The Japanese cherry trees symbolizing the land of the rising sun were planted in the Parliament Park in May 2015 as a token of the two peoples’ friendly relations. That year, the Armenian Genocide Centennial and the 70th anniversary of Hirosima and Nagasaki bombing were marked.
On 10 April 2021, in the grove symbolizing the Armenian-Japanese friendship in the Park of the National Assembly one of the Japanese brightest holidays, Hanami was again celebrated.
Armenia-Japan Friendship Group and Arumenia-Nippon Scientific-Cultural Union organized the event. Members of Armenia-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group, the Acting Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan to Armenia Kazuya Harada, representatives from Yerevan Municipality, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the NA Staff and guests took part there.
According to the Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Founding Member of Arumenia-Nippon Scientific-Cultural Union, Honorable Chairman Arsen Arakelyan, in Japan Hanami is associated with the awakening of spring, beauty and kindness. And the blossomed sakuras serve as a symbol of all that. The Japanese celebrate this holiday with great enthusiasm, keep dreams, admire the beauty of the blossomed cherry tree. Arsen Arakelyan, who was the first diplomat of Armenia in Japan 11 years ago, noted that the foreign institution and the Government of Armenia highlight very much the development of the Armenian-Japanese relations. In his opinion, there are opportunities of cooperation in the spheres of education, culture, science and other spheres.
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The literary critic Artsvi Bakhchinyan, began interested in the Armenian-Japanese relations 15 years ago, touched upon the Armenian-Japanese historical connections and annually developing ties. To his observation, the Armenians being interested in the Japanese language and the Japanese being interested in the Armenian language increase. The literary critic has noted that he continues his studies on the Armenian-Japanese connections, publishing articles and stories too. “We, the Armenians, also like the beauty, the art, and our medieval miniature, Sergey Parajanov testify to it, however in our everyday life we seem to be not paying attention to beauty. And this we shall learn from the Japanese,” Artsvi Bakhchinyan thinks.
Now, the Armenian reader lovers can read the work ‘Norwegian Wood’ by the Japanese famous writer Haruki Murakami in Armenian, the translator of the book Lilit Khansulyan informed at the event about this, noting that the writer’s works had not been translated into Armenian until now. Meanwhile, Murakami’s works had been translated into more than 50 languages.
The participants of the event were also informed about an interesting fact. It was noted that during the days of the Armenian Genocide 825 Armenians were able to be saved thanks to a Japanese captain, who managed to take them to the Greek coast.
This year sakuras were decorated by white paper swans. The Founding President of Arumenia-Nippon Scientific-Cultural Union, Japanologist Anna Vardanyan told that a girl looking from heaven made those swans.
National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
