Japan Day at Central Park

Today was a Japan Day at Central Park.

Finale was performed by 6 members from a famous Japanese girls band called AKB 48. Very overcrowded around me at this moment although it is obviously a lot more convenient than watching them in Japan. Impressed to see that some of them were bilingal speaking fluent English.
I see some the strategy here of exporting Japanese soft power. Japanese skills and know-how itself may be suffecient to potencially compete in the world however we tend to lack the methodology to implement which includes overcoming language and cultural barriers. In all industries, bilingals who understand the business in Japan would definitely be helpful when expanding business outside Japan.

Also it was nice to see some bits of Japanese culture being recognized by non-Japanese. I hope they will become interested to visit the country someday. There are many many things that are not known to foreigners which may be discovered by being on the ground.