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apfseditor 
On Saturday, November 7th, the 16th "You Don't Know Asia Fair in Oyama" was held in a big way in the square in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Tax Office in Itabashi. Due to the influence of the typhoon, the event was postponed by one week from the original date (October 31st). Fortunately, the weather on the day was so good that it was hard to believe the stormy weather from a week ago, and we even got a little sweaty.
This year's Asia Fair was held in collaboration with the local Yuza Oyama Shopping District Promotion Association, and with their help, the event became even more community-based. It was a great opportunity to once again realize how much APFS is supported by the local community.
The "Asia Fair" was broadly divided into two events: the "Asia Food Stall Village" and the "Asia Stage."
At the "Asia Food Stall Village," stalls from eight countries - Bangladesh, the Philippines, Burma, Thailand, Pakistan, Iran, Hungary, and Korea - were set up, each showcasing the best flavors of their country. Passersby seemed to be drawn in by the appetizing smells.
Seven groups (plus one pop-in group!) performed at the "Asia Stage," which introduced dance and music related to Asia, fully demonstrating the results of their daily practice and the unique qualities of each group. Some of the groups that performed gave detailed explanations so that the meaning of the choreography could be understood, and some even made efforts to allow the audience at the venue to participate, and it was very impressive to see the performers and the audience at the venue enjoying themselves together.
In this way, the Asia Fair became an event that could be experienced with taste, sight, sound, and the whole body. I'm sure that the customers who stopped by were able to feel the energy and passion for their culture from the food stalls, the stage, and all over the venue.
APFS would like to continue to deepen its ties with the local community and develop activities that take advantage of the energetic and unique characteristics of the region, with a focus on "Asia."