Sofia, December 10 (BTA) - The 32nd edition of the Days of
Japanese Culture in Bulgaria offered Bulgarian audiences a wide
range of events in a variety of art forms. Performances,
exhibitions and concerts took place in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and
 Burgas in September, October and November, the organizers said
here on Friday.

The first event was the seventh Sofia Ekiden Marathon
long-distance running multistage relay race under the patronage
of the Embassy of Japan. It was followed by the "Kimono -
Elegance, History and a Sense of Eternity!" exhibition of
photos, ikebana art, kimono attire, kiri-e art and temari in the
 southern city of Plovdiv.

The "Bulgaria and Japan. Politics, Diplomacy, Personalities and
Events" exhibition is on until December 31 in the Sofia-based
State Institute for Culture with the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.

A concert of Japanese songs was performed by the Children's
Choir with the Bulgarian National Radio on September 23 in the
aula of Sofia University. Around this date and in October,
hundreds of visitors had the opportunity to see four new Japan
Foundation films both in Sofia and in southeastern city of
Burgas within the Panorama of Japanese Cinema.

On September 26, Prof. Yoshihiro Senda of Nara University, a
castle archaeologist, gave a lecture on Japanese castles and
fortresses. Shiseido President and CEO Masahiko Uotani held a
seminar on the Japanese governance model, globalization and
other key topics.

Open day marked European Language Day in the Department of
Japanese Studies at the Centre for Eastern Languages and Studies
 of Sofia University.

Nozomi Furutani, chef at the Japanese ambassador's residence,
gave four demonstrations on Japanese cuisine.

On November 6 and November 13, Zen Buddhist priest Shunmyo
Masuno gave a lecture on zen philosophy. There was also a
virtual Japanese garden tour. LG/KK


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