THOUGH Slovaks are already treated to a range of Japanese cultural events throughout each year, in 2014 October has been chosen for the Month of Japanese Culture in Slovakia, which will be held in Bratislava and other cities.
The event starts on October 2 at 18:00 with a free public lecture on Japanese food and alimentation, focusing on a healthy diet and including a demonstration of preparing Kazarizushi (decorative Sushi). All this will be presented by Hiroko Nakazawa, the ambassador of culture for 2014, in the House of Culture Ružinov, at Ružinovská 28, Bratislava. She will also hold a lecture for professionals the next day at the specialised secondary school at Farského 9.
In Nitra a demonstration of the Japanese art of flower arranging, called Ikebana, will be held in the local synagogue on October 11 at 14:00 and given by Slovak Teresa Dittrich, who holds a diploma from the Sógecu Ikebana School. That will be followed by a calligraphy workshop led by a graduate teacher of calligraphy, Seiko Kawashima. There will also be a concert of Japanese music for violin and piano, featuring Sakuya Okayasu on piano and Kyoko Watanabe on violin, as well as a screening of the Japanese film After the Flowers.
On October 16 at 18:00, a documentary exploring the life of Hafu, i.e. people who are of half Japanese and half foreign descent, will be shown in the Mladosť cinema in downtown Bratislava. Director Lara Takagi is herself half Japanese and half Spanish.
Traditional Japanese dances have become a popular, exotic experience for Slovaks, and on October 28 there will be a performance of traditional dances from the Ryuku archipelago in the P.O. Hviezdoslav City Threatre at Laurinská 19. Visitors will be invited to learn and attempt some of the dances directly onstage. Tickets will be available through the Ticketportal website.
At the end of October (25-31), an exhibition of photos will document the Japanese martial art Aikido, in the Carlton gallery in the Carlton Complex in Mostová 2. Admission is free, too.
More detailed information on the events can be found at the embassy website, http://www.sk.emb-japan.go.jp/event_2014_10_month_of_jap_culture.html.
