On May 25th, the National Day of the United Republic of Tanzania was held at the Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai. At the ceremony, after greetings from Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa and State Minister for Foreign Affairs FUJII Hisayuki, traditional Tanzanian music was performed. Dancers performed a powerful dance to the music played with several types of drums and an electronic piano, after which followed a performance of βTaarab,β a music genre with the fusion of Arab, Persian, and Indian subcontinent cultures. Everyone at the venue enjoyed the Tanzanian culture, following their tradition of dancing to the Taarab music with tips in their hands and giving them to the singer.
Prime Minister Kassim Minister Majaliwa Majaliwa (left) and State Minister for Foreign Affairs FUJII Hisayuki (right)
Dancers dancing to traditional Tanzanian music
Taarab performance
From the University of Osaka, Executive Vice President in charge of Expo 2025 and Public Relations TAKEMURA Keiko, Assistant Professor MIYAZAKI Kumiko (Department of Foreign Studies in the Graduate School of Humanities & Swahili Language Major at the School of Foreign Studies), Specially Appointed Lecturer (Full-time) Izack Zainabu Kassu, two graduate students, and 13 undergraduate students were invited to the event. The students who participated gave the following comments:
βThe dance and singing filled the venue with a vibrant atmosphere, and I really enjoyed it. Also, I was able to talk with the staff in Swahili at the Tanzanian Booth in Commons B Pavilion, which was a great experience!β (Chinatsu Watanabe, 4th year, School of Foreign Studies, Swahili major)
βI was very happy to be present at the opportunity of interaction between Japan and Tanzania and feel the amiable relationship between the two countries. Also, when I spoke to the Tanzanian attendees in Swahili, they responded to me with a smile, and it was really fun to communicate in the Swahili language I have been studying for over two years!β (Yoshimi Tsuji, 3rd year, School of Foreign Studies, Swahili major)
Executive Vice President Takemura also attended a luncheon at the Guest House hosted by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition and discussed with representatives from the political and business circles of both Japan and Tanzania. During the conversation in Swahili with the Executive Vice President TAKEMURA, the Prime Minister Majaliwa said that he would like to visit the University of Osaka someday.β
In the evening, a dinner reception hosted by the Tanzanian government was held at the Guest House, attended by Executive Vice President in charge of Global Engagement HAYASHI Mikako, Executive Vice President TAKEMURA, Assistant Professor MIYAZAKI, and Specially Appointed Lecturer (Full-time) Zainabu. Not only representatives of the political and business circles of both Japan and Tanzania, but also many Tanzanians living in Japan participated there, enjoying lively discussions on various topics.
Commemorative photo at the luncheon
Fourth from the right: Baraka H. Luvanda, Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to Japan
Commemorative photo at the dinner reception
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