Japanese culture on display in Yokohama as Council session gets underway

Traditional japanese puppet show presented before ITTC60 session. Photo: P.Sarigumba/ITTO

Yokohama, Japan, 01 December 2024: In partnership with the City of Yokohama and others, ITTO hosted two unforgettable events on Sunday 1 December to mark the start of the 60th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council. The presentation of intricate origami creations and a magical fusion of jazz and puppetry celebrated ITTO’s remarkable journey and honoured Japan’s enduring support and the hospitality of host city Yokohama. The Council session got underway officially on Monday 2 December.

Mr Kaito Nagayama (ORIST) instructing the workshop participants on making an origami anteater. Photo: P.Sarigumba/ITTO

Origami workshop: tropical forest animals come to life

Pacifico Yokohama buzzed with creative energy on Sunday as participants gathered for the Origami Workshop, guided by the ORIST Origami Club. People of all ages and skill levels folded their way through the delicate art of crafting tropical forest animals with paper.

The sessions highlighted the beauty of tropical biodiversity and connected participants with nature in an artistic, hands-on way. Beginners developed new skills, and experienced origami enthusiasts honed their techniques under the expert guidance of renowned artist Mr Kaito Nagayama.Two vibrant sessions accommodated families and individuals alike, making it a memorable cultural and artistic experience for all who attended.

A participant enjoying folding an origami during the workshop. Photo: P.Sarigumba/ITTO

Jazz-Bunraku: The Cat Who Went to Heaven

Sunday afternoon came alive with Jazz-Bunraku: The Cat Who Went to Heaven. This unique performance combined traditional Japanese Bunraku puppetry and soulful jazz melodies, adapting Nancy Harrow’s acclaimed musical into an unforgettable cross-cultural spectacle.Directed by Off-Broadway’s Will Pomerantz and performed by the Sagami Puppet Theater Shimonakaza, the story follows a struggling artist whose life is transformed by a cat called Good Fortune. The poignant tale, which weaves together themes of compassion, love and sacrifice, captivated the Pacifico-Yokohama audience.

The audience had the chance to manipulate the traditional puppets. Photo: Y. Kamijo/ITTO

Replacing Bunraku’s traditional shamisen and tayu with English narration and jazz music added a new dynamic, enchanting more than a hundred participants from the Council and public. At the end of the performance, the audience had the opportunity to manipulate the traditional puppets themselves.

The Sagami Puppet Theater Shimonakaza with ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru and Mr Simon Kawaguchi. Photo: Y. Kamijo/ITTO

Kicking off the 60th Council Session

The events celebrated not only ITTO’s work and commitment to sustainable tropical forestry but also the broader cultural and ecological connections that unite people through art and nature. From folding paper animals to exploring the depths of human emotion through puppetry and music, the day attested to the beauty of creativity and collaboration. Yokohama served as the perfect backdrop, given its importance as a hub of cultural exchange and ecological advocacy.

Traditional Japanese drums set the beat of the ITTC60 session Photo: A.Knapp

The 60th session of the International Tropical Timber Council got underway officially on Monday 2 December with a stirring performance of Japanese drums by Odawara Hayashi Tako Hozonkai. A story on the speakers at the opening ceremony will follow

The Japanese Traditional Drum Group, Odawara Hayashi Tako Hozonkai, performed during the ITTC60 Opening Session. Photo: A.Knapp

More information on the Council session, including presentations, are available here: https://www.itto.int/ittc-60/presentations.
Daily coverage of the session by IISD reporting services is available at https://enb.iisd.org/ittc60-international-tropical-timber-council.