Photo: Prensa Latina.

Havana, May 23 (RHC) --The 10th Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development has Japan at the center of the debate among specialists, descendants and scholars of Asian traditions in the Cuban city of Camagüey.

For the Office of the Historian of the City -OHCC-, these events that have respect for multiple cultures as a premise, the opportunity to look at Japan and its legacy in Cuba, is key to follow the guide of the Universal Declaration of UNESCO on Cultural Diversity.

With the presence of the ambassador of the so-called Nation of the Rising Sun, Hirata Kenji, OHCC director Jose Rodriguez reviewed the importance of these events.

"Because man has been subjugated through centuries and has discriminated against different cultures and forms of expression, and its peak example comes with the World Wars," said the researcher.

For the historian "culture will always be at the core of the debate, its distinctive features, material and immaterial values, system of beliefs that identifies a society, its respect is the only thing that can lead us to world peace," he said.

The largest island of the Antilles, which saw the arrival of the first Japanese in the 17th century, thanks to the exploitation of a trade route between Mexico and the eastern country, still has much of its culture with a certain Asian influence.

"We cannot forget that Cuba is a great mixture, a culture forged by several continents and whose expressions, even in the arts, have been recognized on more than one occasion by UNESCO," said Rodriguez. said Rodriguez.

For his part, the diplomat gave a lecture on "Traditional Japanese Architecture" to refer to the respect for the enormous heritage of his country with different styles before being influenced by contacts with European culture and the United States.

The opening day was also marked by the presentation of the audiovisual "Children of the Chrysanthemum", by the specialist of the House of Cultural Diversity, Oreidis Pimentel, as well as the presentation of the Living Heritage 2023 Award.

Contacts between Cuba and Japan have been more evident this year, since in April the Hanami event was held, with the presence of important writers from that nation, and where the debate about the Japanese influence in the Caribbean was a constant.

Two important dates also frame the celebration of the 10th Cultural Diversity Day in Camagüey: May 21, World Day for Cultural Diversity, and May 25, globally declared Africa Day.