On 30 August 2015 the OCU Global Exchange Office, in cooperation with the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Osaka and the Special Region of Yogyakarta, hosted an Indonesian Court Dance and Gamelan performance at the Tanaka Memorial hall. The event was held to celebrate the 135^th anniversary of Osaka City University and to commemorate the independence of the Republic of Indonesia 70 years ago.

 Prof. Nakagawa explaining
 the performance

For this special performance dancers and musicians from the former capital of Yogyakarta in Central Java visited Japan to perform traditional dances from the Yogyakarta court. Professor Shin Nakagawa of the OCU Graduate School of Literature and Human Sciences explained the dance and music to the audience. To make it a truly cultural exchange, there was also a performance of traditional Japanese obon-dance accompanied by gamelan music.


　
　　　　　　　　　Java dance　　　　　　　　　　　　　　     Obon dance with gamelan music

Gamelan

Originating from the word Gamel (meaning hammering), Gamelan is traditional Indonesian ensemble music consisting principally of copper percussion instruments, often musically accompanying dance and theater performances.