VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian diaspora in Japan promoted Indonesian culture through the aroma of Indonesian tea in a festival held by the Indonesian Cultural House in Tokyo on Saturday (1/7). According  to  the  Educational and Cultural Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Tokyo, Yusli Wardiatno,  the activity aims at enshrine Indonesian culture in accredited countries. According to  Yusli,  this event is very important because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to continuously encourage the number of Japanese citizens who love Indonesia or Indonesianists in accredited countries to continuously  grow. He also said  because of this, the program has become one of the media  to increase the number of Indonesianists. As reported by Antara News Agency, visitors were introduced to various Indonesian teas, such as jasmine tea, rose tea, and Moringa leaf tea typical of East Nusa Tenggara. Visitors could also enjoy packaged tea made in Indonesia which is already popular overseas. 

Yusli further   conveyed that tea was chosen because it reflects the uniqueness of the archipelago besides coffee. Previously there was also an Indonesian coffee festival and it received very good welcome and praise from the Japanese people.  According to Yusli, the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo wants to introduce other natural products from Indonesia which have previously been in demand in other countries. It is also hoped that more Japanese people will get to know Indonesian natural products and one of them is tea.  He believes that Indonesian tea will be in demand by Japanese citizens in the future.   He also affirmed that the activity is one of the efforts to strengthen Indonesia's relations with Japan.

Besides culinary, this festival also held a short workshop to learn Balinese gamelan,  namely Rindik. The visitors took turns trying the traditional Balinese musical instrument made of bamboo.  Yusli also hopes that with the introduction of this musical instrument, Japanese people will be more curious and able to learn direct from Bali. The visitors also have the opportunity to get to know and wear batik cloth. This Indonesian tea promotion activity was held in the atmosphere after Emperor Naruhito's historic visit to Indonesia, so that it is hoped that it can strengthen people-to-people contact between Indonesia and Japan