Japanese embassy screens drama

The Embassy of Japan held a screening of His Master’s Voice at the Islamabad Club cinema as part of a month of Japanese cultural events. The screening was organised together with the Islamabad Art Festival 2019.

Taking the opportunity to familiarise the Pakistani audience with lesser known traditions from Japan, the embassy selected a heart warming drama by Rakugo performer Hayashia Taihei.

Rakugo, the traditional Japanese art of storytelling, developed as a form of entertainment for ordinary citizens during the Edo Period, during the seventeenth to late nineteenth century.

Rakugo is performed only verbally. A Rakugo storyteller plays all the roles and movements in a story only with his voice, a fan and a handkerchief. Without the support offered by costumes, scenery and copious props, the Rakugo invokes the imagination of the audience by skilfully portraying various characters.

The story is set towards the end of the Edo period. A dejected Sadakichi returns home for a holiday after being bullied. A young boy, he had been sent away from his family for an apprenticeship and returns home for a short period every year.

His parents request a neighbour and former Rakugo storyteller, Taihei, to perform for him. Taihei had given up on his hopes and dreams and lives in a rowhouse in Tokyo’s Fukagawa district. The small compound also houses Sadakichi’s family.

Fate, however, clearly has other plans for Taihei as his interaction with the emotionally distant Sadakichi changes the direction his life was taking.

With the first performance, Sadakichi is determined to learn the art himself, and becomes Taihei’s apprentice. Taihei starts Rakugo lessons for Sadakichi and works with him to prepare for Rakugo performance.

As Taihei sees Sadakichi struggle to perform, Taihei rediscovers his own delight in storytelling.

A sweet film that tracks the emotional highs and lows of people and the comfort they find with others, His Master’s Voice is a gentle reminder of the role stories of lives and the tellers of those stories play.

Romanian envoy hosts National Day reception

Ambassador of Romania Nicolae Goia hosted a reception on the 101st anniversary of the National Day of Romania. National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar was the chief guest at the event, which was attended by a number of current and former federal and state ministers and senators, security experts, sector specialists and other dignitaries.

Ambassador Goia said: “I warmly welcome the spirit of Romania-Pakistan relations, characterised by friendship and collaboration and the new dynamism witnessed in the recent years with a result driven political dialogue reflecting a clear desire of both states for developing a pragmatic relationship in fields of mutual interests.”

He added that 2019 marks the celebration of 55 years of bilateral relations between Romania and Pakistan, characterised by friendship, mutual interest and collaboration.

Bosnia’s National Day celebrated

Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina retired Brig Gen Sakib Foric hosted a reception with guests from the diplomatic corps, civil society and business community to celebrate the National Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul was invited as the chief guest.

Ambassador Foric spoke about the expanding relations between Pakistan and Bosnia, sharing that Pakistan was among the first countries to recognise Bosnian independence in 1992. He added that Pakistan had consistently supported the Bosnian people and he hoped that bilateral relations between the two countries would continue to grow.

Ms Gul said that there was vast scope to boost trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina. She added that Pakistan would welcome initiatives that strengthen relations with Bosnia.

Ambassador Foric presented the minister with a memento of the evening, and Bosnian cuisine was served for the guests.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2019