Romania and Japan engage in cultural exchange through folklore and music

Cultural exchange initiatives between Romania and Japan are taking place through both folk traditions and classical music. The professional folklore ensemble ‘Junii Sibiului’ is representing Romania in Japan as part of the project ‘From the Miorița Ballad to the Master Bird – Romanian Traditional Echoes in the Land of the Rising Sun’. The program, supported by the Romanian Embassy in Japan and the Ministry of Culture, includes musical performances, traditional dances, and exhibitions of Brâncuși’s work and traditional costumes in Tokyo and at Shirayuri University.

Simultaneously, the ‘Aripi’ (Wings) tour, organized by the Union of Interpretative Creation of Musicians in Romania (UCIMR) and the Romanian Music Society in Japan, is bringing Japanese pianists to Romania. From October 12 to 16, award-winning pianists Hazuki Katsuda, Mana Shimizu, Rei Taniguchi, and Saaya Paku will perform recitals in Bucharest, Brașov, and Ciolcești. The tour highlights the musical connections between the two nations, featuring performers who have achieved success in various international competitions.