Colourful celebration of Japanese culture this weekend

1 March, 2019

Colourful celebration of Japanese culture this weekend at Eden Park

This weekend New Zealand’s national stadium will celebrate East Asia as it welcomes the annual festivities of Japan Day to the Park.

On Sunday 3 March Aucklanders will be treated to an array of activities including sake and wine tastings, martial arts demonstrations, kimono tea ceremonies, bonsai displays and calligraphy lessons as well as a multitude of music, dance and performances. Gates open at 10.00am and entry is free.

Japan Day is New Zealand’s largest Japanese festival and has been held for 17 years. This is the first year the event has been held at the country’s largest stadium and with more than 40,000 visitors recorded in previous years the Park is ready to host partygoers.

Eden Park’s own ActivAsian team will be on hand to assist crowds as part of a programme created by Sport Auckland, aiming to engage the local Asian community in sports and recreation throughout the city. These volunteers are part of an already diverse Eden Park Spectator Service programme which consists of 200 volunteers of Indian, Maori, Asian, European and Polynesian descent.

Eden Park Chief Executive Officer Nick Sautner says the diversity in both cultures and events is part of what sets the Park apart from other venues.

“We know Auckland is made up of a blend of nationalities and the city’s unprecedented growth in recent years demonstrates its global appeal and diverse multicultural communities. Eden Park is pleased to play a part in celebrating all things Japan and showcasing a special culture to the City of Sails ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.”

The Chairperson of the Japanese Society of Auckland, Anri Go, is encouraging Kiwis to come along and experience a new culture and join in on the multitude of opportunities at the Park this weekend.

“As New Zealand’s population is more diverse than it has ever been, particularly in Auckland where almost 40 percent were born outside of New Zealand, it’s very important to be connected now more than ever, and understand our cultural differences and be proud of them. By coming to this event, people can see, listen and feel the Japanese culture, and we believe this would help our community and those living in New Zealand to understand each other more,” says Mrs. Go.

A number of dignitaries are expected including the Consul General of Japan, Mr Minoru Kikuchi and the Labour Party’s Michael Wood, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Ethnic Communities.

Guests should arrive early to enjoy live performances which include Taiko drummers as well as visiting Japanese band Hatenkohro who combine stage combat, modern dance and classical Japanese dance.

ENDS

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