June 8 - "Beautiful! The tea ceremony triggers my zest for Japanese culture." This was one of the many remarks made by students at the tea ceremony in Sado Room in FALC on June 5th. The ceremony was held by Urasenke, one of the schools specializing in Japanese tea ceremony. In attendance of the ceremony were Professor Fang Fanquan, Vice President of GDUFS, Professor Liang Jie, Deputy Director of International Office, and Professor Wei Lixin, Dean of FALC. Guests invited to the ceremony were Mr. Kazuhiro Tajiri, Consul General of Consulate General of Japan in Guangzhou, Ms. Harumi Sakai, Urasenke representative in China, and representatives of Guangzhou Japan Women's Association and Guangzhou Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Japanese guests
In the opening remarks by Mr. Kazuhiro Tajiri, he set high value on this cultural communication activity. Mr. Kazuhiro Tajiri emphasized that Japanese Sado has deep historical roots in China. He pointed out that this time, the Sado performance was sponsored by Japanese Urasenke. Last year, as a gratis assistance project of Japanese government, the Sado Room was erected in FALC. Mr. Kazuhiro Tajiri believes that the Sado Room will do a lot to spread Japanese traditional Sado culture in China, bridging the two neighboring countries and contributing to improving Sino-Japan relations.
Mr. Kazuhiro Tajiri set high value on this cultural communication activity
Following Mr. Kazuhiro Tajiri's speech, Professor Fang Fanquan extended a warm welcome to all the guests, and thanked Urasenke members and Consulate General of Japan in Guangzhou for their energetic support of the Sado Room. He introduced that aiming at cultivating creative high-quality personnel with an international perspective; GDUFS not only emphasizes professional academic teaching, but also pays attention to other cultural aspects. Among these activities, Professor Fang Fanquan highlighted Sado performing and flower arranging, which provided good opportunities for students to learn Japanese culture.
Professor Fang Fanquan extended welcome to the guests
Then came the most exciting part - Sado performing. All the expectant attendees enjoyed every procedure of the performance quietly, managing not to disturb the performers. The Sado performance, combined with Ms. Harumi Sakai's introduction, presented a full picture of Japanese Sado to the audience. After the performance, the audience was served special Japanese snacks and green tea.
Sado performance
GDUFS students, together with students from other universities, were lucky enough to experience first-hand in the Sado Room. This allowed them to better understand Japanese culture. Sado exchange forms a bond between China and Japan, and it may be that this tea service will form a common cultural bridge.
GDUFS Students with Japanese guests
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Photos provided by GDUFS News reporter.