Figure 1. Kolintang-Koto Performance at Hotel Imperial, Tokyo
Purnomo Yusgiantoro Center (PYC) got an invitation from the Indonesian Embassy in Japan to showcase a collaboration of Kolintang music, Koto instrument, Gending Sriwijaya dance performance and a fashion show of Iwan Tirta’s batik collection at the diplomatic dinner reception. This event was held on Saturday, 24 August 2018, at the Fuji Room, Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, Japan. The purpose of this event was to commemorate the 73rd Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia and 60 years of Indonesia-Japan bilateral relations.
The event started by singing the National Anthem of both countries, namely Indonesia Raya dan Kimigayo. The speeches were delivered by Mr. Arifin Tasrif, the Republic of Indonesia’s Ambassador for Japan, and Mr. Masaharu Nakagawa, the Minister of Environment of Japan. It continued with a toast led by Mr. Yasuo Fukuda (President of Japan-Indonesia Association), with other nine honor guests, namely Mr. Arifin Tasrif, Mr. Masaharu Nakagawa, Mr. Tadahiko Ito (State Minister of Environment of Japan), Mr. Natsuo Yamaguchi (President of Komeito Party), Mr. Yasutoshi Nishimura (Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan), Mr. Rachmat Gobel (Special Envoy of the President of Indonesia to Japan), Mr. Purnomo Yusgiantoro (Purnomo Yusgiantoro Center), Mr. Yutaka Limura (Special Envoy for The 60th Anniversary of Japan – Indonesia Relations, and Mr. Shigeru Sugawara (Mayor of Kesennuma City).
The hospitality program was opened with Gending Sriwijaya dance, a South Sumatra traditional dance. It was followed by a collaboration performance of Kolintang and Koto, by PYC and Jakarta Koto Club. They performed Cintaku and Kokoronotomo songs. Then, the fashion show of the Iwan Tirta collection started as the following event. The models wore Palembang clothing and batik with the accompaniment of Kolintang music. Following the fashion show, all the guests were invited to dance Poco-Poco together. In the end, a performance of Rayuan Pulau Kelapa’s song by Kolintang music closed the event beautifully.
PYC wants to preserve indigenous Indonesian culture and arts such as Kolintang and Batik. Thus, PYC tries to exhibit Indonesian culture and art on several occasions, both in Indonesia and abroad. Finally, PYC also aimed to help PINKAN Indonesia to make UNESCO recognize the Kolintang as an Indonesian native music instrument.
