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Two Hong Kong-based performing groups promoted arts and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Japan through music and dance in Japan today (August 28).
The Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) played a concert in Tokyo today as part of the final leg of its three-week concert tour across Asia. Comprising about 100 young musicians from various parts of Asia, the AYO had earlier performed in Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Hong Kong, Taipei, Chiayi and Osaka. The concerts in Tokyo today and tomorrow (August 29) will conclude this season's tour.
In Niigata city tonight, City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) presented "As If To Nothing" as part of the Niigata International Dance Festival 2015.
The performances by the AYO and CCDC in Japan were supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo (HKETO).
The Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Ms Sally Wong, said that the HKETO has been promoting exchanges in arts and culture to enhance the close bilateral relations between Hong Kong and Japan.
Ms Wong said, "Hong Kong is a city full of creativity, character, artistic creation, performances and events. It is also a free and open cosmopolitan city where different cultures from the East and the West meet.
"Hong Kong provides the home base for the AYO on one hand, and acts as the gateway for young artists to perform and gain exposure in other countries and territories on the other. It reflects the distinctive character of Hong Kong as Asia's world city.
"There have been various arts and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Japan in many fields, such as film, exhibitions, dance and music. The performances of the AYO and CCDC in Japan are testimony to the close arts and cultural ties between Hong Kong and Japan."
The AYO was awarded Japan's Praemium Imperiale Grant for Young Artists in 2010 in recognition of its outstanding contributions to the development of young artistic talent. It was also awarded the Nikkei Asia Prize in May 2015 for Culture and Community for promoting friendship and understanding through the common language of music.
Ends/Friday, August 28, 2015
Issued at HKT 21:28
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