PESHAWAR, Jan 29: More than one hundred calenders reflecting contemporary and traditional art and other aspects of Japanese life have been put on display at a calender exhibition here.

The Embassy of Japan, in collaboration with the Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association, NWFP, organized the two-day exhibition at a local hotel on Thursday.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Hiroshi Azuma, the minister, embassy of Japan, said the Japanese exhibitions were being held in Peshawar since 1989 to promote friendship between Pakistan and Japan and strengthen cultural ties through these cultural events.

Every year, Pakistan-Japan friendship festival and Ikebana flower arrangement are held "because the people of NWFP province also like flowers and greenery," he noted.

The Japanese embassy had made special efforts to obtain over 100 calenders from companies and organizations in Japan. The calenders cover a wide variety of subjects, including natural beauty, scenery, constumes, people, flower arrangements, art, photography, and sports, Mr Azuma said.

He said these calenders showcase not only the socio-cultural development of Japan spread over centuries but also exhibit the aesthetic sense of Japanese artists. They also mirror the advances made by Japan's printing technology. Asif Iqbal Daudzai, the provincial minister of information, was the chief guest on this occasion.