Angklung Music Group Tours Japan

Students and alumni of the SMA Negeri 3 high school in Bandung, West Java, have given traditional angklung performances in six countries to promote the "Wonderful Indonesia" campaign. 
 

Students and alumni of the SMA Negeri 3 high school in Bandung, West Java, have given traditional angklung performances in six countries to promote the 'Wonderful Indonesia' campaign. (Photo courtesy of the Angklung Family Association official Facebook account)

The group, named the Angklung Family Association, will continue their world tour with concerts in Japan's Kanagawa and Tokyo on Aug. 24-30. 

Zharifah Raihannah Shiddiq, committee head of the 2017 Expand the Sound of Angklung tour, said the shows will attract Japanese youth to the unique sounds of the musical instrument.

For six days, the group will perform at the Sunpearl Arakawa Hall in Tokyo, while the Zushi Culture Plaza Hall will host the group's performance in Kanagawa. 

"The visitors are music lovers or students who will come with their families. We believe this activity will strengthen the Wonderful Indonesia brand," Zharifah said.
The group will also play in front of Japanese government officials, chief executives of leading companies and other prominent public figures at a reception hosted by the Indonesian Embassy at Tokyo's Imperial Hotel on Aug. 25. 

"At the diplomatic reception, the Angklung Family Association will perform janger, a traditional dance from Bali, and bajidor kahot, a traditional dance from West Java," Zharifah said.
Last year, the Angklung Family Association was awarded the Gold Band prize at the Youth Music Festival. (JakartaGlobe)