Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Celebrations were held nationwide on Feb 11, to honour Japan’s National Foundation Day. About 500 people, including lawmakers, ambassadors from 37 countries – including Lebanon and Yemen – as well as Tokyo residents, attended the ceremony at the Meiji Shrine Hall in Yoyogi, Tokyo.

Due to the pandemic, the number of people allowed to attend was limited to less than half the usual figure and measures were taken against infection.

Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio sent a message, which stated: “Our predecessors achieved a number of miracles, including the Meiji Restoration and postwar economic growth. We will protect the lives of the people while taking into account the weight of our predecessors’ footprints, and create a society where everyone can feel the value of life.”

Yasuo Ohara, the chairman of the Association to Celebrate Japan’s Foundation, who hosted the ceremony, said, “The government-led ceremony has not been held yet. The foundation of our country should be the most important day.”

Following the ceremony, a Noh play called “Jinmu,” which tells the story of Japan’s first Emperor, was performed.

The author is Manjiro Tatsumi, who is the chairman of the Japan Arts and Culture Strategy Organization and is a leading actor of the Hosho school. Tatsumi worked on the play at the request of the Shinto Shrine Headquarters because there had been no plays to convey Emperor Jinmu in the traditional Noh performance, which is seen as representing Japan.