Japanese Culture Days (12th Edition)
The ”Angela Hondru” Romanian-Japanese Studies Center, within the Romanian-American University, will organize with the support of the Embassy of Japan in Romania, the 12th edition of Japanese Culture Days festival, between 15th and 18th of May 2023. The purpose of the event is to bring the Romanian public closer to the Japanese traditional culture, as well as to the contemporary one. This year’s festival will mark 18 years since the establishment of our Center and the best 10 Japanese language students will be awarded at the Haru Urara anniversary Gala.
We invite you to participate in a series of events where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Japanese ceramics through a dedicated exhibition, to explore the secrets of Japanese arts like origami and ikebana, to participate in lectures and conferences on topics like robotics, Mastery in Japan, and the art of geisha, as well as to enjoy a marvelous show of flower arrangements and Japanese traditional music performed by notorious artists, known all over the world.
Schedule of Japanese Culture Days 2023
15- 19th of May 2023
- Introduction to Neural Engineering – IT students are invited to a special one-week lecture held by Mr. Isao Nambu, professor at the Nagaoka University of Technology.
Tuesday, 16th of May 2023
- Ways to Mastery in Japan: Producing Naro.tv Courses from Anime to Zen – The online lecture will be held under the guidance of Dr. Jordan Smith, Vice President of Content & Storytelling for Naro.tv, starting from 4 PM.
Wednesday, 17th of May 2023
- Origami Workshop – Starting from 2:30 PM, you are invited to learn about the shape and the patterns of paper, through the workshop held by Alexandra Baranyi (Origami Friends), at the “Angela Hondru” Romanian Japanese Studies Center (room 322).
- Ikebana Workshop & Ceramics Exhibition – Starting at 5:30 PM, Nicoleta Oprisan (5 Senses Ikebana), well-known ikebana artist in Japan, will organize a workshop and a demonstration, where the participants can admire the flower arrangements made according to Sogetsu School’s style, and also can admire the wonderful ceramics art created by Sandra Berghianu. The event will take place at the Senate Room of the Romanian American University.
Thursday, 18th of May 2023
- One Year in Pontocho: Ritual and Pleasure in the Geisha World – From 10 AM, Carmen Tamas, professor at Hyogo University, will be holding the lecture at the “Angela Hondru” Romanian Japanese Studies Center, room 322.
- Haru Urara Grand Festa – The main event of the Japanese Culture Days will take place in the Aula Magna, at the Romanian-American University, from 7 PM. We will celebrate the 18th anniversary of our Center. The main attraction of the evening will be an impressive ikebana performance by Nicoleta Oprisan (Romanian artist, based in Tokyo, authorized teacher of Sogetsu School), assisted by masters Yamada Hirofumi and Yamada Kumiko. The show will be accompanied by a Japanese traditional music concert conducted by Yutaka Oyama (shamisen) and Akihito Obama (shakuhachi), featuring the renowned composer Naoki Tate as a special guest. As always, our anniversary event will be marked by the award ceremony of the best 10 students of our Center, where the first place will be rewarded with a scholarship to Japan.
The Gala will enjoy the presence of His Excellency Mr. Hiroshi Ueda, Ambassador of Japan to Romania, representatives of Japanese companies in Romania, as well the Japanese community, media, and appreciators of Japanese culture.
Organizers: Romanian-American University, „Angela Hondru” Romanian-Japanese Studies Center, with the support of Embassy of Japan in Romania and 5Senses
Main Sponsors: JTI, Wise Finance Solutions, Honda, Free Spirit, Japan By Myself, Exact Tours, Vilt Industries, Hotel Cismigiu, Makita, Zensushi, Tenshin New Era Fashion, Izanagi, PETCU, Nemira, Nezumi by Nemira
Media Partners: Radio Guerilla