Sakura Festival

The Volgograd Regional Youth Library will for the third time serve as the venue for the spring Japanese culture festival 'Sakura Fest'.

This time the festival is once again timed to mark the anniversaries of two landmark figures of Japanese culture: the writer and Nobel Prize laureate in Literature Kenzaburo Oe (this year the late master of words would have turned 90) and the iconic film director Akira Kurosawa (1910–1998; this year would have been his 115th birthday).

Fans and admirers of Japanese culture can look forward to a rich program that includes an engaging and informative lecture about the anniversary figures, as well as various contests and quizzes, the traditional Japanese card game Hanafuda, an origami master class, a karaoke corner with songs in Japanese, and much more.

Participants in the quiz 'Spirit of Japan' will be able to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the mysterious East. They will need to demonstrate considerable erudition, as the range of questions will cover various aspects of the culture and traditions of the Land of the Rising Sun, such as famous landmarks, anime and the film industry, national cuisine, well-known musicians, cultural realities, and national customs.

In honor of director Akira Kurosawa's anniversary, special attention at the festival will be paid to the world of Japanese cinema. Guests can expect an overview and discussion of landmark and best-known films from the Land of the Rising Sun, accompanied by a selection of interesting facts and recommendations.

Another part of the festival will be a raffle for tasty prizes — taiyaki fish-shaped pastries with various fillings from the STREET FISHES project | Taiyaki-Punoppan baking.

The tea ceremony is one of the ancient Japanese traditions famous worldwide. Deep symbolism, a special ceremonial protocol, and numerous rituals turn tea drinking into something akin to a theatrical performance with its own language and etiquette. For all who wish, a tea room will be open at the festival where everyone can enjoy the taste and aroma of the Eastern beverage prepared by a tea master.

Free admission

P.S. The sakura in Volgograd blooms in the Central Park of Culture and Recreation. Sakura usually blooms from late April to mid-May.