A Taiwan cultural event comprising concerts, a market offering creative products and an exhibition of traditional food preservation techniques will be staged Sept. 22-23 at Ueno Park in Tokyo.
Organized by Taipei City-based General Association of Chinese Culture in collaboration with the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association, Taiwan Plus aims to strengthen international awareness of the nation’s rich heritage. It is scheduled to be held annually in Tokyo for the next three years.
GACC Deputy Secretary-General Chang Tieh-chih said that the eyes of the world will be drawn to the Japanese capital in the run-up to the 2020 Summer Olympics, making it an ideal overseas venue to highlight the country’s traditions. Each edition of Taiwan Plus will focus on a different aspect of local culture, with music taking center stage at the inaugural event, he added.
Themed The Sound of Island, the concert portion of this year’s showcase will spotlight the ethnic and cultural diversity of Taiwan’s music sector. Performers include Hakka artist Ayugo Huang; Holo singer-songwriter Hsieh Ming-yu; electronic music group The Girl and the Robots; as well as indigenous talents Pau-dull; Sangpuy Katatepan Mavaliyw; and Abao—also known as Aljenjeng Tjatjalijuvy.
Running alongside the concerts, the Taiwan Cultural Market is set to display goods by 50 design brands. Among the products on offer will be bubble milk tea, handicrafts like embroidered shoes and rush-woven bags, and stationery inspired by artifacts in Taipei-based National Palace Museum.
The exhibition will demonstrate traditional methods of drying fruits and vegetables to extend their shelf life. Taipei-based creative brand Pinmo Pure Store is also set to present its unique technique for printing without using ink or chemicals.
GACC, founded in 1967 and headed by President Tsai Ing-wen, works to deepen understanding of local traditions, foster international exchanges and facilitate the development of Taiwan’s cultural and creative industries. (CPY-E)
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