Japan Festival 2009 in SMKSB

Arigatou gozaimasu and sayonara (‘thank you’ and ‘good bye’ in Japanese) are among the greeting words taught at the Japan Festival 2009, held for the first time in Alor Setar, Kedah Darul Aman, on Saturday, July 4, 2009. Besides greetings words, visitors, mostly students, to the event at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultanah Bahiyah also had the opportunity to learn Japanese way of flower arrangement (ikebana), art of paper folding (origami), and wear yukata, a Japanese summer bathrobe.

The Festival, which started from 1300 hrs, had attracted about 600 visitors. The function was officiated by Yang Berbahagia Tuan Haji Menteri bin Abdullah, Alor Setar District Education Officer.


Some of the events during the festival are:

• Tuan Haji Menteri bin Abdullah and Puan Rahinun Mohd. Noor are taught by Ms. Nishikawa on Japanese paper folding,
• Ms. Imura  demonstrating kimono wearing with a model. Female students are most keen on wearing and had their photos taken for memory. 
• Japanese Language and Quiz Corner is also receiving very good respond. Those who can answer well will be rewarded with a gift. The Corner enabled students to learn basic Japanese words. 
• Tea Ceremony Corner, lead by Ms. Sumiishi, exposes students on the way of tea. Its etiquette concerns the manner in which the host serves the guests fine Japanese tea, and the guests show their appreciation to the host

From what we observed the students really enjoy themselves and the sharing or the two cultures became a reality.