Anime lovers, cosplayers and J-culture enthusiasts, cheered loudly when sumo wrestler-actor Ryusuke Soma said, "Namaste Dilli," at the eighth edition of Konnichiwa Japan in Saket. The two-day cultural fest, held over the weekend, celebrated Japanese crafts like origami and ikebana, food, music and sports like karate and sumo wrestling.
Popocholisu (L) performed at the fest
The fest had many artistes, dressed in traditional and colourful kimonos, performing Japanese-pop music and showcasing rhythmic taiko drumming. Among the crowd, many came for their love for anime. Shalini, a student of Japanese language, said, "I fell in love with Japan because of anime. Anime got me interested in Japanese food and crafts."
<p><br>Sumo wrestlers Yoshinori Tashiro and Ryusuke Soma displayed their strength, tricks and flexibility on stage</p>
Karaage, matcha roll, sushi: Delhiites enjoy Japanese foodThe festival was a treat for foodies, with a range of Japanese food like karaage, sushi, okonomiyaki, matcha roll and matcha tiramisu on offer. "Metro cities including Delhi love matcha. From matcha latte and iced matcha to matcha roll and tiramisu, we made sure Delhi tries matcha in various forms," says a vendor.
From matcha to ramen, visitors had a variety of Japanese food to try
Dhruv Thukral, Japanese resto Asagao's owner, observed that Delhiites have embraced the authentic flavours of ramen. "I love everything about Japan, especially the food. I tried the Japanese fried chicken called karaage with tartar sauce today and it was really good," said Piyush, a visitor.
Delhiites enjoyed Japanese delicacies
"Konnichiwa Japan serves as a bridge to foster personal connections between the people of India and Japan. Each year, we bring new talent from Japan to India, and we believe that fostering cultural understanding is key to strengthening ties," remarked Markus, founder and chairman of the Konnichiwa Japan Club.
Cosplayers showcased their love for anime with their acts and cosplay walk
Anime merch was a hotseller at Konnichiwa Japan
Top-selling anime figurines Itachi from Naruto
Tanjiro from Demon Slayer
Luffy from One Piece
Goku from Dragon Ball Z
Zoro from Dragon Ball Z
-inputs from Bhupinder, who is an anime merch seller
Shinchan and Nobita are among the most-loved collectibles
Apart from anime figurines, people love buying kawaii, the cute stationery and accesories inspired by the Japanese culture. Kathy, whose love for kawaii promoted her to set up a kawai business in NCR, said, "Plushy keychains, clips, stationery, bracelets, stickers and anime lomo cards, people love buying kawaii. Hello Kitty is a forever favourite for any kawaii collector"
Kawaii store attracted many visitors
Yasu and Sena showcased karate skills
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