KBRI Tokyo backs Balinese cultural festival to bolster diplomacy

3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Tokyo has expressed its support for a Balinese cultural festival organized by the Japanese art community Geinoh Yamashirogumi, highlighting it as a diplomatic avenue to strengthen relations between the countries.

“We hope this festival will continue to serve as a symbol of cultural harmony and inspire closer collaboration between our two nations,” Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Nurmala Kartini P. Sjahrir noted in a statement released on Friday.

The 48th Geinoh Yamashirogumi Kecak Festival is taking place in Shinjuku, Tokyo, from July 29 to August 2, 2026.

The event features traditional Balinese musical performances, including jegog (bamboo percussion) and gamelan ensembles, as well as traditional dances such as the Legong and Kecak, involving more than 100 artists.

Sjahrir extended her appreciation to Geinoh Yamashirogumi and the festival committee for their commitment to introducing the richness of Indonesian performing arts to the Japanese public.

She also emphasized that the art group has made a significant contribution to strengthening the friendship between Indonesia and Japan through cultural exchange.

“This year’s festival is even more special as it brings together Indonesian artists, particularly from Bali, with talented performers from Japan, Georgia, and Bulgaria,” she added.

Accompanied by the embassy’s Coordinator for Information, Social, and Cultural Affairs, Muhammad Al Aula, Ambassador Sjahrir attended the festival in person on Thursday (July 30) alongside an audience of over 500 people.

Executive Director of Geinoh Yamashirogumi Akira Yajima expressed optimism that the festival will continue to serve as a vital platform for promoting cultural exchange, as well as deepening mutual understanding and friendship between Indonesia and Japan.

“For half a century since its inception in 1976, the Kecak Festival has been dedicated to bringing Indonesia’s rich performing arts to audiences in Japan… The sounds and rhythms, the overlapping voices, the collective choreography — all of these are guided by an unspoken perception,” Yajima stated.