Students from around the world showcase their art in Japan

Japanese and overseas high school students had a rare opportunity of winning awards given by the prime minister, other ministers and the media at a ceremony at the 17th International High School Arts Festival in Tokyo on July 3.

The festival is one of the largest international art exhibitions for high school students. This year, students from Japan and 17 other countries entered 11,856 pieces, including fine art and calligraphy, 399 of which were exhibited at the National Art Center, Tokyo, in Minato Ward’s Roppongi district.

One of the top Prime Minister Awards went to Chiho Kimijima, a senior at Omiya Koryo High School, Saitama Prefecture, who won the calligraphy prize. “I am truly grateful to have received the prestigious Prime Minister Award this year,” said Kimijima, who wrote the script “Koshigire.” “There are many classic scripts in calligraphy and I enjoy examining them to savor the unique differences in each one.”

Non-Japanese award winners were also invited to the ceremony, with embassy officials and others handing certificates of merit to high school students from Ireland, Britain, Israel, Indonesia, Egypt, Cambodia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, China, Germany, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Russia and Benin.

The festival is sponsored by the International Foundation for Arts and Culture (IFAC). It is supported by the Cultural Affairs Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, some prefectural governments, the embassies and friendship associations of the participating countries, and Japanese media companies.

The arts festival, which is admission-free, focuses on its openness to any high school students and the criteria of the awards are the untested potential of youth.

Students from around the world showcase their art in Japan

Source: www.japantimes.co.jp