Both presentations had a high turnout and met the expectations of the participants.

Hundreds of people, lovers of Japanese culture, participated in the closing activities of the VIII Chile-Japan Friendship Week, held in the Aula Magna of the Ignacio Domeyko Campus of the University of La Serena. Audiences of all ages were delighted with the stage art in the presentation of the Sakura Dance and were able to applaud the characterizations of Japanese animations in the III Cosplay Contest.

The presentation of the Sakura Dance, performed by María Belén Espinoza and Constanza Muñoz, generated various sensations in the audience. In this regard, Andrea Fuentes, who did not know this type of dance, expressed her surprise with the interpretation and the message delivered by the dancers. “I really liked it as an artistic manifestation (…). It is a very intense and interpretive dance. Clearly the forces of nature are represented and human feelings too. The music is very well combined, the lights, the image is very powerful, very beautiful and the actresses are spectacular”, clarified the spectator.

Meanwhile, Pablo Campos, who knew the origins of the Butoh theater as an artistic manifestation in reflection of the atomic tragedy that occurred in Japan in the 50's, found this new activity very interesting. “They are those things where one does not look for beauty, but for impact, because it communicates a message that has to do with horror (…) and I knew that the Butoh theater is a representation of the atomic bombs that struck Japan (…). In this way, I know that it is a theater that seeks to impact with the dark, with the terrible, with those things that are even out of the ordinary”, he pointed out.

From animation to reality

The third version of the Cosplay Contest in the Coquimbo Region, generated the expectation of the public and also of the candidates for the scepter of the best characterization of Japanese animation. Nine young people, all women, fought for first place and stood up for gender.

The winner was determined by a demanding jury, headed by Mauricio Catalán, professor at the Chilean-Japanese Cultural Institute, José Aguayo, academic from the ULS Design major, and Carlos Ruíz, journalist from "El Observatodo", who tried to test each one of the participants, through questions about the choice of the characterized character and the realization of a small interpretation of it. Of course, the preparation of the costumes and the active participation of the public through applause for their favorite characters were also taken into account.

The winner of this contest was Romina Aguilera, who expressed her gratitude that the state campus, through its Extension Department, organizes these recreational spaces for young people who enjoy Japanese culture. "It is very good that the University of La Serena cares about these issues, as little known as Cosplay, and that it gives the opportunity to participate so that people show their skills," said the participant, who also highlighted the quality and the professionalism with which the contest was approached. "The jury was dedicated to studying the costumes of each person well, seeing the details, asking questions and that is super good," said the first place winner.

María Fernanda Díaz, who attended this III version of the Cosplay Contest, in support of her friends who participated, highlighted the importance of making these cultural alliances in La Serena. "I am very grateful that the University is interested in being part of these activities and has taken the initiative (...), it was good that they did it in the summer because more tourists have come and it helps to open up the field more," she concluded.

These activities put an end to a successful program closely related to Japanese culture, where various workshops, an exhibition and a tea ceremony were held, thus ending the VIII version of the Chile-Japan Friendship Week.

Source: Press Extension Direction