In Mie Prefecture there are many foreigners from several nationalities, but in many occasions the mutual comprehension on the culture and tradition is difficult.

In order to all people from different nationalities respect themselves and become members of a multicultural society, Mie Prefecture carries out every year this event of multicultural integration awareness.  In this event, the culture from different countries has been presented in a fun way and it was also possible to experience games from many parts of the world, favoring the approaching between Japanese people and foreigners. An activity of international contribution has been presented, performed by junior high school students from the community, in which was possible to comprehend the interaction related to abroad.

[Interview 1- Yamamoto Kazumi, Multicultural Affairs Division of Mie Prefecture]

“More than 40 thousand foreigners live in Mie Prefecture, the third largest  in number of foreigners. The main purpose of this event is to make Japanese people and foreigners living in the same community comprehend together their respective cultures.”

A very fun attraction was the Tokuchan clown, that cheered up the participants with dancing and funny games!

[Interview-2 Tokuchan clown]

“As we can see, Japanese people and foreigners are having fun together through the dance.  No matter the nationality nor the language, with songs in Spanish everyone is dancing together.”

A group formed by people from different nationalities made a presentation of Brazilian capoeira that was warmly applauded by the audience.

[Interview-3 Fukumoto Yumiko – Capoeira student]

“My daughter started join capoeira classes. When I saw the classes, I became interested and started to attend it. Capoeira involves not just the music, dance and sport, but many other things and it becomes fascinating”.

Capoeira teacher, Mr.Falcão, teaches this traditional Brazilian art for people from every nationality.

[Interview-4 Falcão from Capoeira Camara]

“My classes are taught in Portuguese, Japanese and English and I try to make the students learn other languages because capoeira is a mixture of cultures. Capoeira involves not just the Brazilian fighting art.  Capoeira involves languages, music, dance and many cultures.”

A presentation on Chinese culture has also been presented. The participants could know every style of music.

A person from China joined a typical Japanese experience that was the tea ceremony.

[Interview-5 Chao Yang, Multicultural Affairs Division of Mie Prefecture]

“There are many Chinese in Mie Prefecture. If Japanese and Chinese people deep their multicultural comprehension there is a great merit to a good relationship.

Along with cultural presentations, students from junior high schools presented “Volunteer activities carried out abroad” and university students born in the city of Inabe, presented “Reports of experiences regarding international exchange”. It was possible to know interesting reports from people involved in these activities.

The main presentation, samba show, was performed in the end of the event.  The traditional and famous samba has been lead by professionals that sang and danced, receiving applauses from the audience.

The group is formed by Brazilian and Japanese people that carry out presentations in different regions of Japan, a great example of friendship between people from several cultures.

[Interview-6 Ishihama Fusako from Unidos do Samba]

“It is possible to get informed through television and the internet, giving us the chance to know the culture from other countries. But, watch and feel live samba make us to know it faster. Today’s event had a great importance.”

One of the dancers of the group is a Japanese woman, and carries out professional presentations in Japan. She has a deep interest in Brazilian culture.

[Interview- 7 Yukie, dancer from Unidos do Samba]

“I always appreciated dancing and I have met samba’s teacher by chance, but it was from there I started the samba”.

Do you like Brazilian culture?

“I like it very much and I intent to study it even more.”

This event’s message is: Your smile builds ties.

When we know the culture of people from different nationalities and that live in the same community it is possible to break down the obstacle of discrimination and stimulate the multicultural integration and build a harmonic society. By joining this event people who do not know the culture of other countries can have the chance to strengthen the friendship ties with people from different nationalities and culture.

[Interview 8- Yamamoto Kazumi, Multicultural Affairs Division of Mie Prefecture]

“We Japanese know about our culture, but for many times we do not know foreign culture. We carried out this event in order to create chances to know more about foreign culture, know more about foreigners. And as members of the society in order to strive together for better things to the community.”