ChamnanMuon.com: Japan

On Monday 24th of December 2012, NTV aired its final round of "Nodojiman Za! World 2012". It features amateur singers from across Japan who sing their hearts out before a nationwide audience, specifically for foreign residents who love singing J-Pop songs in Japanese.

Proudly, there's a Cambodian student who has a chance to be there along with getting back with the win!

Today around 2:00 pm, I met Cambodia representative and asked for short interview with related his presence during this event in Japan that I watched his performance on a video shared by a friend on Facebook, so it makes me feel proud to see him on the stage - that's a reason why I decide to share it here.
Do you know who is he, where he's from, why he has a chance to sing J-Pop song in Japan?
His name's Thet Chan Sothea who is pursuing his bachelor degree in The Japanese Language for Education in 4th year at Institute of Foreign Language (IFL), Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

What makes you be on NTV in Japan?
I was the first-prize winner of nationwide Nodojiman 2011 in Cambodia, that event organized by Embassy of Japan in Cambodia and CJCC, and then a local network of NTV in Cambodia found and contact me to sing in Japan. So the NTV network gave me three times to test my voice with other local winners, the number 2 & 3, and finally, I was selected to go to Japan. I have never thought I will be invited to sing in Japan such a chance!

How many do participants join?
There are 16 singers, from 12 nations (USA, France, Argentina, Norway, Australia, Italy, Romania, United Kingdom, Brazil, Turkey, Philippines and Cambodia), who loves Japan and Japanese Music, and divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) with four participants each. The participant who gets the highest score in each group advances to the final round to compete against the other group winners. I am the first participant from Cambodia.

What do you feel when you are on the stage in Japan?
Yeah, before going up to the stage I met other participants from the 12 nations, I first feel not so compatible because it's my first time but other more times than me. What I am happy is to be warmly welcomed from all of them.
What I feel doubt is when the TV staffs asked me where I come from, and I told them I came from Cambodia; unfortunately, they seem they don't know our country unless I explain about the country where has Angkor Wat.

By the way, which country and who wins the prize?
Yes, there are only two countries, United Kingdom, Mr. Paul Ballard, and Cambodia, me. I got the Special Award/prize. To be easy to understand, he got the 1st prize, and I got the 2nd prize.

Check out the video below of Mr. Chan Sothea's performance:

Please keep in touch with him on Facebook.

You can check it out all participants profile here!

The First Cambodian Student Sings J-Pop during Nodojiman Za! World 2012 in Japan

In order to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Friendship between Japan and Cambodia, Embassy of Japan in Cambodia (EoJ) and Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center (CJCC) have co-organized an event, Japan-Cambodia Kizuna Festival, that will be held on 21-24 February 2013 at CJCC. During the event, there will be various cultural events and exhibitions such as Kendo, Aikido, Fashion Show, Quiz Game, Japanese Movie, Tea Ceremony, Mochi-Tsuki & Ombok, Nodojiman Contest, Characters Exhibition "JAPAN: Kingdom of Characters", and more.

The purpose of Japan-Cambodia Kizuna Festival
"which is the combination of CJCC Festival and Japan Week Festival of Embassy of Japan for the purpose of introducing Japanese traditional and modern culture in Cambodia and promoting cultural exchange between the two nations"

What interests me to post it here?
While I arrived my workplace, at lobby, where the exhibition displays, I am surprised to see these kind of dolls for the first time since I used to watch it some on cartoon movies. I personally think the word "Characters Exhibition" should be named "Dolls Exhibition", am I right? But any way it's the official name of the event.

Do you think all the dolls for kids?
Not at all, I have asked my co-worker, Japanese expert that the Japanese dolls are characterized by serene and delicate facial expressions and beautiful costumes. In Japanese culture these dolls are considered works of art instead of toys for kids. And the Japanese word for the dolls literally means human form. There are various types of Japanese dolls, they can represent children, warriors, fairy-tale characters, gods and people during their daily activities. The doll tradition is believed to have started around 300 B.C, but is still so much alive today. The dolls are still used for formal gift-giving, household shrines and festival celebrations such as Hinamatsuri, the doll festival, the one day festival, which celebrates the superstition that dolls can project people against evil spirits.

So let me show you some photos as the following: