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Chairman of the Golkar Party’s Central Executive Board, Airlangga Hartarto (third from left), delivers a speech at the 46th-anniversary celebration of AMPI in Jakarta, Friday (August 2, 2024). (Photo: ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi/aa.)

VOI News, Jakarta: Jember District Head Hendy Siswanto has stated that the Jember Fashion Carnival (JFC) is expected to step up the harmonious relations fostered between Indonesia and Japan since it draws participation from 136 Japanese talents.

As reported by Antara News Agency on Saturday (3/8) Siswanto conveyed that the Japanese delegates' participation in the carnival being held in Jember District, East Java, on August 2-4, 2024, would have multiplier effects on the local economy and help introduce the local culture to a broader population.

"Moreover, the Japanese public will get to know Indonesia's tourism destinations; micro, small, and medium enterprises; as well as culinary and artistic appeals better," he  stated during the JFC gala dinner and press conference in Jember on Friday (August 2) evening.

Meanwhile, JFC President Budi Setiawan commended Sakuranesia Society, a Japan-Indonesia foundation, for roping in talented Japanese artists to perform at Jember's world-class carnival.

"The 22nd JFC will also feature a spectacular fireworks display as a result of collaboration between Japan and Indonesia," he pointd out.

Moreover, Setiawan expressed his optimism that the collaboration of both countries  would strengthen their bonds  and lead to intensified economic cooperation.

Japanese artists participating in the JFC are singer Aoi and the dance group Kadokawa Dreams. Aoi has already performed in the World Kids Carnival, which is the opener of the series of events featured in the JFC.

The 2024 JFC, adopting "Algorithm" as its main theme and "Beyond Binary of Our Story" as its tagline, presented unique costumes on a 3.6-kilometer catwalk during the World Kids Carnival.

On the occasion, children strutted down the catwalk in costumes that highlighted 10 different themes, namely Wayang, Chess, Versailles, Media, Betta Fish, Climate Change, Zodiac, Fairy, Jember, and Rio Carnival.