nagoya University delivered six students and introduced their summer festival Natsu Matsuri Bunkasai.
The event entitled Japanese Summer Festival was held around the lake of GKB I building at Campus III UMM, Wednesday (2/8). The six students from the Nagoya University captivated audiences through exhibition of Japanese traditional clothing and arts in front of hundreds UMM students. It was part of events held by International Relations Department during February 2012.
The festival was enliven with Japanese snacks and foods and small pool for water play. The water play tradition, said Daisuke Kobayashi, one of the Japanese students, was held in Japan at summer.
“Now, it is winter in Japan but the festival suits the warm temperature here,” he said.
The Japanese students also performed yusakoi dance. The dance told about encouragement to keep being motivated in working although in summer. The visitors were likely to taste the foods displayed and also bought some of them.
Chief of International Relations Department, Toni Dian Effendi, said the event was held to create an atmosphere of cultural diplomacy to International Relations students of the UMM. Through the program, the students were expected to be more enthusiastic in searching opportunity on cultural diplomacy with other countries. Last year, HI UMM also held a cultural diplomacy to Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. Students performed Indonesian traditional dances and songs in front of students and lecturers of the host universities as well as diplomats of the host countries. (bib/nas/t_alf)
