Sigla Fundatiei NIPPONICA

  NIPPONICA
FOUNDATION

Tricolorul Romaniei

Japonia 
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Romanian version
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E-mail: [email protected]
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GENERAL OVERVIEW
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What is "Nipponica"?

Nipponica Foundation became a representative institution of the Romanian cultural life, focusing around such personalities as members of the Romanian Academy, rectors, deans, university professors, researchers, writers, artists, musicians, actors, various field specialists, leaders of commercial institutions, businessmen, personalities of the public life and many others.

Officially created in August 1990, "Nipponica" propose to establish "an appropriate background in order to facilitate the access to the Japanese culture and civilization in Romania and to make known by all means, in Romania, the economic, scientific and cultural life of Japan and of the Japanese people, as well as facilitating the access to Romanian culture and civilization in Japan".
Today "Nipponica" has over 1000 members in Bucharest and more than 10.000 members all over Romania, working up within the framework of 60 branches. Other branches are going to set up in the future.

How does "Nipponica" work?

Nipponica Foundation is working under the direction of a council of 11 members and the following compartments:
- The Nipponica Society
- Publishing House "NIPPONICA"
- Editorial Office "NIPPONICA"
- Medical Research Center "NIPPONICAA"
- Office of Business Assistance "NIPPPONICA"
- Press Office "NIPPONICA"
> - Cultural Tourism Office "NIPPONICAA"
- Cultural Center "NIPPONICA" <
- Research and Education Office "NIPPPONICA"
- Impresario Office "NIPPONICA";
- Data Bank "NIPPONICA"
- Publicity and Public Relations Office &"NIPPONICA"
- Conference and Exhibition Office ";NIPPONICA"
- Organizational Office "NIPPONICA&qquot;
- Creation and Creativity Office "NIIPPONICA"

Ahead the Council of Nipponica Foundation is Mr. Paul Diaconu, the Executive President of the foundation. The Nipponica Society is the main part of the "NIPPONICA" Foundation. The Honorary President is supported by seven Vice-presidents and a Honorary Council set up from 14 members of the Academy of Romania. The Nipponica Society is organized in 30 sections.
At the beginning of 1992, two other organizations decided to join us. Thus, the association "Friends of Japan" and the "Romanian Society of Haiku" became associated (affiliated) to the Nipponica Foundation.

"Nipponica" in action

On the occasion of the Ceremony of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor Akihito (Sokuirei- Seiden- no- Gi), Nipponica Foundation initiated the so called "Nipponica Decade" including a Scientific Symposium dedicated to the "Eisei Era", a Gala Spectacle at the Romanian Television Hall, fully transmitted on the second channel of RTV, a spectacle called "Romanian Children are greeting Japan" in the Children's Palace in Bucharest, a "Japanese Film Gala", an "Evening of the Japanese Poetry", an "Evening of the Kabuki Theatre", exhibitions about Japan, conferences and many other activities.

In 1991, Nipponica offered to the Romanian public a big number of opportunities to know more about Japan. Here could be mentioned such activities as Conferences at the National Museum of History, at the Popular University, and at the Cultural House of University Students, Ukebana demonstrations, Japanese language courses, photo exhibitions, and so on.

Many activities organized by Nipponica took place to our branches from Tg. Mures ("The Spring Days", "Japanese Cultural Days"), Oradea (exhibitions, Japanese language courses), Brasov (Japanese language courses), Braila (exhibitions), Galati (exhibitions), Arad (Origami exhibitions and courses) and so on.

A notable event was the publication of the Nipponica periodical "Banzai", and the two-volume book "A History of Japanse Literature" by Shuichi Kato. This seminal work was translated into Romania by Kazuko Yamaguchi.

Recently, the International Association of Communication and Exchanges from the City of Yokohama (YOKE) and Nipponica Foundation have offered to over 4500 Bucharesters the opportunity to enjoy a "Japanese Film Festival".

Also, at the "Arts Collection Museum", the Yokohama Citizens Gallery and Nipponica Foundation, supported by the Japanese Embassy in Bucharest, have displayed an exhibition of "Contemporary Japanese Engraving and Photo". The exhibition was accompanied by a friendly meeting between Japanese and Romanian artists.

Many times, Nipponica was honored by the presence to our activities of His Excellency the Ambassador of Japan in Bucharest, of various diplomats or members of the Japanese Community in Romania.

The year 2002 represented the 100th year since diplomatic relations were established between Japan and Romania. By request of Ambassador MITSUHASHI Hidekata of the Japanese Embassy in Romania, the Urasenke Society assisted with the program of special commemorative events to celebrate this major milestone. From Kyoto, Urasenke Headquarters dispatched two of its in-house chanoyu experts, SHIRAHASE Soko and FUSHIDA Ayato, to take charge of the chanoyu events.

Providing invaluable local assistance were the members of the Urasenke Tankokai Romania Association, led by the association's president, Paul DIACONU. In the evening of April 10, they presented a chanoyu program for the public at the Bucharest National Theatre. The audience numbered more than 450, filling the theatre to capacity. Ten people from the audience came up to the stage to be guests for a bowl of tea. In the afternoon of April 11, they presented a chanoyu gathering for invited dignitaries at the ambassador's official residence. Among the thirty attendees was Her Majesty Queen Ana.

For the time being, Nipponica is preparing in Bucharest and in countryside, to create many other opportunity, in order to facilitate the access of Romanians to Japanese culture and civilization.

Paul Diaconu
The President of Nipponica Foundation

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