Celebration to include Japanese and international families, as well as Burmese ethnics

Narinjara News, July 13, 2025

The third annual traditional Thingyan (water festival) in Japan, which is dedicated to raising funds for orphan children in Arakan who have lost their parents in the ongoing war in Arakan (Rakhine) state, will take place on Sunday, August 10.

U Phoe Thein, chairman of the Arakan Social Association of Japan (ASAJ), one of the organizers of the Thingyan Festival, stated that this year's Arakha Thingyan Festival is intended to be held in a grand manner in conjunction with Japanese non-profit organizations (NPOs) and the Arakanese Social Association of Japan (ASAJ).

"The Arakanese ASAJ and the Japanese NPO will put on a spectacular Thingyan festival. There are several young Rakhine men and women arriving in Japan right now. Our objective is to unite them and bring Rakhine young people together, fostering friendship between them," he stated.

The Thingyan festival will take place on August 10 (Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time in Yokohama, Japan, at Umino Kouen Beach.

"This beach rivals Ngapali in the state of Arakan in terms of beauty. It is in Yokohama. We intend to host it in style," U Pho Thein stated.

According to Ko Htun Thet Khaing, a member of the steering committee for the Arakha Thingyan Festival, the event is being organized to spread awareness of the Arakanese traditional culture to the rest of the world, and the money generated from the Thingyan Festival will be prioritized to help orphaned children during the Rakhine conflict.

"We have previously conducted Thingyan here. We hope to improve its success, efficiency, and value as it is held for the third time. The objective remains the same. Our goal in organizing this Thingyan is to help the orphaned children who were abandoned by their parents for a variety of reasons throughout the conflict.”

Along with food and entertainment, the Arakha Thingyan Festival will feature booths where water is poured in accordance with Arakanese's traditional culture.

"Thingyan is not only for ethnic groups in Myanmar, regardless of your ethnicity. We want other international organizations to attend. The essence of our ancient Thingyan is what we want to witness and feel. We want to come and assist and add to the numerous benefits that we are giving the orphans. Everybody is welcome,” Ko Htun Thet Khaing said.

The Arakanese Thingyan Festival in Japan has taken place twice in the past, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak and is now being held this year.

“When you express your culture and tradition internationally, like the Arakanese traditional Thingyan Festival, it is best to do it at a time that suits their country and their season. In Japan, it's not easy to celebrate the Thingyan Festival in the very cold month of April. The Rakhine Thingyan is only at its finest when water is poured. For this reason, we prefer the warm fall season in Japan,” said Ko Soe Naing, a young Arakanese in Japan.

He went on to say that the upcoming Araka Thingyan Festival will be a Thingyan festival that will make both the Arakanese people in Japan and their ethnic Burmese brothers and sisters happy.

The traditional water festival of Arakan used to take place in Myanmar in the middle of April every year, but the weather in Japan at that time of year is so chilly that it is impossible for attendees to play with water.