ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: The International Center for Literacy and Culture (ICLC) has organized a concert and plays to celebrate 50 years of Pakistan-Japan Friendship, at the National Library Auditorium on August 24-25.

“The event organized in collaboration with Islamabad Centre for Literacy and Culture would provide much needed entertainment to the people of the capital,” an organizer said here Wednesday.

A well known Chinese musician Liu Hong-Jun will perform in the music concert, while three dramas- Neelay Aasman, Chowkidar and Kiran Library based on Cloud Tales written by Japanese writer and educationist Tajima Shinji will be performed.

Tajima Shinji will arrive here on August 22 and Liu Hong-Jun and his group will reach Pakistan on August 24 from Japan.

Liu Hong-Jun, born in Dalian, China is an eminent flutist and a researcher of ancient Chinese music. Since he moved to Japan in 1980, he has been active in research on Chinese music, performance and composing music. He has composed numerous musical scores for TV programmes such as ‘Tunes from the Silk Road’ and films such as ‘The Last Emperor.’

He has presented concerts for Unesco and for various cultural festivals in Japan, China, USA and Europe.

Liu Hon-jun researched the ancient Chinese music instruments kept at the Imperial Treasury in Japan for the past 1,400 years and decoded the ancient music scores.

With the 20 old instruments he organized the orchestra ‘Tempyo Gafu’ and he has been performing since 1991.

Tajima Shinji, born in 1947 in Hiroshima graduated in Pedagogy from Waseda University in Tokyo. Then he pursued research in education and culture in Munich, Germany and many Asian countries.

From 1997 to 2000, he worked for Pakistan Literacy Commission (PLC) as advisor from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for establishing non-formal community schools for drop- outs and underprivileged children and literacy for adults.

He also directed his efforts towards paper-making activities, teacher training and community mobilization. He established Kiran Library for children in Adiyala Jail.