World-class ensemble to visit from sister city
A world-class musical ensemble from Kurashiki,
our Japanese sister city, will visit Christchurch
early next month. The Kurashiki Ritsuko Ensemble, a mini string
orchestra from the Kurashiki Academy will hold a
concert at the Music Centre in Barbados Street
from 7pm on Saturday, 6 April. The ensemble will also perform at two free
outdoor concerts — in Cathedral Square at
midday on Friday, 5 April and in the Arts Centre’s
North Quad at 1pm on Saturday, 6 April. The visit is one of a number of educational,
sporting and cultural connections established
between the two cities since the sister city link
was set up in 1973. During an annual student exchange in October
2001, 14 year-10 (Fourth Form) students from
Christchurch schools spent two weeks in
Kurashiki. In July this year, students from
Kurashiki will visit Christchurch for two weeks.
Mt Pleasant Primary School has also established
its own student exchange programme. Christchurch has sister city relationships with
six cities. Kurashiki is on the eastern side of
Honshu, the largest of Japan’s four main islands. It
is 650km southwest of Tokyo. Newton Dodge, Kurashiki Sister City chair
since 1990, says that as well as student
exchanges, sports, cultural and art exchanges
take place regularly. “We’ve hosted sculptors, painters and sports
teams,” he says. “In turn, Kurashiki has hosted a
metal sculptor and glass blower from
Christchurch. “Every two years Kurashiki recruits assistant
language teachers from Christchurch. A pen pal
scheme has also been running for a number of
years.” Next year, Kurashiki and Christchurch
celebrate the 30th anniversary of their sister city
link. An official delegation from Christchurch,
including the Woolston-Skellerup Brass Band will
travel to Kurashiki in September 2003. A
reciprocal visit will also take place, with a
delegation from Kurashiki visiting during the
anniversary year. Mr Dodge says the sister city link has extended
knowledge and awareness of Japanese culture in
Christchurch. He says the system of home
hosting has fostered many friendships. “Home hosting allows participants in the
exchange programmes to experience real
Japanese and New Zealand lifestyles.
Christchurch’s sister city link with Kurashiki has
encouraged cultural understanding and
appreciation of differences and built many long
lasting friendships.” Information about Kurashiki and other
Christchurch sister cities can be found on the
web, at www.christchurch.org.nz/SisterCities |