WEDNESDAY 24 OCTOBER 2012 • [email protected] • www.thepeninsulaqatar.com • 4455 7741 One in inside five senior COMMUNITY • Free medical managers in camp to be held HSBC is a on November 30 woman P | 4 P | 6 CAMPUS • New Professorial Chair at QU hosts seminar on waste water technology P | 5 Health • When should a breast ultrasound be performed? P | 7 HOSPITALITY • Red scores a first by introducing Qatar’s largest pizza P | 10 MUSIC • Rolling Stones rehearsing 70 songs CULTURAL for upcoming gigs P | 11 EXTRAVAGANZA PLUS... As part of the ‘Qatar Japan 2012’ project, a popular Japanese theatre performance was held at Katara. The performance • Comics, Word Puzzles, Crosswords, Hyper by accomplished artistes transcended the boundaries of Sudoku, Kakuro, TV language and culture and won many hearts in Qatar. listings and more P | 2-3 P |13-15 PIC: ABDUL BASIT 2 PLUS | WEDNESDAY 24 OCTOBER 2012 COVER STORY Japanese show wins hearts By Raynald C Rivera significance to their society’s cultural awe-inspiring cherry blossom that ith their flamboyant makeup. blooms copiously all over the country. kimonos, charming It was a sight to behold as the per- Equally charming was ‘Renjisi’ the facial expressions and formers garbed in kimonos repre- dance of the white lion (parent) and Presenting 12 Wmovements Kengeki senting various periods came out of red lion (baby) based on the tale that Harukomaza – a 15-member theatri- Ukiyo-e during the first scene. Ukiyo-e says that the lion, the king of beasts, scenes from cal troupe from Japan staged a truly is a form of visual art and a genre of only raises babies that climb up the captivating show of Japanese culture Japanese woodblock prints or paintings cliff after having been thrown into the Japanese popular earning rousing applauses and stand- between 17th to 20th centuries. deep valley. ing ovation from hundreds of people Literally ukiyo means ‘floating world’ Gallant men in their crested black theatre, Kengeki who attended their performance at which refers to a temporary world of kimonos, said to be one of the most for- Harukomaza the Katara Drama Theatre. They per- fleeting beauty and entertainment and mal of Japanese dresses, displayed their formed on Monday and Tuesday. the expert performers showcased this dancing prowess in ‘Sword Dance’ and effectively brought Presenting 12 scenes from Japanese how they carried themselves wearing ‘Sword Fight’ which was a display of stories from popular theatre, the group which the costumes as they danced magically the long-held Japanese martial arts exuded expertise in their craft effec- to the music. tradition. Not only they were excellent the Land of the tively brought stories from the Land of The audience could almost smell the dancers and actors but also exceptional the Rising Sun to the people of Qatar flowers and see verdant surroundings singers having proved their strong Rising Sun to the through dance – a language everyone as the troupe danced ‘Flower Festival’ vocal prowess in a medley of Japanese people of Qatar understands. representing a very important cel- folk songs which also included ‘Sohran’ The stellar performances of the ebration which is annually observed dedicated to fishermen. through dance - a group headed by charismatic per- by the Japanese people despite their The finale was a fitting conclusion to former Ryu Tsugawa was testament on busy schedules. This was comple- the one-hour show as beautiful ladies language everyone how dance has been deeply ingrained in mented by another item titled ‘Sakura of the 17th and 19th century Japan understands. Japan’s history as a nation with great Sakura’ referring to the breathtakingly paraded in their kimonos. PICS: ABDUL BASIT PLUS | WEDNESDAY 24 OCTOBER 2012 3 The show has also served as an osten- extended to Japan during the recent expo on Japan’s earthquake recovery, tatious display of various kimonos, the calamities. Japan Music project and a series of Japanese traditional garment which is “Through this form of popular Japanese film showcase by Doha Film a vital element of Japanese theatre. It Japanese theatre, we want to express Institute. In parallel to events in Qatar, is said it normally takes more than an gratitude to Qatar for supporting Japan other activities are also being held in hour to wear a kimono, and Japanese after the earthquake and tsunami. Japan such as the ‘Pearls Jewels from Ambassador Kenjiro Monji himself said This is a very interesting collabora- the Sea’ expo, Qatar Week: Ferjaan in it took him one and a half hour to wear tion among famous theatre actors and Tokyo’ and Pop-Up Mathaf. kimono for the event but the troupe revue actresses in such a big scale rarely Held under the patronage of impressed the audience with their quick seen even in Japan,” said the Japanese H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al change as every scene required a differ- Ambassador. Kuwari, Minister of Culture, Arts ent kimono. “Since the beginning of the year we and Heritage, “Japanese Dance The actors and actresses also marked have been doing quite a lot of events and Music –Omnibus from Popular a distinctive impression as they showed in collaboration with Qatar and we are Theatre Scenes” was organised by off their impressive talent in the way very pleased that through these events the Japanese Embassy in coopera- they quickly adopted to their various the understanding of Japanese culture tion with the Human and Cultural roles with men dressing up as women of Qataris and people in Qatar in gen- Exchange General Incorporated and vice versa. eral are much more reinforced,” he Association with the support of As an integral part of the series of added. Katara. activities for the year-long Qatar Japan Among the other events held in con- The show which was especially 2012 celebrating 40 years of friendship nection with the celebrations were ‘Ego’ made for the performance in Qatar between the two countries, Ambassador exhibition featuring renowned Japanese also demonstrates that Japan is Monji said the show was a gesture of artist Takashi Murakami, ‘Wadaiko’ well on its way to recovery with full gratitude for the assistance Qatar Japanese dance performance, photo energy. The Peninsula 4 PLUS | WEDNESDAY 24 OCTOBER 2012 COMMUNITY Hundreds of Mövenpick Hotel families switch Doha makes off mobiles for charity donation övenpick Hotel Doha donated a ‘A Day Offline’ Mshare of its iftar revenue to support undreds of families partici- the various charitable activities carried pated in McDonald’s Qatar out by the Qatar Red Crescent Society. ‘A Day Offline’ campaign on The hotel donated QR9,940 to the Qatar HFriday, September 28, turn- Red Crescent Society which is equal to ing off their mobile phones, computers QR10 from every iftar meal consumed at and television sets to spend the day the hotel during the month of Ramadan. with family. Commenting on this humanitarian ini- Before the event, McDonald’s Qatar tiative, Fabien Chesnais, Mövenpick Hotel distributed more than 50,000 phone Doha’s General Manager said: “We are com- vaults – phone-sized containers with mitted to active involvement in the local adhesive closures – to store devices community and we take pride in knowing during family time. Four McDonald’s our contribution will have a positive impact branches across Qatar hosted more on the welfare of the underprivileged and than 5,000 customers and special we are extremely pleased to participate by guests for activities for the whole From left: Ruwaida Abela, PR & Communications Manager at Mövenpick Hotel supporting one of the many life-changing family. Doha, Emad Al Haj, Head of Donations at Qatar Red Crescent, and Fabien projects of the Qatar Red Crescent Society Based on the success of the cam- Chesnais, General Manager of Mövenpick Hotel Doha. all around the world.” The Peninsula paign, McDonald’s has committed to make ‘A Day Offline’ an annual initiative whereby the organisation will devote one day every September to celebrat- ing the importance of uninterrupted Kerala Inter family time. The Managing Director of Al Mana District Football Restaurants and Food Company, Kamal Saleh Al Mana , commented that Tournament kicks “when we first conceived of this initia- tive –a campaign designed to recon- off on Friday nect mums, dads, children and loved ones without technological distrac- he sixth annual Kerala Inter tions– we suspected it would be well District Football Tournament received. However, to witness such an Tis set to begin on Friday. This overwhelmingly positive response from year there will be a new category, hundreds of families across Qatar has where teams from six Indian schools been incredibly moving”. in Doha will play against each other. Abdul Basit He added that “we at McDonald’s Qatar Indian Football Forum, From left: Abdurahman Hassanar, Vice-President, QIFF, Shamsudheen Olakara, believe in cultivating family relation- organisers of the event, yesterday MD, Quality Group of Companies, Sharafdeen, CEO, City Exchange, K Mohammed ships and are in a fortunate position announced that six school teams and Easa, GM, Ali International Trading, and Dr Wandoor P Aboobacker, Chairman, The tolend our voice and support to this 15 district teams will compete at the Scholars International School, during the press conference yesterday. great cause. We feel privileged to have tournament. been a part of this initiative, and we Abdurahman Hassanar, Vice are hopeful that families across the President QIFF, Shamsudheen International School, revealed the needy people in Kerala, said the country and throughout the remainder Olakara, President, QIFF, details about the tournament at a organisers. of the region will feel inspired to carry Sharafdeen P Hameed, CEO, City press conference held at the Shalimar The event is sponsored by City this concept forward in the weeks and Exchange, K Mohammed Easa, Vice- Restaurant.