(아주경제 이정은 기자) Seoul and Tokyo will be filled with abundant and diverse performances and experience events to bring together. Korea and Japan will jointly hold the 6th Korea-Japan Culture Festival this weekend.
The Seoul festival will open at the Cheonggye Square and Seoul Square in central Seoul from Oct. 2 to 3 and the Tokyo festival will be at the Roppongi Hills Arena in Tokyo, on Oct. 2.
Under the theme of "Long History, Bright Future", the festival in Seoul will present eye-catching events and performances. About 22 Korean organizations and 23 Japanese organizations participated.
For the first day, there are various culture programs including "wanko soba" eating competition and "Shiwas Matsuri" performances. Also Japanese visitors can enjoy traditional Korean performances such as "Ogomu", the fan dance, and "Bongsan Talchum", mask dance.
Especially, "Shiwas Matsuri" is one of famous Japanese traditional festivals which has originated from Miyazaki province 1300 years ago.
"Shiwas Matsuri" represents long history of exchanges between Korea and Japan because the story tells about Baekjae, a kingdom located in Southwest Korea from 18 BC to 660. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla.
In 660, after Baekjae Kingdom has collapsed, the King of Baekjae and his son crossed over Japan and they stayed in different regions. "Shiwas Matsuri" shows how the king and his son meet for 3 days and 2 nights.
The Seoul Festival will show some parts of "Shiwas Matsuri" as the performers hold a parade between the Cheonggye Square and Seoul Square.
As a response to "Shiwas Matsuri", performers of Hannuri culture group will give a play called "Majiwa Puri" to welcome and appease spirits of the king and his son at the Seoul Squre.
Moreover, the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts will play Korean traditional classical under the theme of "Breath of Baekjae" at the same venue. The players will dress up traditional Baekjae costumes and play restored Baekjae instruments.
Japanese traditional songs and dances will be presented by students from 5 high schools in Japan. They will play "Tsugaru-Shamisen", a genre of shamisen music originating in Aomori prefecture , and traditional Japanese instruments.
Also Kato Kazuki, Japanese actor and singer from Nagoya, will sing songs for visitors at the Seoul Square.
For the second day, various events including a quiz show, Korean traditional dance performance and sumo competition will be continued.
At the end of the second day, performers and visitors will perform traditional South Korean circle dance 'Ganggangsullae' and fusion folk song 'Yosakoi Arirang' as a part of the closing ceremony.
Also, diverse cultural events will be held in Tokyo under the theme of "New Century to Spend Together".
The festival will feature Korean song competition, Korean traditional dance performance, Korean B-boy dance show and Kimchi making event.
Especially, popular Korean singers including Brown Eyed Girls and Shin Hye Sung will heat up the festival fever.
The festival will ends with 'Ganggangsullae' just like the counterpart festival.
"The festival became one of crucial events between the two countries since the first festival in 2005," said Toshiharu Shibata, chairperson of the planning committee, at the press conference on Sept. 29. "I hope Korea and Japan enhance exchanges and increase goodwill," he added.
nvcess@ajnews.co.kr
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