by Zanita Carem
Mrs. Nana Kashimoto is a Japanese photographer who has been living in Sri Lanka for the past 25 years. She has travelled to almost all parts of the country and captured the natural beauty, festivals and its people. She held several photographic exhibitions in Sri Lanka and abroad.

This year, she held a photographic exhibition "Sound of Sri Lanka, Sight of Japan" at Taj Samudra Hotel Colombo. Hon. Minister of Tourism, Mr. Gamini Lokuge was the chief guest and H.E. Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Seiichiro Otsuka was the guest of honour.

This time, she is going to exhibit her photographs of Sri Lanka at the Sri Lankan festival in Tokyo Hilton to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Japan. Now she prepares to spend over US $2000. (included her air ticket) to participate in the festival.

"I’d like to show the beautiful island to the Japanese visitors of the festival in Tokyo. I hope my photographs attract the people and explain - Sri Lanka is a such nice country to see - more than any words."

Mrs. Kashimoto is not a stranger to Sri Lanka and she has been here for the last 25 years under the Resident Guest Scheme. She and her photographer husband Mr. Masami Kashimoto need no introduction to the lovers of art in Sri Lanka as well as other countries such as Japan, South Korea and France, where they have had series of exhibitions depicting different aspects of Sri Lankan people, culture, nature and other multitude of attractions relevant to tourism in Sri Lanka.

This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to take a peep into the history of cordial relations and cultural exchanges between Sri Lanka and Japan.