The rich cultural heritage of Japan came alive in Bhubaneswar as the Festival of Japan opened at Bakul Library on Saturday. The two-day event, inaugurated by Ishikawa Yoshihisa, Consul General of Japan in Kolkata, brought together workshops, storytelling, and anime-inspired activities, offering city residents a glimpse into Japanese traditions and creativity.
Ishikawa, who unfolded a traditional paper fan to mark the inauguration, said it was his first visit to Odisha and expressed enthusiasm for Bakul Library’s efforts to promote cross-cultural understanding. He also joined the Origami workshop that followed the ceremony. “I had little exposure to Origami, and I really learnt something new about my own culture through it. I enjoyed the event and look forward to coming back to Bakul on my next visit,” he remarked.
The Origami workshop was led by architect-turned-Origami artist Santrupthy Das, who has previously designed paper fans for the Japanese Society in New York. Participants crafted spinning toys, folded patterns, and collaborative artworks, highlighting Japanese values of compactness, creativity, and community spirit.
Sujit Mahapatra, founder of Bakul Foundation, said the festival builds on the library’s tradition of celebrating global cultures. “We have always promoted multi-cultural exposure through initiatives like international storytelling events and our pandemic online series featuring storytellers from 50 countries. The Festival of Japan continues this journey,” he said.
The festival also features a curated collection of Japanese literature—from folktales like Momotaro and children’s picture books to manga classics such as Akira and Buddha, along with works by renowned writers like Haruki Murakami and Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro.
On Sunday, the event will host an Anime Cosplay Workshop by Animetro, Odisha’s only anime event group, where fans will explore costume design, prop-making, and wig styling. The day will conclude with a Kamishibai performance, the traditional Japanese art of paper-theatre storytelling, presented by Ankita Pattanaik and Bidyut Lata from KIIT International School.
With its diverse blend of art, literature, and performance, the Festival of Japan has turned Bakul Library into a vibrant cultural bridge between Odisha and Japan.
