What a Festival it was! Samurai in Krotoszyn, Poland

The third edition of the Japanese Festival in Krotoszyn, Poland took place in September this year, as an event accompanying the Sumo World Championships in Krotoszyn. As always, the organizers took care to introduce residents to the world of Japanese tradition, culture and art.
Krotoszyńska Public Library of Arkady Fiedler turned into a center for Japanese art for an entire month thanks to exhibitions of lacquerware, household items, kimonos and masks, as well as sculptures and paintings inspired by Japanese culture, for which three floors of the building were adjusted. Kite-making, origami, calligraphy and kimono-making workshops brought the inhabitants of Krotoszyn into the magical world of Japan. 
An extraordinary attraction was a demonstration of fighting with Japanese swords in samurai armour performed by the Samurai School from Warsaw. Festival participants could taste tea made during a traditional brewing ceremony and listen to a lecture about the way lacquer is made in Japan and everyday life in Japan. In the Gallery “Refektarz” in Krotoszyn, a space was created for the exhibition "Martial arts, fighting for art", thanks to the courtesy of Mr. Michał Piotrkowicz, an artist, conservator of fine arts and at the same time holder of master’s degrees in various martial arts (karate, chanbara, battodo).
The festival was a perfect place for the first presentation of hand-sewn boar leather accessories, created thanks to the cooperation of the Country’s Housewives Association in Kobierno and the company Las-Kalisz Ltd., as part of good practice exchange, in this case transferred from Japan (Misato) to Poland (Krotoszyn). More information about the project is available in a previous issue (No. 86, June 2024) of the EU-Japan Centre’s newsletter.
The Japanese Festival in Krotoszyn took place on 5-6 September and gathered over 400 participants. The exhibitions were open for a whole month.
Substantive support was provided by the Japanese Language and Culture Center of Ryochu Umeda in Łódź and a special guest: Mrs. Miharu Sakamoto, lecturer at the Jagiellonian University, Institute of Oriental Studies. Getting involved in the activities of the Open Art Workshops of Eugueniusz Geppert in Wrocław was very helpful. The City of Krotoszyn is thankful to all partners and participants!

Source: Krotoszyn Town Hall