Activity

April 15: Flag Raising Certificate Awarding Ceremony

　The exhibition entitled “Purification by Art, under the sponsorship of the General Incorporated Association Geibun Association, took place at the Vietnam branch of Nikko Toshogu Shrine for two months from April 14 to June 15, 2023. At this exhibition, over 100 huge flags designed with various artworks by Japanese artists were exhibited in the very extensive premises of Da Nang Hotel Mikazuki, where Vietnam branch of Nikko Toshogu Shrine is located. Flag Raising Certificate Awarding Ceremony was held at the hotel, located in eastern Vietnam, facing the South China Sea.

　“Mikazuki Portable Shrine,” in which the tutelary deity of Nikko Toshogu Shrine dwells, is also set up at the lobby of Da Nang Mikazuki. Nikko Toshogu Shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu as its main deity.

“Purification” is a Shinto ritual to purify the world. Today, it is an event that is held when plagues and disasters occur frequently. Sharing the peace philosophy of Tokugawa Ieyasu, praying for “Peace and Tranquility Reigning in the Land,” this project aims to entrust the power of art and culture to “Purification by Art” flag raising, for solutions of various difficulties we are facing, such as the COVID-19 pandemic that has prevailed in recent years and the prolonged war that started in February 2022, in addition to many heavy rains, floods and typhoons occurring one after another due to abnormal weather conditions.

　Mr. Nobutoshi Akao, Senior Advisor, Geibun Association, Mr. Yoshinori Yakabe, Consul- General of Japan in Da Nang, and Mr. Michio Mashiko, Manager, Chairman’s Office of “Da Nang Mikazuki”, representing Vietnam Toshogu, attended the ceremony.

Opening Remarks by Mr. Nobutoshi Akao, Senior Advisor, Geibun Association (Summary)　

　I should like to say a few words on behalf of the Geibun Association.

　The relationship between myself and the Geibun Association goes back to around the year 2000 when I was Ambassador to Thailand. At that time, I attended something like a personal booth exhibition, which was held at a hotel lounge in Bangkok. Mr. Fumitaka Ishikawa, Representative Director, Geibun Association, asked me, “Ambassador, are you able to come to an event like this?” I answered, “It is only natural that, if invited, I attend any of this kind of events that Japanese people and companies organize, so long as I have time.” Mr. Ishikawa seems to have been extremely moved then by my response, as he told me later.

　After that, I returned to Japan and retired. Then, because I happened to be Secretary General of ASEAN-Japan Centre, I began to be invited to social gatherings on such occasions as when Mr. Ishikawa organized cultural exchange projects with Thailand and Malaysia in Tokyo. After retiring from public office, I have had the honor of having been asked to be an advisor of the Geibun Association.

　Since our founding, for over 22 years, the Geibun Association has been working to promote mutual understanding and contribute to world peace through holding exhibitions in Japan and overseas and interacting with artists from various countries. Specifically, it has had exchanges for many years focusing on Thailand (Bangkok and Chiang Mai) where the chairman of the Geibun Association resides. We plan to continue such exchanges, although there were times when the exchanges had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we have also continued to have exchanges in such countries as Italy, Russia, Sweden, Portugal, Lithuania, and Hawaii.

　In Japan, especially after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011, we have been organizing art exhibitions at Nikko Toshogu Shrine, in joint sponsorship with the Shrine, with the aim of supporting the reconstruction almost every year even during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. These art exhibitions include those which were held as a part of  important events of the Shrine such as the 400^th Anniversary of passing-away of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu in 2015 and Exhibition to Celebrate the Completion of the Heisei Great Renovation of Yomeimon Gate of the Shrine in 2017. Against such background, we are organizing the art exhibition for the first time in Da Nang.

 Capitalizing on the Shinto ritual of purification, aiming at containing disasters, we are exhibiting large flags, designed with various artworks, which aim at containing various catastrophes and disasters, at Vietnam Toshogu, which is a branch of Nikko Toshogu Shurine, located in the premises of Da Nang Hotel Mikazuki. It will be displayed for two months.

　Lastly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. Yoshinori Yakabe, Consul-General of Japan in Da Nang, for joining us.  I would like to express my gratitude to all the Japanese artists who have traveled to Da Nang this time, and to all the artists who have exhibited even when they could not travel. Again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone at the Da Nang Mikazuki for their tremendous cooperation. Thank you very much.

Congratulatory address by Mr. Yoshinori Yakabe, Consul-General of Japan in Da Nang

　I would like to thank Mr. Nobutoshi Akao, Senior Advisor, Geibun Association, and Former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Thailand, Mr. Fumitaka Ishikawa, Representative Director of the Association, and everyone in attendance for inviting me to Vietnam Toshogu’s Flag Raising Certificate Awarding Ceremony. I would like to say a few words of congratulations representing the Consulate General of Japan in Da Nang.

　It is my understanding that the flags unveiled at Vietnam Toshogu on this occasion are flags with various artworks by contemporary artists, expressing their prayers for peace. It is very important and beneficial to exhibit the flags of such artwork at Da Nang Mikazuki on the occasion of such commemorative 50th anniversary of Japan-Vietnam diplomatic relations. Under the current international situation where the importance of peace is reaffirmed, I believe that this ceremony is a truly timely and meaningful event, which is held with the aim of embodying the peaceful philosophy of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the enshrined deity of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, through contemporary art in Da Nang, which was once a fierce battle ground during the Vietnam War.

　Da Nang Mikazuki has carried out various cultural exchange projects since its establishment. This year, various cultural exchange projects between Japan and Vietnam have been held to celebrate the 50th anniversary, including a sumo demonstration event held by Konishiki, a former Ozeki in February.

　Da Nang Mikazuki has become one of the information sharing bases of Japanese culture in Da Nang as seen in the Vietnam Toshogu and today’s flag raising event. The Consulate General of Japan, which is in a position to promote exchanges between Japan and Vietnam, also highly values their activities.

　Finally, I would like to close my remarks by wishing good health of everyone in attendance today, future development of the Geibun Association, Da Nang Mikazuki and the Vietnam Toshogu Shrine, and further strengthening of the relationship between Japan and Vietnam. Thank you for listening.

Next, representing the Vietnam Toshogu Shrine, Mr. Michio Mashiko, Manager, Chairman’s Office of Da Nang Mikazuki, awarded nine artists, who traveled from Japan, the Purification by Art Flag Raising Certificate.

Closing Remarks by Mr. Fumitaka Ishikawa, Representative Director, Geibun Association

　Today, the “Purification by Art” flags are being displayed, carrying the desire for world peace by the Japanese artists who have traveled from afar to gather here. Thank you very much.　　

　As Mr. Akao, Senior Advisor, explained earlier, “purification” is a Shinto ritual held at shrines and temples to contain catastrophes. This is why I believe that the art of creating beautiful things will lead to world peace, because the Japanese for “art” (美術) literally means “skill/craft for creating beauty.”

　　I would also like to continue to recommend holding this kind of events several times in future as it will be truly sad to finish it after holding it once. As Art is truly the art of beauty, creating beautiful things makes the world beautiful, which is a very wonderful culture. This is not limited to Japan. I know that everyone in Vietnam, Asia and the rest of the world feels the same way. I hope that you will recognize that beautiful things create peace, and that you will continue to do your best in your activities.　Finally, but not the least, I would like to thank Mr. Yoshinori Yakabe, Consul-General of Japan in Da Nang for his attendance. I believe that the fact that Mr. Yakabe is able to attend this event is the result of his extremely high evaluation of this event. I would like to thank the Consul-General again.

　I am aware that we were able to have very meaningful exchanges to continue the friendly relationship between Japan and Vietnam over the years thanks to the cooperation of many hotel staff, including Mr. Michio Mashiko, Manager, Chairman’s Office of Da Nang Mikazuki.

　I would like to now close my remarks by expressing my thanks to you all.

With the above, the “Purification by Art (Sponsored by the General Incorporated Association Geibun Association)” Flag Raising Certificate Awarding Ceremony was concluded.

Vietnam Toshogu Art Purification Inspection Mission

　On April 15, 2023 (Sat), the cultural mission of artists and their companions departed from Narita International Airport for Da Nang International Airport to attend the Shinto ritual “Art Purification” held at the Vietnam Toshogu Shrine, which was built in the premises of Da Nang Mikazuki as a branch of Nikko Toshogu Shrine for the first time outside of Japan.

　They arrived at Da Nang International Airport in the evening of the same day after about six hours. Immediately after arriving at the hotel, they took a commemorative photo to raise morale for the upcoming program in front of the “Nikko Toshogu Shrine Divided Spirit Crescent Portable Shrine” which enshrines the spirit of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the enshrined deity of Nikko Toshogu Shrine.

April 16 and 17: Japan Art Workshops by Japanese Artists

　Japanese art workshops were held by Japanese artists on the next day after the arrival as well as the following day. On the first day, three artists (decoupage egg artist Ms. Hiroko Masaki, calligrapher Ms. Shuko Oguri and calligrapher Ms. Hakushu Shimamoto) held the workshop. On the next day, installation artist Ms. Yoko Nagai, sticker craft artist Ms. Mitsuyo Hirano and calligrapher Ms. Shunga Shiramizu held workshop. Calligraphers Ms. Akika Oguri and Ms. Hakushu Shimamoto also participated, continuing from the previous day.

　The venue was a foyer adjacent to the banquet room. The event was held in a space rich in Japanese atmosphere, with Japanese cranes designed on the walls.

　Approximately 100 people attended the venue, including hotel guests, students from The University of Da Nang, Dong A University, and students from Le Quy Don High School. It was full of Vietnamese people who were interested in Japanese culture, and the participants were enthusiastically creating works.

　The members of the group also joined optional tours to Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh and other places, enjoying old Vietnamese culture and returned home safely.