OF FAIRY AND FAWN: : Young people attend the Japanese Evolution event dressed as Japanese manga and anime characters. The event ran from Friday to Sunday. (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)
The second annual Japan Evolution festival, which highlights the colorful culture of the land of the rising sun, features a series of traditional and modern Japanese arts and performances.
The festival is organized by the Nippon Club of Bina Nusantara University, and runs from Friday through Sunday at the Mangga Dua World Trade Center (WTC) in North Jakarta.
"This is a festival for everybody, from children to adults," Vita Aprillia, Nippon Club chairwoman, said Friday.
"We aim to introduce Japanese culture to the people. They can enjoy both traditional and modern Japanese culture here.
"We also want to encourage people to emulate the Japanese people's spirit: Even though they always strive for modernization, they never forget their roots and culture."
In the traditional section, visitors can enjoy performances like kendo (bamboo swords), samurai, sumo, sanshin (a banjo-like musical instrument) and bon odori (dance).
Visitors can also participate in workshops on chado (tea ceremony), flower doll, ikebana (flower arrangement) and card o tsukuroo (greeting card).
Youths with a preference for Japanese pop culture can participate in several competitions, including cosplay (dressing up like characters from Japanese graphic novels or manga, anime and video games) cabaret, cosplay party, J-artist Look-Alike, otaku (anime fans) and fashion design.
"We want to encourage young people in Jakarta to be creative by taking part in the competitions," said Christiandy, coordinator of Japan Evolution.
"We expect the three-day event to draw more than 14,000 visitors. Last year we had about 11,000 visitors. We are very optimistic we can reach our target because this year we have a much larger venue."
He said cable television animation channel Animax was working with the Nippon Club to organize a design contest titled "Friends of Keroro".
The contest is based on the latest Animax show, "Sergeant Keroro", in which the main character, a frog-like alien invader, encounters all sorts of trouble in his quest for world domination.
Tracy Wong, Animax director of creative services, said contest winners would have their work animated and featured on Animax.
The festival also features stalls selling food, clothes, manga and gadgets. These are set up on the ground and lower ground floors of the WTC.
For food lovers, the WTC front yard is the place to go to enjoy Japanese food, including dorayaki (cakes) and takoyaki (octopus snacks).
The first day of the Japan Evolution festival received rave reviews from visitors. Merry from Central Jakarta said being photographed wearing a yukata (traditional Japanese dress) was exciting.
"I found a stall where you can dress up in a yukata. I really wanted to try it, it's so cool," said Merry, showing a picture of herself in a green yukata and red handbag.
"I don't need to go all the way to Japan to get a picture like this. I only paid Rp 30,000 (US$3) to dress in the yukata and get the picture."
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