Dhaka,Bangladesh : The Spouses of Heads of Missions (SHOM), in collaboration with the Children’s Film Society Bangladesh and the KINEKO International Film Festival from Japan, hosted a Japanese children’s film festival in Dhaka. The festival, which showcased Japanese culture through cinema, attracted over 1,500 children from five different organizations, along with their teachers.
The festival’s first screening took place at the Dhaka Ahsania Mohila Mission Girls Orphanage on October 21, followed by screenings at the Abinta Kabir Foundation School on November 11, Obhizatrik School on November 13, and the Embassy of Japan’s hall on November 23. The final screening was held at Bangladesh Shishu Academy on December 11, 2024, bringing the event to a successful conclusion.
On November 23, Ambassador IWAMA and Madam IWAMA Tomomi warmly welcomed the children to the embassy, where Ambassador IWAMA emphasized the power of art, film, and animation in fostering cultural understanding. He remarked, “These films are not just entertaining—they offer a window into Japan’s culture and values. In Japan, we love to tell stories through art, film, and animation, and that’s the power of culture—it helps us understand each other, laugh together, and learn from one another.”
The children were treated to four award-winning Japanese short films: Komaneko – The First Step, Grandpa’s Star Fireworks, There Must Be More Than That!, and Sweet. The screenings were interactive, with live audio sessions by voice artists from the Children’s Film Society Bangladesh and the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka.
The event, led by Eliane Alcantara Feres (Brazil), Manu Verma (India), Paola Belfiore (Italy), Hadja Sata Seck (World Bank), and Tomomi Iwama (Japan), also included the distribution of Japanese sweet chocolates to students, echoing a scene from the film Sweet. This enriching cultural experience has inspired the children to learn more about Japan and its traditions.
