The Diplomat
Last week, the Instituto Cervantes in Tokyo organized a day in which professors Fernando Aparicio and Kiwa Ojiri spoke about the foundation of Panama City on August 15, 1519.
Both experts toured the history of the city from the arrival of its founder, Pedrarias Dávila, to the construction of the canal, with special recognition for the work of Japanese engineer Akira Aoyama and his contributions to the Gatún dam.
With these conferences and the screening of the film “Historias del Canal”, the Instituto Cervantes is one of the main venues for the celebration of Panama’s fifth centennial, which began with the tour of Panamanian singer-songwriter Patricia Vlieg, accompanied by guitarist Vilma Esquivel and Japanese violinist Takayuki Oshikane.