On the occasion of the 40^th anniversary of cultural ties between Mongolia and Japan, the opening ceremony of the Japanese Arts Festival was held at the National Theatre of Japan, on October 1^st.

A group of artists, dancers and musicians from Mongolia, including Bilguun Undarga center performers, and folk-ethnic band Legend (Domog) members, led by State Honored Merit Artist of Mongolia, D.Sosorbaram, and other invited singers and contortionists performed Mongolian folk dances, songs, shaman dances and tsam dance.

The concert also featured Japanese religious mantra songs in various voices and tsam dance.

More than 1,500 visitors, including Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako of Japan, Chairman of the Japanese-Mongolian Friendship Group of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party M.Hayashi; S.Eda; mother of Japan's Prime Minister, Yo.Abe, Japan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sh.Sugiyama; Japanese culture agency officials; political, cultural and public figures; and foreign diplomatic representatives enjoyed the concert.

Following the  concert, Crown Prince of Japan Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako received the Mongolian artists and were reminded of visiting Mongolia and playing violin along with the Horse Head Fiddle Ensemble of Mongolia. During the brief meeting, State Honored Merit Artist of Mongolia, D.Sosorbaram explained  Mongolian national musical instruments and folk art and presented a gift of Mongolian calligraphy to Crown Prince Naruhito

The Mongolian folk artists will perform in Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Fukuoka, Oita, and  Tokishima  prefectures and the cities of Osaka and Izumi Sanno between October 2-17^th.