Tomorrow is the last day of the “Introduction to Ecuador” exhibition, put on by the Ecuadorian Embassy in Japan.

The following pictures are from April 19^th, the day before the exhibition started when preparations were still underway. Ecuador is famous for its textiles, some dating back to the Incan Empire, and possibly even farther. I’ve read about fabrics made from alpaca fur, but these appear to be made from wool.

Cacao beans.

Since Ecuador has an abundance of cacao trees, it is also famous for its chocolate.

A turtle.

With ample coastal areas, the Andes Mountains, the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands, South America boasts and a wide variety of regions and ecosystems.

A Panama hat.

Panama hats originated from Ecuador, despite their name. The material they’re made from is called “tokija”.

So much nature!

The country is also rich in fruit and aquatic resources.

The representative from the Ecuadorian embassy, Mr. Carlos Guevara.

I got to try on the national costume of Ecuador!

The colors were beautiful! Tokija is extremely stylish.

Just wearing the outfit is enough to put me in a festive mood, happy and excited. I liked imagining that I could feel the dazzling sunshine of Ecuador.

You can find printed materials that provide an introduction of Ecuador at the gallery, as well as fliers with information about the specialty products to be found there. After reading about its wealth of natural resources and ancient ruins, traditional food and wonderful handicrafts, I am absolutely dying to go! I’ll see the animals of the Galapagos Islands, visit ancient Incan ruins, then go to Central America for the ancient Mayan and Aztec ruins, do whatever I have to in order to get myself to Machu Picchu…is what I’m dreaming of, anyway.

The exhibition will continue through tomorrow (April 22^nd). Things will be wrapping up a little early on Monday, though, so come by as soon as you can! Yesterday gallery restaurant Sakura Tei hosted a well-attended event celebrating Ecuadorian cuisine, which was both highly successful and unspeakably delicious.

For anyone interested in learning more about this country with no limitations to the ways it can amaze, click here!

http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area/ecuador/data.html

(By Gallery Staff Member Kozue)

Design Festa English Blog

Today I visited the embassy of the Togolese Republic in Japan!

I was warmly greeted by the director of public relations, Mr. Jules Kankoe ADUAYOM.

Not only was his Japanese language ability amazing, but even his mannerisms and humility were extremely Japanese-like.

Picture from left to right is the International Artist Center’s Mr. Kawasaki, Sakura House’s Mr. Tezuka, myself, Ms. Kanaya and Mr. Aduayom.

And here we are with chargé d’affaires a.i. Mr. Steve A.D. Aklesso BODJONA.

Despite being busy with preparations for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development in June, it seems they are also holding frequent cultural exchange events!

(For more information about the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), click here)

The Togolese Republic embassy will be hosting the event “Getting to Know Togolese Culture”, from April 15^th to the 26^th. And the 27^th is Togo’s Independence Day!

Akasaka Community Center will be hosting a concert by he who is said to be the King of Togolese music, King Mensah. It will be a night bursting with Togolese song and dance. For those interested in joining the fun, click here for more details.

On a different topic, “Experiencing Culture Through Food: Ecuador” is an event to be hosted by Sakura Tei restaurant on April 20^th, just in time for the exhibition “Introduction to Ecuadorian Art” to be held in room 101-b in the East Gallery from April 20^th to the 22^nd!

Come by and experience the best kind of cultural exchange: the kind that involves both art and food!

Presently seeking participants for “Experiencing Culture Through Food: Ecuador”!

I hope I was able to introduce opportunities to learn more about the countries of Togo and Ecuador in interesting ways to those reading this.

Also, now that you’ve seen the flag of the Togolese Republic in the first picture, check out my nails! They’re so colorful that just looking at them makes me happy.

(By Gallery Staff Member Kozue)

Design Festa English Blog