logo
News in Easy English: Festival in Tokyo brings refugees, immigrants and locals together

News in Easy English: Festival in Tokyo brings refugees, immigrants and locals together

The Mainichi20-05-2025

TOKYO -- A special festival happened on May 10 at Heisei Tsutsuji Park in Nerima Ward, Tokyo. The festival brought immigrants, refugees, and local people together through food, music, and friendship.
This event is called the "Refugee & Migrant Festival." It has been held every year for the past three years. Supporters who help refugees hold this festival. They use the money from the festival to help refugees living in Japan.
During the festival, visitors enjoyed snacks and sweets from Myanmar, Kurdish food, and treats from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. People also bought handmade accessories and crafts from Africa. Families and friends had fun meeting new people. On stage, people performed songs and played musical instruments.
Many visitors also learned about refugees who are waiting for Japan to accept them officially.
(Japanese original by Daisuke Wada, Photo and Video Department)
Vocabulary
festival: a special day or event where people celebrate, eat, or listen to music.
refugee: a person who leaves their home country because life there is dangerous or difficult.
immigrant: a person who comes to a new country to live.
supporter: a person who helps others.
handmade: made by a person, not by a machine.
accessory: small things people wear like jewelry, rings, or necklaces.
craft: things made by people's hands, like paintings, clothes, bags, or pottery.
officially: agreed or accepted by the country or government.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pokemon Go's Scopely on the hunt in Japan for gaming M&As
Pokemon Go's Scopely on the hunt in Japan for gaming M&As

Nikkei Asia

time3 hours ago

  • Nikkei Asia

Pokemon Go's Scopely on the hunt in Japan for gaming M&As

KAZUYUKI OKUDAIRA TOKYO -- Fresh off its acquisition of Pokemon Go's Niantic, U.S. gaming giant Scopely is looking to grow its relations with Japanese peers with lucrative intellectual property (IP) franchises. In an interview with Nikkei, Scopely co-CEOs Walter Driver and Javier Ferreira described their plans to increase investment in Pokemon Go and other games and to expand the company's presence in Japan, possibly through additional mergers and acquisitions.

Renowned pianist Martha Argerich says dialogue vital for world peace
Renowned pianist Martha Argerich says dialogue vital for world peace

The Mainichi

time3 hours ago

  • The Mainichi

Renowned pianist Martha Argerich says dialogue vital for world peace

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Famed Argentina-born pianist Martha Argerich says engaging in dialogue to share cultural differences plays a major role in building peace, as she experienced firsthand during her first performance with a Japanese Noh actor. Cultural exchange "is very important, and it's the source of peace in the world...I think that dialogue is the most important factor in this type of thing," Argerich said at a recent press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo. Bunzo Otsuki, a government-designated living national treasure, performed Noh to Argerich's rendition of Bach's Partita No.2 at a Noh theater in 2022 and their performance is featured in a new documentary film titled "Encounter." "I was very surprised. I was able to act to the sound of Argerich's playing with ease," Otsuki said at the press conference held to announce the completion of the documentary. Argerich said it "was a wonderful dialogue" to share their cultures and forms of expression through their performance of Bach's music and Noh on stage, as well as through backstage lectures from Otsuki about Noh masks. "I was always very fascinated by Noh theater. This time, I felt really honored and grateful to share the stage with Maestro Otsuki," Argerich said, adding that Bach's music goes with anything because it contains the essence of human spirit and ways of expression. Since she won first prize at the prestigious International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition in 1965, which established her reputation, Argerich has been one of the world's most prominent pianists, receiving the Legion of Honor, France's most prestigious award at the rank of commander in 2023, according to the Argerich Arts Foundation. Argerich recently visited Japan to play for a music festival named after her, Music Festival Argerich's Meeting Point in Beppu, which marked its 25th anniversary this year. She serves as general director of the festival in Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

Why Japan's J-pop idol industry bans sex, dating and romance
Why Japan's J-pop idol industry bans sex, dating and romance

Japan Today

time11 hours ago

  • Japan Today

Why Japan's J-pop idol industry bans sex, dating and romance

By Jeff W. Richards What really goes on inside Japan's idol industry? In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we explore the strict no-dating and no-sex rules placed on Japan's J-pop idols — especially young women. From emotional control and punishment tactics to the rise of AI-generated performers, we take a deeper look at the power dynamics, mental health pressures and cultural double standards baked into the system. Idol culture may be a form of entertainment, but it comes with strict rules and unsettling control. From emotional control and punishment tactics to the rise of AI-generated performers, we take a deeper look at the power dynamics, mental health pressures and cultural double standards baked right into the system. Are these just industry norms — or signs of something more troubling underneath? Chapters: 0:00 Topic overview 1:21 Birth of idol singers 2:32 Dating rules and punishment 4:38 Management control methods 5:08 Mental health issues 6:02 Role in Japanese culture 7:58 Is the industry likely to change? 9:46 Outro Japan Today sources: See the Japan Today Spotlight series: Join the conversation! What do you think — are these 'no dating' rules just part of the job, or do they cross a line? Let us know in the comments. Don't forget to like, subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an update on Japan's biggest news stories on our YouTube channel: Follow us for more updates: The views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of GPlusMedia, Inc. © Japan Today

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store