Bunkasai - Japanese Cultural Festival
The Embassy of Japan in New Zealand is currently seeking expressions of interest for Bunkasai – Japanese Cultural Festival, which will be held on Sunday 18 October at the Dominion Museum.
A bunkasai, or cultural festival, is a traditional event held at schools and within local communities across Japan, where people showcase the results of their activities and deepen connections with one another. From haunted houses and food stalls to concerts, exhibitions, and karaoke competitions, participants create, present, and enjoy the festival together. It is a staple of school life in Japan.
About the Bunkasai
Our Bunkasai is a small, community-driven initiative intended to bring together people who are passionate about sharing Japanese culture, creating an event that is shaped by and for the local community. We hope you'll join us to bring this Bunkasai to life in Wellington.
There are a number of activities associated with this year's Bunkasai, including
- Japanese School Through Films (16–18 October), featuring the The Making of a Japanese followed by a Director's Talk with Ema Ryan Yamazaki (18 October) at Dominion Museum.
- Japanese Language Classes (18 October), alongside the film festival above
- Ukiyo-e to Contemporary Photography: A contemporary Japan photography competition, photography exhibition, ukiyo-e exhibition (Online photography competition; exhibitions from 10–25 October) at Toi Aro Arts Centre
- Japanese Speech Contest for the Public (Online preliminary round, with Award Ceremony & Presentation on 1 November) at City Library
- Wellington Children's Art Exhibition (19 October - 20 November) at Kilbirnie Library
Full details coming soon! Stay tuned!
Who Can Apply?
We welcome expressions of interest from individuals, businesses, organisations, and community groups whose activities promote, preserve, educate about, or celebrate Japanese culture. Whether through the arts, traditional or contemporary culture, food, language, or other aspects of Japanese cultural heritage, we encourage anyone who shares this focus to apply.
Submit an Expression of Interest
There is no fee to participate in the festival.
If you would like to join the event, please complete the expression of interest form by 5:00pm on 16 September.
What Happens Next?
We will review all submissions to determine how they fit within the festival programme, taking into account factors such as the available space, scheduling requirements, and the overall balance of activities. We will then be in touch to let you know the outcome.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We hope you'll consider submitting an expression of interest and look forward to hearing from you.
Contact
jicc@wl.mofa.go.jp
(04) 472-7807