HER Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, last night graced the One Asia Joint Concert held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas to celebrate the

30th Anniversary of the Brunei-Japan bilateral friendship.

Accompanying Her Royal Highness were YAM Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar; YAM Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Wadood Bolkiah and spouse, Pengiran Seti Aminah binti Pengiran Othman; YAM Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Kadir and wife Dyg Hjh Norashikin binti Hj Johari.

The concert began with performances by AUN J, a popular musical group from Japan comprising eight young Japanese instrument players.

The group has been recognised with prodigious veneration not only within Asia but also Europe.

AUN J gave a number of musical performances and one of the audience’s favourites was “AUN Shamisen” – twin brothers Ryohei and Kohei Inoue played the shamisen in a comical yet astounding way.

The concert also saw a group of five young Bruneian artistes under the umbrella of the Culture and Arts Section, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), performing ‘Gol Gol Nang’.

Both groups then joined forces to perform three numbers – ‘Joget Cok Kerapang’, ‘Furusato’ and ‘One Asia’ – before the concert ended.

The event concluded with a presentation of pesambah to HRH Princess Hjh Masna by the Ambassador of Japan to Brunei Darussalam, Noriko Iki, followed by group photo sessions with the performers.

Brunei was the first stop for this year’s One Asia Joint Concert tour. The next events will be held in Vietnam on December 8 and Myanmar on Dec 12. - Borneo Bulletin (4 December 2014)