The biggest festival dedicated to Japanese culture in Lithuania is back – “Japan Days in Kaunas WA” | Culture

Among the most anticipated performances of the festival are the light architecture and dance performances “States” and “Intensivoji dalelė” by Hiroaki Umeda, one of the most famous names of the Japanese avant-garde scene, which will be held at Kaunas Cinema Center “Romuva” on May 9.

Hiroaki Umeda’s work pulses and mesmerizes with its powerful energy, digital graphics and synergy of body movement on stage. Since founding his troupe S20, his delicate yet brutal dance performances have toured the world to critical and audience acclaim. The opening concert of the festival, scheduled for May 8, will invite you to get to know the modern world of Tokyo street fashion with a performance created by the Japanese designer Sebastian Masuda, who is titled the king of Kawaii fashion, and the Kaunas dance theater “Aura”.

Organizers’ photo/Hiroaki Umeda, performance “States”

For almost 30 years, the designer has been spreading the philosophy of the Japanese Kawaii culture all over the world with his unique creations and aims for every person to be able to boldly accept and reveal all their colors.

Japanese Ambassador to Lithuania Testu Ozaki said: “I am glad that Kaunas continues the beautiful traditions of presenting Japanese culture, I am grateful to the organizers and partners of the “Japan Day in Kaunas WA” festival for their efforts in bringing Japan closer to the people of Kaunas. This time, the official delegation of the Japan-Lithuania Friendship Association is coming from Japan, including the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Lithuania Shigehiro Komaru and other honorary consuls, as well as the partners of the city of Kaunas – delegations from the town of Jaotsu in Gifu Prefecture and the city of Hiratsuka in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Organizers’ photo/Hiroaki Umeda, performance “Intensive Particle”

I am glad that “Japan Days in Kaunas WA” has a deep meaning not only for Kaunas itself but also for Japan, and I look forward to the moment when we can enjoy this festival together with our partners from both countries. We hope that this festival will be unforgettable for everyone.”

At the opening concert of the festival, the artists of the partner cities of Kaunas will present exceptional performances to lovers of traditional Japanese culture. Hiratsuka performers Chiyowaka Ichikawa and Jack perform kabuki dance and tsugaru-shamisen music in the “One Life Chance” performance, which combines four centuries of kabuki theater tradition and the sound of the shamisen, a three-stringed musical instrument from northern Japan.

Yukina Yamamoto, calligraphy performance “Ibuki – Breath of Life”

The calligraphy and video projection performance “Connections of Life” by the artist Haru from the town of Yaocu will combine the historical tradition of calligraphy with futuristic drawings. At the closing concert of the festival on May 11, Yusumire Otowa and Koho Otowa, performers of the Otowa-ryu traditional Japanese dance school, will reveal the art of storytelling through dance and costume in the performance “Dance of the Lion and the Cub”, while the tradition of peaceful drum music will be pulsating with the performance of Toru Hasegawa.

On May 10, the calligraphy and dance performance 息吹 Ibuki – Breath of Life by Yukina Yamamoto (Japan) and Tuuli Malla (Finland) will invite you to experience the synergy of modern art and traditions.

“Japanese Days in Kaunas WA” is a product of cultural cooperation between Lithuania and Japan, which has been fostered for many years now, and thanks to a large group of partners, annually creates a special Japanese holiday for the people of Kaunas. I warmly invite you to join us on a journey through the Land of the Rising Sun in Kaunas”, said festival manager Emilija Šakalienė.

Photo of the organizers/Kawaii fashion designer Sebastian Masuda

Festival program with which you can familiarize yourself with the festival on the page. It will be full of informative lectures, exhibitions, creative workshops and other interesting events that will allow you to discover Japan in Kaunas. In the Sugihara House Museum located in the former Japanese consulate in Kaunas, an exhibition of drawings by Japanese and Lithuanian students “Bridges of Friendship” will be exhibited, and educational activities will be held. The VMU Asian Studies Center will welcome Japan lovers in lectures that will allow them to get to know this wonderful country better, and the Kaunas Education Innovation Center will gather the Kaunas school community in activities dedicated to Japanese culture and invite them to dance the tanabata-odori dance together on Unity Square.

The events of the “Japan Days in Kaunas WA” festival will take place in the Kaunas Cinema Center “Romuva” (Laisvės al. 54) and other spaces in the city.

Follow the news of the festival hereand you will find the festival program here. Most events are free.