Vilnius, Lithuania holds Japan Cultural Festival to promote cultural exchanges with Hitachi
Quick Look
- Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, held the 3rd Japan Cultural Festival "Bon Odori" from the 5th to the 6th.
- Through dance, music, food and cultural experience activities, the courtyard of the historical house in the city center was transformed into a "Little Japan", attracting many people to participate.
- Shinsuke Shimizu, the Japanese ambassador to Lithuania, also joined the dance in person, saying that this move reflected the deep friendship between the two countries, which can be traced back to the era of Chiune Sugihara.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The history of friendship between Lithuania and Japan can be traced back to World War II. Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese consul in Lithuania, issued visas to help thousands of Jewish refugees escape Nazi persecution. His humanitarian deeds were widely praised in Lithuanian society and became an important symbol of Japan-Japan relations. In recent years, the two countries have continued to deepen interactions at the level of culture, education and people-to-people exchanges.
(Central News Agency reporter Yu Yaoju Vilnius, 7th) The Japanese Cultural Festival "Bon Odori" will be held in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, from the 5th to the 6th. The courtyard of the historical house in the city center will be transformed into a "Little Japan" to promote exchanges through dance, music, food and cultural experience activities, attracting many people to experience the charm of Japanese traditional culture up close.
The Japan Culture Festival enters its third year this year. The culture festival focuses on the traditional Japanese summer "Bon Odori" and combines performances and interactive experiences to allow participants to understand Japanese culture in a relaxed atmosphere.
"Bon Oori" is a traditional Japanese summer dance performed during Obon to honor ancestors. This tradition has a history of more than 500 years in Japan and was included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2022.
This year, the organizer, the Lithuanian Asian Arts Center (Asian Arts Centre), invited the 22-member performance group "Kikusui Ren" belonging to the Koenji Awa Odori Association in Tokyo to bring the energetic "Bon Oori" to the Lithuanian people, with live performance of taiko drums and traditional Japanese instruments, showing a strong festival atmosphere.
After the performance, the organizer also arranged a Bon Dance experience, with demonstrations and teaching by the performing group, and people were invited to join in the dance. The atmosphere was warm and brought a climax to the celebration.
Shinsuke Shimizu, the Japanese ambassador to Lithuania, also came to attend the celebration and joined the dance. In an interview with a reporter from the Central News Agency, he said that he was very happy to see so many Lithuanian people coming to appreciate Japanese culture. "This is the third time that the Bon Odori event has been held. Every year, people are attracted to participate and enjoy it, which makes me very happy." He pointed out that such enthusiastic participation reflects the deep friendship between the two countries. "This friendship can be traced back to the era of Chiune Sugihara and continues to develop and deepen."
In addition to dance performances, the Vilnius Japanese Culture Festival also includes workshops on calligraphy, ink painting, ikebana, sashiko embroidery, and kimono culture. It also has a Japanese craft market and a food area where the public can taste Japanese cuisine. In addition, there are displays of Aikido and Karate, showing the spirit of traditional Japanese martial arts.
Arvydas Kumpis, a Lithuanian scholar and director of the Asian Studies Center at Vytautas Magnus University, said in an interview that Japanese culture has accumulated a long-term influence in Lithuania, and it has a foundation in politics, cultural understanding, and people-to-people exchanges, making it relatively prominent in East Asian culture. He pointed out that, influenced by historical figures such as Sugihara Chiune, the image of Japan is quite positive in Lithuania. In addition, popular culture such as animation and food is widely popular, making it easier for people to resonate with it.
Chiune Sugihara was the Japanese consul in Lithuania during World War II. In 1940, he issued visas to thousands of Jewish refugees to help them escape Nazi persecution. He is regarded as one of the important historical symbols of Hitachi friendship. His humanitarian deeds are still widely praised in Lithuanian society.
Regarding this cultural festival, he believes that such activities are very necessary. They not only provide a platform for cultural enthusiasts to communicate, but also promote the establishment of connections between people. "This is not a top-down official event, but a spontaneous participation and exchange by people who are interested in Japanese culture." It will help deepen bilateral non-governmental interactions. (Editor: Chen Huiping) 1150907
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Lithuanian Asian Art Center will continue to hold the Japanese Cultural Festival every year and may expand the scale and content of the event.
Likely · Within years
Open Questions
- Will the Japanese Cultural Festival be included in Lithuania’s annual fixed cultural events in the future?
- Will the holding of the cultural festival lead to an increase in tourism or economic cooperation between Lithuania and Japan?
- Are there any plans to expand this type of cultural festival to other Lithuanian cities?
