Kyiv Polytechnic hosts Japanese Autumn 2026 Festival
The fourth annual festival of Japan’s culture, Japanese Autumn, took place at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute from 4 to 6 September.
The event was organised by the Kyiv Polytechnic’s Ukraine-Japan Centre, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. “For two decades, the Centre has been bringing Ukraine and Japan closer through language, culture, education, art – and, most importantly, through people and friendships,” Andrii Shysholin, Vice-Rector for International Relations, wrote on LinkedIn.
The format of the festival included events aimed at deepening knowledge about the Japanese language, history, culture, literature, and national traditions.
In particular, its program featured the exhibitions “History of Sumo” and “Development of Sumo in Ukraine,” photo exhibitions, theme displays of traditional arts such as ikebana, bonsai, oshibana and temari. Demonstrations and master classes in martial arts – sumo, aikido, karate, kendo, kyūdō and more – filled the days, while concerts of traditional Japanese instruments brought their distinctive sounds to the university campus.
In addition, the uplifting atmosphere of the festival was enhanced by the ancient comic story-telling art of Rakugo which dates back to the 18th century, together with presentations and workshops on the Japanese language and arts, and lectures on Ukrainian-Japanese business cooperation and Japanese theatre, among others.
“Over the years of this war, Japan has proven itself not merely a partner, but a great and reliable friend to our people,” said Anatolii Melnychenko, Rector of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. “Even during the most difficult times, it did not turn its back on our people, but did everything possible to support us technologically and even emotionally.”
Yo Osumi, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine, in turn expressed his gratitude for the exhibitions dedicated to sumo and ikebana, highlighting various aspects of Japan’s support for Ukraine. “The Japanese people have great respect for Ukrainians,” he said. “I personally have great respect for Ukrainians, for the courage they show in continuing to fight every day.”
Reportedly, Oleksandr Mishchenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, received copies of credentials from Ambassador Yo Osumi on 31 August 2026.
