Movies a highlight of Japan-NZ festival - 12/10/2012Two Japanese movie screenings will be just one of the highlights of Labour Weekend’s Iwau – Celebrate! festival in Wanganui.
Iwau – Celebrate! is a special celebration of 60 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and New Zealand. Iwau is the Japanese word for celebrate.
“Communities throughout New Zealand are celebrating this special milestone of diplomatic relations between our country and Japan in 2012,” Cr Jack Bullock, Chair of the Japanese celebrations working party, said.
“Wanganui has a sister city relationship with Nagaizumi-cho, Japan, and this gives us a wonderful opportunity to showcase many different aspects of Japanese culture including screening Japanese movies and holding open days at the Nagaizumi-Wanganui Friendship Centre in Wanganui East.
“There are also special themed sailings on the PS Waimarie and an exhibition at the Sarjeant Gallery of photographs taken by Paul Knight, depicting rural Japan in the 1960s. The Sarjeant exhibition is already open for viewing.”
On Saturday, October 20, there will be public screenings of two Japanese movies. Both are subtitled and rated PG so younger children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
Spirited Away will be shown at 2.00pm in the Davis Lecture Theatre, Whanganui Regional Museum. It is an award-winning animated fantasy drama which will be enjoyed by adults as well as children.
Wanko – The Story of Me, My Family and Rock screens on Saturday evening at the Concert Chamber, War Memorial Centre. Doors open at 7.30pm. The film tells the story of a devastating volcanic eruption on the small island of Miyakejima. The Noyama family quickly flee the island but learn that their beloved dog Rock is missing.
Details of all the Iwau – Celebrate! events are available on this page. | 
