BULGARIA AND JAPAN IN A NEW EXHIBITION
Bulgaria and Japan celebrated their excellent bilateral relations with a photo exhibition initiated by the authors of the book “Bulgaria and Japan. Politics, Diplomacy, Personalities and Events ”, dedicated to the triple jubilee of relations between the two countries - 110 years since the beginning of official contacts (1909), 80 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations (1939), 60 years since the restoration of diplomatic relations interrupted at the end of World War II (1959).
The host and partner of the event is the State Institute for Culture. The opening was attended by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev, the Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Bulgaria HE Mr. Hiroshi Narahira, the authors of the book, diplomats, former ambassadors, friends of Japan, university professors, students of the Department of Japanese Studies at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and many other guests and friends of Japanese culture. The director of the State Institute for Culture Mrs. Snezhana Yoveva-Dimitrova welcomed the guests and assured that the cultural interactions with Japan are traditional and sustainable over time, and the Mission Gallery and the Institute are one of the key partners in organizing a number of joint Bulgarian-Japanese cultural initiatives as well as the days of Japanese culture in our country.
"The longevity of our bilateral relations demonstrates resilience. I find cultural diplomacy a wonderful bridge that can promote cultural, educational and tourist exchanges both in Bulgaria and in Japan", said the Deputy Minister. The authors of the book “Bulgaria and Japan. Politics, diplomacy, personalities and events ” Vera Vutova and Assoc. Prof. Evgeniy Kandilarov, as well as Assoc. Prof. Dr. Boyan Zhekov, Permanent Secretary of the Friends of Japan in Bulgaria Club also joined the greetings. HE Mr. Hiroshi Narahira, Ambassador of Japan expressed his confidence that the good relations between the two countries will continue to develop and deepen and thanked for the partnership and organization of the opening event of the traditional 31st Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria.
The aim of the exhibition is to visually represent the history of relations between Bulgaria and Japan and covers three socio-political systems in Bulgaria and four eras related to the rule of the emperors of Japan. Facsimiles of archival documents and numerous photos from the state and diplomatic archives of Bulgaria and Japan, the Regional Military History Museum in Pleven and other official, academic, media sources and personal photo archives from both countries are on display.
The exhibition can be visited from 15.09.2020 to 25.09.2020 at the Mission Gallery at the State Institute for Culture, and on September 19 (Saturday), as part of the European Heritage Days, between 10.30 am and 12.30 pm visitors will be able to learn more about the Bulgarian diplomatic missions in Paris, Berlin and Belgrade with a thematic presentation - "A PEAK INTO THE MISSIONS", as well as to view the exhibition.