KARACHI, Dec 23: A large number of audience was enthralled by the ‘Waka Raag’ organized by the Japan Cultural Centre of the Consulate General of Japan here on Monday night.

The ‘Waka Raag’ is the fusion of the Japanese and Pakistani poetry and classical dances. The programme was directed by Fatima Suriya Bajia, who has been associated with the Japan Cultural centre for the past 28 years.

The Consul-General of Japan, Kanji Hanagata, said that it was great to listen to Japanese poetry in Urdu. “This way you may come to know more about the life of the Japanese. And this increase in knowledge would strengthen further understanding among our people,” he remarked.

Mr Hanagata said that the Waka was the most distinctive feature of the new year’s poetry — a party in which the emperor and empress invite winning poets, whose poems are read in the presence of the royal family.

Federal Railways Minister Ghous Bux Mahar, who was the chief guest, said, “Japan is the best friend of our country and has always supported Pakistan in times of need.” He said the nations were known through their cultures and that Pakistan and Japan shared common cultures to a considerable extent.

This year’s Waka poetry was selected from the famous classical collection of Japan, known as Man’yoshu, which is an assortment of anthologies from the Asuka and the Nara periods in the 7th and 8th centuries.

Noted poets, Firasat Rizvi and Shahida Hasan translated the Waka in Urdu.

Ustad Zafar Ali Khan composed Raag for the Waka and eminent artist Ghulam Abbas and Shabana Kausar and classical dancer Zahida Noor gave performances.—APP