2018. 23. 09 Attendance at the 29th Annual Mitaka International Festival

Attendance at the 29th Annual Mitaka International Festival

September 23, 2018: It was a pleasure for H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat to attend the 29th Mitaka International Festival – “Mishop World 2018” at Inokashira Park in Mitaka City.

At the annual festival, one of the largest international festivals in the area, the embassy’s Public Relations Office hosted a cultural and food booth in order to introduce Afghan culture and cuisine to those who visited the booth. Prior to the opening of the festival, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat was greeted by Hon. Mr. Toshiaki Ito, City Council Member of Mitaka City; who escorted him onto the festival site and introduced to Hon. Ms. Keiko Kiyohara, Mayor of Mitaka City.

In the opening ceremony, Mayor Kiyohara invited H.E. Dr. Mohabbat onto the mainstage to give remarks on the festival. On behalf of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, H.E. Dr. Mohabbat thanked the people and Government of the friendly and noble nation of Japan for their steadfast and benevolent support of Afghanistan over the years as it has strived for development, peace, and prosperity. Further he thanked all those present at the festival and invited them to visit the Embassy’s culture and food booth to taste delicious mantu, try Afghanistan’s award winning saffron, to decorate with henna designing, and to see the wonderful jewelry made of Afghanistan’s national stone Lapis Lazuli. At that time he presented Mayor Kiyohara with a gift made of Lapis Lazuli.

The festival hosted over 10,000 guests in total with well over 1000 guests visiting the Afghanistan booth to try Afghan cuisine, learn about the many diverse culture aspects of Afghanistan, hear of the progress and development made over the recent years, and even purchase Afghan items from local Afghan vendors. All of the guests marveled at the delicious mantu made by the embassy and were very eager to take home items from Afghanistan. While at the event, H.E. Dr. Mohabbat also had the pleasure of meeting with several members of the local government to whom he expressed his sincere gratitude for inviting the embassy to host a booth and congratulations for a most successful event.

Original Page