We Are Tomodachi Summer 2017

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22On May 6, 2017, the Japanese cultural promotion facility “Japan House São Paulo” opened to the public in São Paulo, Brazil. On May 7, a concert in celebration of the opening was held at the Ibirapuera Auditorium in São Paulo, where an audience of about 15,000 people gathered to watch Japanese musicians Ryuichi Sakamoto and Jun Miyake together with Brazilian musicians Jaques and Paula Morelenbaum.Kenya Hara, one of Japan’s foremost designers and the Chief Creative Director of Japan House, had this to say about the facility: “Up until now, the facilities and events introducing Japanese culture have often put items like kimonos and ukiyoe prints front and center. These are attractive to the eye, and the people who see them are delighted by their exotic appearances. They seldom arrive at an understanding of their cultural background, however.”“The objective behind the Japan House,” says Hara, “is to have people understand Japan’s cultural background, to show why and how the Japanese culture—distinctively characterized by intricacy, respectfulness, subtlety and simplicity—came to be. We want visitors to feel not just the surprise of seeing something for the first time, which fades before long; we want to give them the long-lasting impact that comes from true appreciation.”Japanese Culture Comes Aliveat Japan House in São Paulo“Japan House São Paulo” faces Paulista Avenue in São Paulo. With a Japanese cedar exterior, the facility’s design was supervised by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma.©Japan House São Paulo / Rogerio CassimiroJAPAN HOUSEhttp://www.japanhouse.jp/en/