The opening ceremony for the 2025-26 cultural exchange year with Japan and China was held on April 14 in Tokyo. Shown is a jangguchum (drum dance) performance from the ceremony.
By Lee Jihae
Photos = Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
The opening ceremony for a 2025-26 cultural exchange year with Japan and China took place on April 14 in Tokyo, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Seoul said.
The ceremony unveiled the event’s official logo and featured traditional performing arts of the three countries.
Korea presented the dances talchum (mask) and jangguchum (drum) by the National Gugak Center’s Dance Theater and Folk Music Group; Japan an Ainu dance and a tea ceremony; and China Peking (Beijing) opera, singing and traditional instruments.
The logo shows Korea’s national flower mugunghwa (rose of Sharon), Japan’s cherry blossom and China’s peony blooming together to represent harmony among the three cultures.
Starting with the opening ceremony, the three countries throughout this year will conduct cultural exchange projects in fields such as music, exhibitions, sports and tourism.
Korea will host traditional musicals of three countries, a friendly baduk (go) game, projects in two Korean cities designated 2025-26 East Asian culture cities — Anseong, Gyeonggi-do Province, and Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province — calligraphy exhibition, joint performances of classical music and youth art exchanges.
Japan and China will hold events focusing on youth exchange such as concerts by young musicians.
This is the official logo for the 2025-26 cultural exchange year with Japan and China.jihlee08@korea.kr
