Foundation bridges two cultures

Foundation bridges two cultures

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

While most cultural centers deal mainly with matters of art and
lifestyle, the Japan Foundation spices up Japan-Indonesia
cultural exchanges with intellectual discourse.

The institution has grown to become a cultural and information
center for Japanese and Indonesians looking for insights into
both countries.

No fewer than 30,000 people visit the foundation's office in
the Summitmas Tower on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta, annually.

"Our institution tries to promote culture in a wider sense,
not only the arts as has been commonly misperceived," Japan
Foundation assistant director Norihisa Tsukamoto told The Jakarta
Post.

The Japan Foundation, established in Japan in 1972 under the
foreign ministry, now has 19 offices in 18 countries worldwide.

"Our Japanese name, if translated literally, means
'international exchange organization,'" Tsukamoto said. "We
support any form of exchange that promotes peace."

It was in 1974, at the height of anti-Japan protests here,
that the foundation opened its Jakarta office.

The foundation works to introduce Indonesians to Japanese
culture through art programs, intellectual discourse and language
programs.

The foundation's program officer, Diana S. Nugroho, said the
institution also provided grants for sociocultural projects.

Last month, the Japan Foundation held discussions on
Indonesian Muslims' perspective of Japan.

Still, Japanese art and performances still dominate the
foundation's program.

"We are currently focusing on youth and contemporary musical
and dance performances," Diana said.

She said the foundation arranged the recent Indonesian tour of
Japanese pop group Boom, together with local trio ABthree and
dangdut singer Inul Daratista. Boom played concerts in Makassar
in South Sulawesi, Yogyakarta and Jakarta.

Aside from introducing contemporary Japanese culture to
Indonesians, the foundation also holds regular events that
showcase more traditional customs like the art of flower
arranging and the Japanese tea ceremony.

"But we have not yet had the chance to introduce popular
traditional performances such as kabuki," said foundation
assistant director Tsukamoto.

Kabuki, a traditional Japanese theatrical performance,
requires specialized equipment such as a rotating stage, special
lighting and a proper dressing room.

"Jakarta does not yet have an appropriate venue," he said.

Indonesian culture is in introduced to a Japanese audience
through film screenings and traditional performances like the
lenong dance.

"We provide Japanese subtitles and introductions for such
event," Tsukamoto said.

The foundation also helps bridge the language barrier by
promoting the formal and informal study of the Japanese language.
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