Community Information Paper No.51 September 2020 Translated/Issued by Azabu Regional City Office Edited by the Azabu Editing Office 5-16-45 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo, 106-8515 Tel: 03-5114-8812 (Rep.) Fax: 03-3583-3782 Please contact Minato Call for inquiries regarding Residents’ Life Support. Tel: 03-5472-3710 A community information paper created and edited by people who live in Azabu. For lectures, the Hungarian National Flag and red, white or green chairs will be arranged to create a gorgeous atmosphere. The lighting on the ceiling has been designed in the motif of Hungarian embroidery. Fascinated by Artistic Azabu 23 Hungarian Cultural Institute Tokyo, Grand Opening in Azabu-Juban! 2019 was the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation and fluent. Where did you study Japanese?” between Japan and the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy. On December 9, 2019 the Embas- “I went to an elementary school in the suburbs of Bu- dapest, and there we had Japanese classes. At that sy of Hungary in Tokyo opened the “Hungarian Cultural Institute Tokyo” in Azabu- Juban in time, a lot of new classes were being introduced as an commemoration. Ms. Anita Nagy, Councellor of the Embassy of Hungary in Tokyo, is the experiment, and one of them was a Japanese class”. head of this Institute. We spoke to her at the Cultural Institute just after it opened. We were all very surprised to hear that nowadays there are many “Japanophiles” in Hungary; young people who have been influenced by Japanese ani- The location of the Institute was selected because mation and manga, and are studying Japanese. it is close to the Embassy and the nearest sub- way station A piano is installed for future plans to hold salon music concerts. The Hungarian Cultural Institute Tokyo is along the Zoshiki-Dori Street extending from Zenpukuji Tem- On the day we visited the Institute, there was a lec- ple in Azabu-Juban to the Kimi-chan Statue at Pa- ture titled “We want to know Budapest much better”. tio-Juban. The red, white and green glass wall motif We took the opportunity to listen, and see the “Trea- represents the national flag of Hungary. The building sures from Budapest; European and Hungarian Mas- itself is designed to look open and inviting. terpieces from the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest The scene of the lecture “We want to know Budapest and the Hungarian National Gallery” exhibition. much better” was held at the interview date: The event We asked, “The Embassy is located in Mita 2-chome was very successful and all 30 seats were occupied. This will be held in the National Art Center, Tokyo, The building is located along Zoshiki-Dori Street, and really stands out. in Minato City. How did Azabu-Juban come to be The red, white and green colors of the Hungarian National Flag are used until March 29, 2020 (This exhibition was ended on selected as the location of the Institute?” to effectively draw attention. February 29, 2020 because the museum was closed Photo provided by the Hungarian Cultural Institute Tokyo She replied, “When the decision was made to create due to the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19). a Cultural Institute, H.E. Ambassador, Dr. Norbert In addition to the overall design of the Institute, right Palanovics, himself made an enormous effort to find down to the “tricolor” (red, white and green) chairs the location. There are many foreign residents in Az- arranged in the Cultural Institute multipurpose hall, abu-Juban and this area is always bustling with life. we can see they have very good sense of artistry! It only takes three minutes on foot from Azabu-Juban subway station to this location, and from there you Usually the works and photos of famous young Hun- can easily walk to the Hungarian Embassy. So, it be- garian artists are exhibited. Also, the main works came clear that Azabu-Juban was a good fit for our (Forest Cultural Center, Village House, Church of St. needs”. Michael, and Hagymatikum Thermal Bath) of the fa- mous Hungarian Architect, Imre Makovecz, can be The Hungarian Cultural Institute Opens, Introduc- viewed with the latest VR (virtual reality) technolo- Works of Hungarian Artists are exhibited. ing the Fascinating Hungarian Culture! gy, using a headset. Photo provided by the Hungarian Cultural Institute Tokyo The position and shape of Hungary has given it the We asked Ms. Nagy about the future plans for the Toei Oedo Line Azabu-Juban Sta., nickname, ‘The Jewel Box of Europe”. It is about Institute. No. 7 Exit 93,000 km2, about the size of Hokkaido. The popu- “Hungary is a country where famous musicians fa- Ms. Anita Nagy, the head of Hungarian Cultural Institute Azabu-Juban lation is about 9.78 million (based on the 2018 Na- miliar to Japanese people, such as Liszt and Bartók, Tokyo, has been living in Japan for 12 years. Station tional Bureau of Statistics Report). About 1.75 mil- were born. We would like Japanese people to be- lion people live in the capital city, Budapest. Amaz- come more familiar with the charms of Hungarian ingly, Hungary has borders with seven countries: Address: 1st Floor, Hibiya Azabu-Juban Building, Azabu-Juban classical music. We will place a piano in the Institute 3-8-1, Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo Avenu Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croa- e to hold salon concerts”. Tel: 03-6459-4931 (Rep.) Zoshik-Dori Street tia and Slovenia. Hungary. is a fascinating country, This sounded like great fun, and as we listened to Opening Hours: 10:00 am to 17:00 pm where a variety of peoples and cultures meet at a (Last Entry Time: 16:45 pm) Kimi-chan Statue Ms. Nagy, we gradually felt we were becoming more crossroads, truly the “Center of Europe”. Closing Days: Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, familiar with Hungary. The culture of Hungary is rooted in its’ equestrian Hungarian National Holidays, Year End’s and past. Their history is one of a constant flow of people Many friendly projects will be planned and realized, New Year’s Holidays Azabu-Juban Sta., Admission: Free No. 1 Exit Azabu-Juban Sta. from Asia to Europe in search of better grasslands. which would be a good chance for the friendly rela- Hungarian culture can actually be characterized as tionship between Japan and Hungary to develop Access: Three minutes on foot from No. 1 Exit of one that it is partly influenced by, and including, even more. “Azabu-Juban Station” of Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line or Toei Oedo Line Kiraboshi Bank Asian cultures. Our purpose is to increase awareness Hungarian Cultural Azabu Branch For event announcements at the Hungarian Cultural Official Twitter Information of His Excellency, Tokyo Metro Institute, Tokyo Nanboku Line among Japanese people of the historical, artistic and Institute Tokyo, a website is being developed now. Azabuyama Hungarian Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Norbert Iriguchi Signal Sendai-zaka academic values of Hungary. The Ambassador is providing event information Palanovics: Slope “By the way, Ms. Nagy, your Japanese is accurate through twitter. Please take a look! https://twitter.com/HUNBASSADOR (Researched and written by Yukiko Takayanagi and Michiko Horikiri) I met and married Ryo Ikebe without even knowing he was a famous actor! Mr. Ryo Ikebe (1918–2010) was a famous film star in the golden age of Japanese motion pictures, and was also a prolific writer. His marriage to his wife, Yoshiko, who was about 20 years young- er than him, lasted for almost half a century. Yoshiko has lived in Azabu from childhood. She says she thinks of her husband and their life together in Azabu everyday. She generously shared with us her memories of their life together. “Are you asking about my childhood? I was quite a mischie- vous young girl. I was such a tomboy that I would do things like climbing up on the roof! I was however, very honest, and never told lies. My mother encouraged and praised me for Azabu – A Human Story this. We lived in a big Japanese-style house, and we had many Preserving Voices of Azabu for the Future housemaids to help us. It took hours, from early morning until Mrs. Yoshiko with her husband on an Azabu Shopping Street noon, just to mop the floor with a wet cloth. Do I remember what Photo provided by Mrs. Yoshiko Ikebe happed during the war? Yes, I remember very clearly. I remember that one day, soldiers came to my house and dug a rather impressive air-raid telling every- shelter. This was because my grandfather was running a food company body around me that, “I will never ever get married to anyone!” My moth- and was working with the army in one way or another. At that time, I was not er would also say, “I pity my daughter’s future husband, marrying a girl raised particularly afraid of air raids, but I remember looking up into the sky to see if in such a privileged environment”. However, Ikebe generously said, “It would there were any enemy airplanes. My husband told me that he was sent to a trop- be no problem for me”. My husband was a very gentle and humble person. He ical island as a soldier, but on the way the transport ship was attacked and sank. had many good friends, including Mr. Naoya Shiga and Mr. Yasunari Kawaba- He swam to shore and was able to survive, and was miraculously rescued 24 ta, who wrote original stories of several films at the time. Mr. Naoya Shiga even hours later.