Japanese Day

This year, in cooperation with the Old Town – the heart of Bratislava, Akimatsuri has prepared for you – 🇯🇵 Japan Day 2026, which will take place on Saturday, September 12th from 2:00 p.m.

PROGRAM

14:00 – Kagamiwari – festival opening ceremony

14:15 – Bon odori – traditional dances of Japanese summer (Chofu the Bon Dance)

14:45 – Tea ceremony (Akiko “Somei” Fuhrmann, Omotesenke school)

15:15 – Kitsuke – traditional Japanese clothing – clothing demonstrations (Akiko Fuhrmann)

15:45 – Demonstrations of the martial arts kendo, iaido and jodo (Slovak Kendo Federation)

16:15 – Quiz about Japan (Nihonjinkai – Society of Japanese living in Slovakia)

16:35 – Award ceremony for the winners of the photo contest “Sakura in Slovakia”

16:45 – Cosplay demonstration / competition for the best cosplay performance (Comics Salon)

17:15 – Demonstrations of the martial arts aikido, Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, Judo and Fun Sumo (Kurilla Budokan)

17:45 – Bon odori (Chofu the Bon Dance)

ACCOMPANYING PROGRAM

Presentation and interactive stand of Nihonjinkai

Society of Japanese living in Slovakia: Members of the Japanese community (Nihonjinkai) have prepared a stand inspired by traditional Japanese festivals for you. Their activities will also include presentations of shogi (Japanese chess) and origami. Come and enjoy the festival atmosphere!

Lemon Sour – IPPAI Beverage GmbH

The Lemon Sour drink comes from Vienna to Slovakia. Come and taste this delicious and refreshing drink. Warning: Lemon Sour is an alcoholic drink and must not be served to persons under the age of 18.

ANA: All Nippon Airways

(ANA) will present its winter flight schedule at its stand and offer promotional items, such as traditional Japanese uchiwa fans.

JAL: Japan Airlines

(JAL) will be providing information about connecting flights via Helsinki at its booth, and will be giving away origami-themed promotional items and other small gifts.

Wagashi booth

Japanese bakery Yuyu Co., Ltd. will be showcasing its products. You may also have the opportunity to sample some of them. Japanese pastries are made by hand, piece by piece, by people with disabilities.

Calligraphy

Learn about Japanese calligraphy, the art of writing Japanese characters. Come and try writing your name in Japanese characters using ink and a traditional fude calligraphy brush.

Sake tasting

(Meishu Ichikawa, Shizuoka Prefecture) and Kimono fabric display: Taste Japanese sake and view kimono fabric products. Note: Sake is an alcoholic beverage and is not to be served to persons under the age of 18.

Japanese Chopsticks

Exhibition of miniature bonsai and demonstration of shaping: Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing small trees in containers. Bonsai are shaped to create a unique aesthetic impression. The most beautiful bonsai give the impression of old trees and resemble real ones in their shape, only in a much smaller form. The art of bonsai has been developing in Japan for more than a thousand years. At the stand you will have a unique opportunity to watch bonsai shaping under the guidance of a Japanese master.

Presentation of the city of Gifu (information materials)

The city of Gifu is located in the southern part of Gifu Prefecture in the Chubu region of Japan. In 2016, it was officially selected as the partner host city of the Slovak Olympic and Paralympic team for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020. Since then, the city has been actively developing mutual relations and cooperation with Slovakia in the fields of sports and culture. At the booth you can learn more about the traditional method of fishing with cormorants on the Nagara River, about the historical figure Oda Nobunaga, and many other interesting facts related to the city of Gifu.

Location: Rybné námestie, Bratislava
Date: Saturday, 12.09.2026
Start: 14:00
Admission: Free

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