2017.17.05 Mr. Agah Attends the “Japan Cultural Envoy” Ceremony

Mr. Agah Attends the “Japan Cultural Envoy” Ceremony

May 17, 2017: Mr. Asif Agah, Second Secretary and Cultural Affairs Officer of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Japan, and Ms. Erina Kondo from the Internship Program, attended the “Japan Cultural Envoy” ceremony hosted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Ministry of Education, Cultural, Sport, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT).

The “Japan Cultural Envoy” is to send Japanese artists and cultural figures to different countries, with the aim of deepening the international community’s understanding towards Japanese cultural. Also, the “Japan Cultural Envoy” helps shape and strengthen networks with people around the world engaged in the cultural arena. In the ceremony, five “Japan Cultural Envoys” were introduced, they were elected to visit certain countries to perform different cultural activities, in order to promote Japanese culture abroad.

At the ceremony, Mr. Agah had the opportunity to meet Honourable Mr. Ryohei Miyata, commissioner of Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan, and to sincerely congratulate Honourable Mr. Miyata on the initiation of the cultural program, and kindly requested the consideration of Afghanistan as a host country of the Japan Cultural Envoy. Mr. Agah further elaborated the strong relations between Afghanistan and Japan, and that the people of Afghanistan has a strong interest in Japanese culture. In return, Honourable Mr. Miyata sincerely thanked Mr. Agah for his attendance and sincerely appreciated Mr. Agah’s strong passion for the continued relations between Afghanistan and Japan. Also, as a two-time visitor to Afghanistan, Honourable Mr. Miyata emphasised the importance of the relationship and has a strong consideration of sending a Japan Cultural Envoy to Afghanistan.

Mr. Agah also had the pleasure of meeting and talking to the famous shamisen player and recently appointed Japan Cultural Envoy, Mr. Hidejiro Honjoh. Mr. Agah, first congratulated Mr. Honjoh on his appointment as a Japan Cultural Envoy and talked about the similarities between the shamisen and the Afghan Dambora. Mr. Agah strongly hopes that Mr. Honjoh obtains an opportunity to visit Afghanistan and to discover the musical similarities between the two countries.

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