Vietnam will be getting a taste of Japan through the Japan Festival 2006, a celebration of traditional and contemporary Japanese cultural forms.

The festival, running from August 18 through 25 in different cities, is part of an international citizen exchange programme to increase familiarity in Vietnam with other cultures.

The Japan Festival 2006, which will be the largest cultural exchange event ever to take place in Vietnam, is aimed at strengthening the existing friendly relationship between the two countries.

The festival will open with a Japan-Vietnam karate match, a two-day event held at the Cau Giay Gymnasium in Hanoi. Sports fans can also attend a football match for Japanese and Vietnamese youth taking place at Thanh Long Sport Centre in Ho Chi Minh City on August 22-23.

Well-known traditional Japanese tea and incense ceremonies such as Omotesenke, Uratesenke and Shino will be presented on August 20 and 21 at Daewoo Hotel and Hanoi Opera Theatre.

The opening ceremony of traditional and contemporary Japanese music and dance will begin at 8pm on August 21 at the Hanoi Opera Theatre. Performances will include musicians playing the koto, flute and shaminsen; as well as Japanese dancers performing Yosakoi, Tsugarushamisen and tap dances.

Japanese art lovers can visit the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts at 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street for a three-day exhibition opening on August 21.

In addition, the National Cinema Centre will show a selection of Japanese animated films from August 20 to 23.

People will have a chance to enjoy Japanese food and participate in cooking classes, which will take place on August 21 and 22 at the Hoa Sua Vocational Training School.

The festival will also include pop and rock music performances and an economic conference.

(Source: VNA)