Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo holds 16th Thai Festival

16/05/2015

The Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo held the 16th Thai Festival under the theme “Have a RICE Day” at the Yoyogi Park during 16 -17 May 2015. The year 2015 marks the 88th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, which is called Beiju in Japanese traditions. The word “Beiju” is spelled with a kanji character representing the meaning of rice which matches with the main theme of the festival.

H.E. General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Mr. Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan and Chairman of Japan-Thailand Parliamentary Friendship Group, were the guests of honour who presided over the Opening Ceremony of the festival in the morning of 16 May 2015. Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Hiroyasu Ando, President of the Japan Foundation, and Mr Hiroshi Muto, Vice-Minister of Transport, Tourism, and International Affairs, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, and diplomatic corps were of the high-ranking guests. Thanpuying Supornphen Luangthepnimit, Her Majesty´s Deputy Private Secretary also joined the event as well as exhibited previous products from Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s Royal projects.

There were more than 188 booths of food, beverages, shops, and various Thai authorities exhibited in the festival. The Royal Thai Embassy also organized the exhibition entitled to commemorate King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s royal duties in the field of agriculture and Thai rice.

The stage performances by many famous Thai singers and performers were well-responded by Thai and Japanese audience. Approximately, there were more than 350,000 people visiting the festival this year.