Nuances Of Bali And Sakura Mixed At Cultural Exhibition In Tokyo

JAKARTA - Nuansa Bali looks thick present and mingles with the beauty of the international flowers at Wisma Duta Tokyo at a joint art and cultural exhibition, Sunday (2/4).

The Balinese Art and Culture actor is in collaboration with the Bali Provincial Government and part of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and friendship with Japan.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Japan Heri Akhmadi said Bali is still a favorite tourist destination for Japanese citizens in the midst of five super priority destinations that have been set by the government.

"We continue to promote Bali so that it continues to be the top of the mind of the Japanese people," he said.

Various performances were displayed, ranging from dances, Balinese gamelans, fashion shows showing off wedding traditional clothes from various regions in Bali, to endek woven fabrics married to Japanese style bayu.

The activity was carried out in the yard of Wisma Duta Tokyo which was covered by trees that symbol the country of Japan, sakura, such as the tradition of Japanese citizens called hanami.

Sakura Hanami is a Japanese habit of holding picnics or other activities under a sapira tree that is sticking out.

Not only Indonesian citizens, foreigners, most of whom are ambassadors and representatives of friendly countries for Japan, were also present and witnessed the series of cultural promotions.

Among the foreign guests are the ambassadors of Palestine, Bangladesh, Estonia, Egypt, Jamaica, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, and the Micronesian Federation.

Heri said the Balinese theme is not the only one that will be displayed in the cultural promotion and part of the 65th anniversary of Indonesia Japan.

"At the diplomatic reception, we will use the Batak theme. In September, the theme for East Java, West Java has also been determined, then Maluku and North Sulawesi," he said.

Regional themes were taken based on the readiness of provincial governments to cooperate with Japan in various sectors.

On the same occasion, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster hopes that Bali tourism can bounce back with this activity.

"I hope it will increase Japanese tourist visits to Bali. Before the pandemic there were 250,000 people per year and the top 10 tourist visits to Bali. Now it has reached 100,000 people," he said.

United States citizen Noah, who witnessed the show and exhibition, admitted that he was impressed with batik cloth and weaving.

This is the first time I've seen batik and it's very interesting. Especially now that they will combine batik with Japanese cloth," he said.

The English teacher in Japan also admitted that he wanted to buy batik and visit Bali one day.

"The Atmosphere presented is very good, so I want to visit Indonesia," he said.