Fest showcases Japan’s culture

Bhubaneswar: Consul general of Japan in Kolkata Ishikawa Yoshihisa inaugurated the Festival of Japan at Bakul Library here on Saturday by opening a folded paper fan. The two-day festival, which will conclude on Sunday, includes sessions such as an Origami workshop, reading stories from Japan, an anime cosplay workshop, and Kamishibai storytelling.Speaking on the occasion, Ishikawa said it was his first visit to Odisha and he was eager to visit Bakul after hearing of its initiatives to promote an understanding of Japan in Bhubaneswar. He participated in 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 said.The opening Origami workshop was facilitated by architect-turned-Origami artist Santrupthy Das, who has previously designed folded paper fans for the Japanese Society in New York. She guided participants—young and old—through activities ranging from crafting spinning toys with folded paper to creating collaborative origami patterns, demonstrating the Japanese culture of compactness, creativity, and community engagement.Sujit Mahapatra, founder of Bakul Foundation, said the library has always promoted multi-cultural exposure through initiatives like storytelling from around the world and an online series during the pandemic that showcased storytellers from 50 countries. "The Festival of Japan continues this tradition of connecting Bhubaneswar with global cultures," he said.The festival also offers a curated collection of Japanese books, ranging from folktales like Momotaro and picture books for children, to manga classics like Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo and Buddha by Osamu Tezuka, to works by acclaimed authors such as Haruki Murakami and Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro. On Sunday, the festival will feature an Anime Cosplay Workshop by Animetro, Odisha's only anime event group, designed for fans of Japanese animation. Participants will learn costume design, prop-making, and wig styling to bring their favourite anime characters to life. In the evening, Ankita Pattanaik and Bidyut Lata from KIIT International School will present Kamishibai, the traditional Japanese art of paper-theatre storytelling.