KYŌSŌ / Japan Festival - Cultural programs in Veszprém

On the last Saturday of August, the Japanese Center and the Arts Center invite you to a one-day mini-festival based on the fusion of Japanese and Hungarian culture. 1-day mini-festival based on the fusion of Japanese and Hungarian culture.

The changing seasons create rhythm, bring variety to our everyday lives, and ensure a constant sense of renewal. This event is part of the preparatory program for the "KYŌSŌ project," which will be realized next year. KYŌ-SŌ means: 響= sound, echo, resonance 創= creation, creation. The aim of the project is to bring Japanese and Hungarian artists together through cultural exchange in the fields of music and visual arts. We aim to establish a sustainable international cultural cooperation modeland expanding cultural networks to open up new creative opportunities.

Our new program series was born out of a desire to respect tradition and bring together contemporary cultural values. In February, April, August, and November, we present authentic collaborations based on Japanese-Hungarian connections.

The summer theme days will be organized around the topics of shodō, sumō-e, suminagashi, sashiko, shibori, furoshiki, and kōdō. In addition to creative art workshops, there will be a Japanese music concert with Okinawan sanshin, lectures and tastings, film screenings, kimono exhibitions, and fine art and photography exhibitions.

Supporters: Japanese Embassy, Japan Foundation Budapest, Nissin, EternaGraphy, ITO EN Europa, Minerva Tanulási Alternatíva Veszprém, Japan Center Veszprém, Veszprém County Municipality

Japanese calligraphy - shodō

Kazuki Jade Mitsui, a shodō artist, first picked up a brush at the age of six, then as a middle school student, in the 8th He currently runs a design studio specializing in calligraphy and organizing numerous solo exhibitions and events both in Japan and abroad.

https://www.kazuki-j-m.com/

Japanese songs

Nagy Nóra, singer, has been learning to sing since she was 12 years old. She won first place in the jazz, musical, and chanson categories at the University of Szeged music competition in November 2024 and May 2025. She has an advanced knowledge of Japanese and is actively involved in building bridges between Japanese and Hungarian culture.

Attila Blaho is a jazz pianist, master instructor at the University of Szeged, performer, and composer. He has also performed on Veronika Harcsa's jazz tour in Japan.

Takaki Ando, a sanshin performer, has worked in six countries abroad, and his goal is to introduce as many people as possible to Okinawa's traditional instrument, the sanshin. the sanshin. For this reason, he participates in local activities as a volunteer.

Kimono exhibition and presentation

Dr. Tímea Kocsis has selected pieces from her kimono collection, which she has been gathering for 20 years. The collection includes unique pieces that are over 100 years old.

Furoshiki presentation and demonstration

Anna Pápai-Vonderviszt, head of the Furoshiki section of the Hungarian-Japanese Friendship Association, will give a presentation on environmentally friendly reusable furoshiki. She will demonstrate gift wrapping and bag making techniques using Japanese and Hungarian designed scarves.

Kōdō

Nihon no Kaori means "the scent of Japan."

Ferenc Dinya has been studying Japanese incense and the rituals, ceremonies, and customs associated with it for nearly eight years. This is the scent of kōdō. During the workshop, we will explore and learn about incense sticks made and used in Japan, as well as the rituals, methods, and customs associated with them. rituals, methods, and customs associated with them. We will try out fermented and powdered incense, as well as precious resin chips.

Suminagashi

Suminagashi is a Japanese paper marbling technique in which a pattern is created on the surface of water on rice paper (suminagashi-ushi tus).

The suminagashi workshop is led by painter Szabolcs Mészáros. Szabolcs graduated from the Hungarian University of Fine Arts. In addition to painting, he teaches drawing and art history at the Handler Nándor Technical College in Sopron.

Japanese bookbinding

Japanese bookbinding, used to bind manuscripts, is a popular ancient technique, and our creative guests can also learn the technique of "stitched books." . Our creative guests can also learn this technique. The workshop will be led by artist Bence Orsós.

Shibori

Shibori is a traditional Japanese textile dyeing technique dating back to the 8th century, which involves applying various(such as folding, crumpling, twisting, pressing, sewing, etc.) to block the dye from certain areas of the fabric. tying, sewing) to create patterns by isolating certain parts of the fabric from the dye.

Sashiko

Sashiko is a traditional Japanese hand sewing technique that was originally used to reinforce and repair clothing. The repetitive stitches, which form geometric patterns, not only make the fabric more durable the textile more durable, but also gave it a special aesthetic value. During the workshop, we will learn the basics of this unique Japanese embroidery technique and the tools needed to practice it.

Sumō-e

Sumō as a ritual, competitive sport, and entertainment has been an integral part of Japanese life since ancient times. Sumō has also appeared in the visual arts, for example in the woodblock prints known as "ukiyo-e" , where popular wrestlers, their fights, and their traditional costumes were depicted. Today, master artist Kinoshita Daimon is the only officially recognized sumo painter whose works are created using the same traditional techniques as in the Edo period (1603-1867) and they continue to enjoy great popularity. The exhibition features works by Master Daimon and his disciple, Madoka Kato.

Program:

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Workshops / suminagashi, shibori, sashiko, kōdō, furoshiki, Japanese bookbinding

Dubniczay Palace courtyard, in case of bad weather, the Baroque rooms on the 1st floor

11:00 a.m. Sumō-e exhibition opening, S-stúdió

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Workshops / suminagashi, shibori, sashiko, kōdō, furoshiki, Japanese bookbinding

Dubniczay Palace courtyard, in case of bad weather, 1st floor baroque rooms

2:00 p.m. Guided tour by Enikő Czigány of the exhibition Under the Sky, Above the Earth, Magtár

2:30 p.m. Guided tour by Csaba Toroczkai in the Japanese Art exhibition, Dubniczay Palace D2

3:00 p.m. Kimono exhibition and presentation, Dubniczay Palace, 1st floor Baroque rooms

4:00 p.m. Japanese song concert, Dubniczay Palace, 1st floor Baroque rooms

5:00 p.m. Shodō Japanese calligraphy exhibition opening, Várgaléria

These programs are free of charge, but due to limited capacity, participation is on a first-come, first-served basis.

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Lecture and tasting, Tegularium

Only persons over the age of 18 may attend the lecture and tasting. The participation fee for the event is 5,000 HUF per person.nbsp;Online ticket sales start on August 5 here. 

8:00 p.m. Win Wenders: Perfect Days 2023, film screening, FOTON

Tickets for the screening can be purchased at the Foton Audiovisual Center.