Kaláka played traditional Hungarian songs as well as some Japanese songs. The band is no stranger to Japan, having performed there several times before.
Hungarian Cultural Focus will visit several cities throughout Japan in the next few months.
Hungary's ambassador to Japan Ernő Bohár said at the festival's launch in Tokyo that the programme marked the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Hungary and Japan as well as the 50th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic ties.
Minister of Education and Culture István Hiller said Hungarian Cultural Focus organisers had remained true to the festival motto, a quote from Bartók: "Only from Pure Source," because the programme contained the best of Hungarian culture, including folk music, classical music and dance theatre productions, offering "the image of traditional and modern Hungary" to Japanese audiences.
Jonekura Hiromasa
, the Japanese head of the Japanese-Hungarian Cooperation Forum, said that accompanying the Hungarian Cultural Focus, Hungarian Weeks, which includes both culture and tasting events, would take place for the seventh time.
Hungarian Cultural Focus's main organiser Zoltán Südy said that during Hungarian Weeks, Japanese people would be introduced not only to Hungarian cuisine but to Hungarian customs through the MOME travelling exhibition The Past and Future of Hungarian Blue-Dye.
Deputy rector László Zsótér said that the Japanese have a tradition similar to Hungarian blue-dye called aizome.
Hiller presented Pro Cultura Hungarica awards to head of the Musashino Music Academy Fukui Naotaka, folk music researcher Musanaga Tecuó and Koketsu Haruhigo of the Okagi Women's College at the festival launch.
As a joint project to celebrate the diplomatic anniversaries, Japan and Hungary will illuminate the Elisabeth Bridget in Budapest from November 17.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI) / Photo: MTI
