ABU members join to celebrate diplomatic ties

More than 40,000 people visited a two-day festival at which several members of the ABU helped to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Myanmar. 

The Japan-Myanmar Pwe Taw festival of Japanese culture from 6-7 December 2014 was organised jointly by NHK-Japan, NHK Enterprises, Japan International Broadcasting, the Embassy of Japan in Myanmar and MNTV-Myanmar.

Some typical games of Japanese festivals, such as kingyosukui (scooping for goldfish) and hoopla, were recreated at the venue. Visitors were able to try food from Japanese street stalls and enjoy Harajuku’s Kawaii fashion on stage.

They were also given a preview of an NHK morning serial drama, Ama-chan, with Burmese subtitles, which MNTV was scheduled to start broadcasting on 15 December.

Honami Kurashita, who played the role of Ellen Kyan of pop idol group GMT in Ama-chan, was on stage to perform a well-known dance from the drama and lift the audiences with her “Je, Je, Je!” call, which became a buzz phrase when drama was aired in Japan.

There were also performances by the globe-trotting taiko drumming group TAO and top male idol Sai Sai Kham Hlaing, who has a huge following among young people in Myanmar.