The Taiwan Friendship Festival, which is hosted by Yamaga City (in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan) and sponsored by the Taiwan-Kumamoto Friendship Association, kicked off on September 20. Hsinchu County’s Brassmen brass band and Bayin Musical Troupe were invited to participate in public performances from September 21st to 23rd. At the two performance venues – Kumamoto-Jō Hall, and Yachiyoza Theater (a National Important Cultural Property of Japan) – they presented the beauty of Taiwan’s arts and culture to Japanese audiences.
Bee Shen, music director of this exchange/tour and director of Brassmen, said that in 2023, Song of the Land: Voices Flow theater performance themed on Hakka culture got a warm response in Kumamoto. Deeply impressed by Hsinchu County’s musical charms, Japanese councilors and the mayor of Ōzu town extended another invitation this year; this year, they presented another international invitation for Taiwanese groups to perform at the Impressions of Taiwan series of concerts in Japan.
A Cultural Affairs Bureau representative stated out that these performances were conducted by National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (NTSO) Director Liu Suan-yung. Professor Liu’s expert insights into performing arts, rich experience in international exchange affairs, and strong status in the field of Taiwanese music made the exchange and tour event eagerly anticipated.
The Bayin Musical Troupe is an important traditional Hakka musical group from Hsinchu County. They are known for their long-term on-campus efforts to help traditional music take root in schools. These concerts included collaboration with Hsinchu Symphony Orchestra, NTHU AI Orchestra, Inferno (Yunfirearts) Fire Dance Troupe, and Tek-chham Dream Opera Troupe to compose a series of impressive music works that highlight Hsinchu’s local Hakka cultural flair. Through this performance, Hsinchu County’s bayin (“eight-instrument”) arts can be seen on the stage, and Hakka music can become better known to the world.
A representative from the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s Performing Art Section stated that post-performance workshops have also been organized, so that participating performers can have more direct interaction and communication with local artists. On one hand, these workshops can help Taiwanese groups develop global perspectives and build up two-way friendships between Taiwan and Japan. On the other hand, the groups can learn from Japan’s spirit of carrying on cultural traditions, then apply them to their own performances and promotions in the future.
To deepen Taiwan-Japan relations, Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke led a dance team from Guangming Elementary School to participate in the 71st Yosakoi Festival held in Japan’s Kōchi Prefecture in August. Magistrate Yang also strongly supported the Hsinchu County groups’ September cultural exchange performances in Kumamoto. The hope is that cultural soft power can promote public diplomacy, and friendly Taiwan-Japan exchanges can be advanced through performing arts.