Malaysia-Japan Art & Photograph Exhibition

Sponsor: Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board

Co-sponsor: World Arts & Culture Exchange/Malaysia Home Stay Program Association

Operation: Finesse Co., Ltd.

7th Sept. 2009

Mr. Idros
At 8:00a.m., the Art and Tourism Goodwill Ambassador and others, including four Malyasian artists, arrived at the first terminal of New Tokyo International Airport. As soon as they arrived in Tokyo with our escort, a meeting was organized by the Tokyo Office of Tourism Malaysia to confirm various arrangements of the Exhibition, including the handicraft demonstration by Ms.Normadiah Sahid. The next day, we went to “Royal Salon” (Ginza, Tokyo), which is the site of the Exhibition, together with Mr. Sahariman Hamdan, representative of WAC Malaysia, and Mr. Idros of the Ministry of Tourism. On this first day, weather was fine and many visitors came. It was a good start.

At Ms. Normadiah Sahid’s suggestion, handicrafts and art works were made available for sale to raise some funds during the exhibition period, because “Royal Salon” is administered by NPO World Children’s Fund (WCF).
The WCF wants to utilize the proceeds from the sale for the children all over the world.
The lingering summer heat is severe in the daytime recently, though it is cool early in the morning like the almost autumn season.
So we sweat just to have walked a little. The exhibition site was full of visitors everyday.

Farewell Ceremony/Dinner on 12th Sept. 2009

At 4:00 p.m., the art exchange demonstration was held by Calligraphy artist Ms. Ryusen Ishige and the Malaysian artists.
Ms. Normadiah Sahid’s handicraft work surprised Ms. Ryusen and visitors, but Ms. Ryusen’s calligraphy was so beautiful that all Malaysian artists and visitors were impressed. Ms.Ryusen taught calligraphy to the Art and Tourism Goodwill Ambassador.

Mr. Akao

Mr. Arai

Bond of the art which was deepened by instant calligraphy learning (Ms. Ishige and Malaysian artists)

At 5:00 p.m., the awarding ceremony was held.
This ceremony was attended by Japanese artists, Mr. Nobutoshi Akao, a former ambassador to Thailand, Mr. Azlan, Director of Tourism Malaysia Tokyo, and Mr. Taku Arai, Director of Japan-Malaysia Association.
Mr. Azlan made a speech, and presented an official certificate to the Japanese and Malaysian artists.
The ceremony took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere, and we pledged a reunion in Malaysia in the near future.
After the ceremony, there was a reception, where traditional Malaysian cuisine was served.

Noor Azlan Abu Bakar
Director of Malaysia Tourism Tokyo

Good evening everyone. And congratulations today.
Mr. Ishikawa, representative of WAC Tokyo, Mr. SAHARIMAN, representative of WAC Malaysia, and all of the artists. I am grateful to you artists, to whom we owe greatly for the wonderful exhibition. On behalf of Malaysia Tourism, I would like to express my sincere gratitude.
The art and cultural exchange is one of our pillar activities. I sincerely hope that the distance between Japan and Malaysia becomes closer through such art and cultural exchange.
I wish that Japanese art exhibition could be held in Malaysia again in the near future.
The works of the Japanese artists that I saw at this exhibition were excellent and of great interest to me.
Thank you very much again for your coming to today’s ceremony and reception.