Links between Japan and North Yorkshire were celebrated on October 16, when a wide range of free cultural and educational activities took place as part of York Japan Day.
The events were organised jointly by York St John College, york-england.com, and the National Railway Museum in conjunction with the Embassy of Japan. The York Japan Day was launched by Ambassador Masaki Orita, who visited educational, scientific and cultural centres in York as well as meeting the Sheriff of York, the Archbishop and key business leaders.
As part of the programme, the National Railway Museum held an origami workshop and Japanese calligraphy demonstrations, and visitors even had the chance to drive the Shinkansen Bullet Train in virtual reality. Meanwhile, York St John College held a public seminar on tanka, a form of Japanese poetry with a continuous history of over 1,600 years. That evening, City Screen showed a brand new print of Yasujiro Ozu1s Floating Weeds, and at Clifford's Tower, Japanese installation artist Haruo Ishii and digital sound artists bathed the monument in patterns of light and sound.
Children dressed in yukata at the National Railway Museum in York
Dave Taylor, Marketing Director of york-england.com, said, "Business links between York and Japan have grown steadily over the last few years. York's Inward Investment Board, now renamed york-england.com, has been working with other agencies to promote the strengths of the University of York as a research base to Japanese companies. We believe that it is important to develop cultural and educational ties as well as research and economic interactions, and I feel the York Japan Day has done much to strengthen the relationship between Japan and North Yorkshire."
Message by Ambassador Orita featured in the York Evening Press on the eve of his visit to York
15 October 2003
I am delighted to have the opportunity to visit your delightful city on the occasion of Japan Day. Although this is not my first visit to York, it is the first time I have been here in an official capacity. When I think of York, the sheer beauty of this historical city naturally comes to mind. I also recall York's railway heritage - now enriched by the presence of a Shinkansen (bullet train) coach standing proudly in the National Railway Museum. At the same time, I know that many people think of York in terms of its traditional role as a centre for the production of delicious chocolate. These are all valid images of York. From now on, however, I am fairly certain that my recollections of York will include images of an extremely successful Japan Day.
This exciting venture consists of a range of events and activities offering something for everyone. Visitors will have the chance to sample various aspects of Japanese culture. I daresay many enduring friendships will develop from encounters that occur as a result of Japan Day. It is certainly my hope that this initiative will help to foster closer contacts between York and Japan, to the mutual benefit of all concerned.
Japan Day was organised jointly by york-england.com, York St John College, the National Railway Museum and the Embassy of Japan. I would like to pay tribute to the tireless endeavours of the staff of all these organizations and to the valuable efforts of everyone else who has worked so hard to make Japan Day possible. I am confident that, as well as being a source of fun and stimulation for everyone attending, Japan Day in York will play its part in helping to deepen still further the warm friendship that exists between the Japanese end British peoples
