JABAR ESKPRES – Director General of Culture at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Hilmar Farid said the visit of Japanese Emperor Hironomiya Naruhito and Empress Masako to the National Museum, Jakarta, showed Japan’s interest in Indonesian culture.
“The Emperor’s visit is very special for us and shows that the Emperor’s visit is not only about economic and geopolitical cooperation in the region, but also about culture,” Hilmar told Antara at the National Museum, Jakarta, Tuesday, as quoted by Jabarekspres.com (20/6).
Hilmar admitted that Emperor Naruhito’s visit was very meaningful for both the Ministry of Culture and the National Museum considering that the Emperor and Empress of Japan were very impressed with various collections in this museum.
He said Emperor Naruhito was very interested in all the explanations given by the curators of the National Museum ranging from human civilization in Indonesia, cultural and artistic diversity, irrigation systems to gold collections.
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“The Emperor does have a special concern about water because that was his field of study. But after I saw earlier, his interests are actually broader, not only water but also about history, culture and language,” said Hilmar.
Even Emperor Naruhito and his entourage were amazed when Hilmar explained that Indonesia has 17 thousand islands with 1,100 ethnicities and 600 languages.
Hilmar said that for the Emperor and Empress of Japan, it was very interesting considering that Indonesia can still live side by side, united, and peaceful, despite many differences.
“What they said was amazing because it turns out we can live together in such a big country. A country so diverse,” she said.
Head of the National Museum Ni Luh Putu Candra Dewi said the collections visited by Emperor Naruhito at the museum were determined directly by the Japanese side which was tailored to the wishes and interests of the Emperor.
