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At first
I would like to say, Thank you very, very much to
the Banaban Dance Group and the Rabi Council of
Leaders. The days the Banaban Dance Group spent in
Japan were amazing times. Members of the Ethnic
Concert Organising Committee and the Japanese
audiences were surprised and moved from the bottom
of their hearts. It was an unforgettable experience
for the Banaban Group, who were making their debut
in Japan and their first tour outside Fiji.
The Banabans
performance was marvellous. They performed in Tokyo,
Chiba, Saitama and Osaka to an audience of nearly
1,000. I arranged two workshops and two press
conferences in each city. The Japanese press
announced their Tour in Japan many times,
incorporating the history between Banaba and Japan.
Once the Japanese knew about the historical link
between Banaba and Japan, the Japanese were more
endeared to the Banabans. Some of the old Japanese
Marines, who were based on Ocean Island spoke with
me just after the Dance Group performed in Tokyo and
said to me, We want to say sorry to the Banabans
about our behaviour during World War 2.
Our young Japanese
generation are now beginning to learn about their
history and how terrible war is. These young
Japanese people learnt a lot from the Banaban
Dancers. It is important for young people to learn
from history. The Banaban Dance Group were wonderful
ambassadors for their people.
We held conferences
in Tokyo and Osaka with the Okinawa people, the Ainu
people (indigenous people in Japan) and the
Burakumin people (all minority groups in Japan), and
the Banabans. The Japanese minority groups and
Banabans formed a strong relationship.
Many University
Professors showed interest in the Banabans and were
surprised at their Cultural Dances.
Many of the
Japanese expressed interest in visiting Rabi Island
to strengthen the bonds between the Japanese
minority groups and the Banabans.
Organising this
Tour took a lot of effort on my part, but
fortunately the Organising Committee supplied about
1,000F$ for each performance. And a lot of gifts
from the women’s grass roots movement groups in
Japan.
The Fijian
Ambassador invited us to lunch and we visited the
Human Rights museum in Osaka. Noriko and I wore a
traditional Banaban dancing costume.
Comments
from the Organising Committee:
We have never seen
such beautiful and marvellous people and their
performance in our life before.
I wish that the
Banabans keep in contact with the Japanese people
that they met, especially those Japanese people they
met at Osaka.
They are very
powerful human rights activists and they have
political and economical power. The Banabans are
looking to further improve the existing, strong
relationship.
I would like to ask
all the Banaban Dancers:
- How did you
enjoy your stay in Japan?
- Did you enjoy
the taste of Japanese Beer?
- What did you
think of the trains in Japan?
- How did you
enjoy the company of the young people of Japan?
- How ... How
I believe we will
be inviting the Banaban Dance Group back to Japan.
See you soon.
Copyright
Manabu Kitaguchi Dec, 1997
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