Asunción, Agencia IP.- On August 13, the iconic «Ignacio A. Pane» Municipal Theater in Asunción will host an unprecedented concert: 20 Japanese harpists will perform a musical tribute to Paraguay, a country they affectionately call «Arpalandia.»
The visit of the Japanese delegation is part of the celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the Guarania. The tour aims to strengthen the bonds between the two nations through music, under the slogan: «Paraguay to Nihon Kokoro wo hitotsu ni» («Paraguay and Japan united by one heart»).
The musicians are students from the harp academy founded in Tokyo by the renowned Paraguayan harpist and cultural ambassador to Japan, Enrique Carrera, along with his wife, Japanese harpist Arisa Matsuki. The couple resides in Japan, also known as the Land of the Rising Sun.
Paraguayan harp and ñandutí captivate Japanese audiences
Carrera, who performed at Paraguay’s National Day celebration during Expo Osaka, announced that he will return to Paraguay in August, accompanied by 20 students, to offer the tribute concert.
The maestro shared the news with the Ikigai Paraguay team during a visit to Paraguay’s pavilion at the Expo, where the echoes of applause from the National Day celebration still resonate, after a dazzling harp performance that captivated more than a thousand spectators.
The concert repertoire will include traditional Japanese and Paraguayan pieces, as well as international compositions, performed by harpists who are already emerging as professionals in Japan. «They’re very excited to play in Paraguay, which they lovingly call ‘Arpalandia’ — that’s how they know the country,» Carrera added.
«Paraguay’s presence at the Expo is very important because the Japanese are very familiar with the Paraguayan harp. It resembles their instrument, the koto, a horizontal harp. They really enjoy its clear, bright sound, and they’re also very fond of ñandutí, the traditional Paraguayan lacework,» he explained.
Paraguay at Expo Osaka 2025
Paraguay’s pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025 has become one of the event’s most notable cultural showcases. With a concept that blends tradition and modernity, the national stand presents the world with Paraguay’s harp artistry, ñandutí, biodiversity, cuisine, and investment opportunities.
Expo Osaka, which brings together over 150 countries, is a global platform to showcase the best each nation has to offer. Paraguay’s participation has sparked great interest among Japanese visitors, particularly due to their cultural affinity with the harp and the shared values of harmony and beauty that both nations hold in common.