The “Japan Club” of the National School of Applied Sciences of Marrakech (ENSAM) organised the 4th edition of Japan Day last weekend. Initiated in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), this event is part of the consolidation of cooperative relations between Morocco and the Land of the Rising Sun. This event aims to introduce Moroccan students to the various facets and richness of Japanese culture, as well as to create a climate of sharing between Moroccan Otakus and around twenty Japanese people assigned to Morocco as part of the JICA volunteer programme.
The day was punctuated by several diverse and varied activities, including a video screening on life in Japan, a presentation of gardens and bonsai, karate and judo demonstrations, and a unique fashion show during which Japanese volunteers wore caftans and Moroccan women were dressed in Japanese Yukata.
Also on the menu were video game and sales stands set up by the “Otaku Shop” and “Manga-Afternoon” organisations, quizzes on Japanese culture, tastings of Japanese dishes, the screening of an animated film, and the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, which serves as an invitation for all to share a mystical and serene moment.
The programme also included workshops on Karaoke, Origami, and learning the Japanese language. During this day, which was also enhanced by musical interludes provided by the group Myabi, explanations were presented to the public, particularly regarding study and work opportunities in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Launched in Morocco in 1967, the JICA volunteer programme is a form of cooperation serving economic and social development. By virtue of said programme, 1,000 Japanese volunteers specialising in different sectors have been sent to Morocco since then. Today, some 52 volunteers are working in the field, particularly in the sectors of education, health, rural community development, and vocational training. The opening ceremony of this cultural event took place in the presence of, among others, a representative of the Embassy of Japan in Morocco, the JICA resident representative in the Kingdom, and the President of Cadi Ayyad University of Marrakech.
