60 years of Pak-Japan friendship: Serenading a summer evening with the sweet sounds of piano

Japanese envoy, along with two pianists from Japan, performs at the Turkish embassy.

ISLAMABAD:

The Embassy of Japan celebrated 60 sterling years of Pakistan-Japan relations in a joint piano recital at the Turkish embassy on Thursday. The talented Ambassador Hiroshi Oe and visiting pianists Shoichi Hase and Moezo Ezaki filled the summer evening with the sweet sounds of piano.

“We need a greater exchange between people,” the ambassador expressed his wish to promote talents between the countries, encouraging more students and researchers to experience each other’s cultures. The evening was a step towards this goal as Japanese pianists Hase and Ezaki graced Pakistani ears for the first time.

Ambassador Oe was appointed to Pakistan in April 2011, after Japan had suffered a massive earthquake and a tsunami, and found a steadfast friend in Pakistan as it supported Japan through the crisis.

“I believe we have forged a true bond of friendship in the last 60 years since the establishment of our diplomatic relations,” the ambassador told The Express Tribune, extending a warm invitation to Pakistanis to his country. The Japanese supported Pakistan through tough times as well as during the Kashmir earthquake and the floods of 2010 and 2011.

The ambassador, upon his earlier visit of factories in Sialkot, expressed a desire to see more trade between Japan and Pakistan. “I was impressed with the high quality of products.” He added that he would like to invest in future import of the soccer balls for the FIFA games to Japan as well.

Moeko Ezaki paid homage to the Pakistani folk tune “Sun Wanghli di Meethari Taan” in a piano version of the famous Noor Jehan song. A four-hand medley engaged the audience of fellow ambassadors
and music enthusiasts, followed by a graceful dance of fingers on the piano by Ambassador Oe.

Oe sees immense potential in Pakistan and dubbed the art of music, amidst stronger economic ties, as a way of bridging the gap between the diverse but connected cultures.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2012.