news.am, Armenia
Aug 6 2011

Hikari – piece of Japan in Armenia

August 06, 2011 | 22:01

YEREVAN.- Origami is not only an ancient art. It is a kind of therapy
acknowledged by modern medicine, said head of Yerevan-based Hikari
center Karine Piliposyan.

Hikari, translated as `light’ from Japanese, was created three years
ago, the main direction is teaching children the ancient Japanese art
of origami.

`However, we are not teaching traditional origami, we complement and
develop it to create something new,’ she said.

About 40 children included in four groups are studying origami art in
the center, the youngest are only four years old. Their works were
presented in the Armenian capital on June 17 at a charity origami
exhibition with proceeds to be sent to the Japanese Embassy in Moscow
to aid some children’s institution in disaster-hit Japan.

Karine Piliposyan pointed out indifferent attitude of the Armenian
officials towards the exhibition.

`Origami exhibition was held at the City Hall but representatives of
the municipality did not show any interest,’ she emphasized.

In addition to promoting an origami art, the center stages
performances and marks the Japanese national and state holidays.

The center is presently located in the building of the National Arts
Centre which is in need of repair.

`We have applied to Japanese Embassy for financial assistance,’ Piliposyan said.

According to her, if the center had a large room, it would be possible
to have more groups without age restrictions, open language groups and
a group of Japanese ceramics.

`If we manage to implement our ideas, it will be a piece of Japan in
Yerevan,’ head of the center concluded.