Bucharest National Theatre hosts Tenjin Matsuri: Japanese Traditions, Music, and Dance Festival with free entry

The Tenjin Matsuri festival, one of Japan’s largest and most breathtaking cultural events, is all set to grace the stage at the Bucharest National Theatre, between November 4-5. This event is promising a captivating array of performances, traditional parades, melodious music, and entrancing ritual dances, all of which have been officially announced by the festival’s organizers.

For this edition, the organizers have underlined the festival’s mission to introduce the Romanian public to the rich tapestry of Japanese culture. For both newcomers and aficionados of Japanese traditions, this event is bound to provide an exhilarating and immersive experience, promising cultural enlightenment and enjoyment for all who attend.

What makes this edition of Tenjin Matsuri particularly special is that it marks the festival’s European debut, and this historic moment has come to the close cooperation between the Romanian Government and its Japanese counterpart. The Japanese Ambassador to Romania, Mr. Hiroshi Ueda, has expressed his sincere appreciation for this landmark initiative. He views it as a unique and valuable opportunity to foster cultural exchanges and strengthen the bonds between these two nations, as outlined in the source.

The performances staged at the Bucharest National Theatre will feature a diverse selection of events and activities, each designed to offer visitors an authentic and immersive glimpse into the vibrant world of Japanese culture. Over the course of three captivating hours, the audience will have the privilege of embarking on a virtual journey to Osaka. This journey includes breathtaking Taiko drum performances, the mesmerizing Danjiri dancers, and the symbolic dragon dance. Among the highlights are the traditional parades, resplendent with colorful costumes, melodious music, and authentic Japanese ritual dances that will truly captivate the senses.

These performances are scheduled to take place on November 4 and 5 at the Sala Pictura (Painting Hall) of the National Theatre, commencing at 10:00 AM. What’s more, admission is entirely free, subject to availability, and invitations can be secured through the official website www.matsuri.ro.

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The Tenjin Matsuri festival is a heartfelt dedication to Sugawara no Michizane, a renowned scholar from the 10th century who, upon passing away, was venerated as a heavenly god, known as “tenjin.” The tradition of honoring this patron god of learning and scholarship is meticulously preserved at the Tenmangu Shinto shrine in Osaka. Each year, during midsummer, the Tenmangu Jinja or Tenmangu Temple in Osaka comes alive with an opulent and vibrant festival that ranks among the three major festivals in Japan, boasting a history that stretches back over 1000 years.

As November unfolds, Bucharest transforms into a hub of Japanese cultural celebration, marking the entire month as Japanese Cultural Month, a tradition passionately upheld by the Japanese Embassy.

This magnificent festival is masterfully organized by the Nihon Matsuri Association in collaboration with the Act.or.Art Foundation, with the generous support of the Bucharest City Hall through ARCUB. Further, the Angela Hondru Centre for Romanian-Japanese Studies at the Romanian-American University plays an instrumental role in ensuring the success of this cultural exchange and celebration.