Vilnius Will Breathe Japan This September: The Bon Odori Japanese Culture Festival Invites Visitors to Discover Its Traditions

Vilnius Will Breathe Japan This September: The Bon Odori Japanese Culture Festival Invites Visitors to Discover Its Traditions 2026 08 31 On 5–6 September, the free Bon Odori Japanese Culture Festival will take place at the House of Histories of the National Museum of Lithuania in Vilnius. Over two days, from 12:00 to 21:00, visitors can enjoy Japanese dance, music, martial arts performances, creative workshops, educational activities, a market featuring Japanese arts and goods, and an authentic Japanese food area. Although the festival takes its name from Bon Odori, a traditional Japanese summer dance, its programme will encompass a much broader world of Japanese culture – from arts and traditions preserved for centuries to contemporary community activities. Traditional Bon Odori circle dances will be among the festival’s main highlights. Japanese and Lithuanian cultures will be symbolically brought together through the Lithuanian Ratiliondo dance. The festival will also welcome Tokyo Koenji Awa Odori Kikusui-ren, funded by Japanese foundation, for the troupe’s first-ever performance in the Baltic States. Visitors will be able to discover Japanese calligraphy, sumi-e ink painting, ikebana, sashiko stitching, traditional bookbinding, kimono and hakama attire, origami and mizuhiki knot tying. The programme will also feature presentations by Kiyonami Aikido and Shin Kyokushin Karate, a riichi mahjong tournament, a dedicated Embassy of Japan area, and a variety of educational activities. In the festival’s food courtyard, guests will be able to taste ramen, sushi, onigiri, Japanese tea, sake and other Japan-inspired flavours. From Lithuanian Customs to Japanese Bon Odori The idea for the festival grew from an unexpected connection between Japanese and Lithuanian traditions. When Ayano Honda, a professional dancer who moved from Japan to Lithuania, first saw how people in Lithuania observe Vėlinės, All Souls’ Day, she was reminded of Obon – one of Japan’s most important summer periods, dedicated to remembering and honouring ancestors. Bon Odori dances originated from the Obon tradition, bringing people together across different regions of Japan to dance and remember those who came before them. Although Lithuanian Vėlinės and Japanese Obon are different, Honda was moved by the sense of community and respect for ancestors shared by both cultures. This led her to wonder whether Bon Odori could also become a meaningful tradition for people in Lithuania. Awa Odori in Lithuania for the First Time: How Does It Differ from Bon Odori? Although Bon Odori and Awa Odori both belong to the tradition of Japanese summer festivals, they differ in character. Bon Odori (盆踊り) is a community dance tradition associated with the Obon period, when people across Japan honour the memory of their ancestors. Music and choreography vary from region to region, but the essence of Bon Odori remains the same: people come together and dance as a community. The movements are usually simple and repetitive, allowing even those with no previous dance experience to join the circle. Awa Odori (阿波おどり) is a dance tradition with a history spanning more than 400 years. It originated in what is now Tokushima Prefecture, formerly known as Awa. The dance is considerably more dynamic: performers form groups known as ren and move through the streets accompanied by live music. Its rhythm is created by taiko drums, shamisen, flutes and other traditional instruments, while the dance itself is known for its energy, expressive movements and festive atmosphere. At this year’s Bon Odori Vilnius festival, visitors will be introduced to both traditions. Bon Odori will be led by professional Japanese dancer and festival co-organiser Ayano Honda, who will invite everyone to join the dance circle. Meanwhile, Awa Odori will be presented by the 16-member Tokyo Koenji Awa Odori Kikusui-ren troupe travelling from Japan. Their appearance will be one of the main highlights of this year’s festival. Put simply, Bon Odori invites everyone to dance together, while Awa Odori captivates audiences with the energy of a professionally trained troupe and the rhythm of live festival music. The House of Histories – A Space for Cultural Dialogue The festival’s concept also resonates with the mission of the House of Histories: to present Lithuanian history within a broader international context and create a space for dialogue between different cultures. “It is important for the House of Histories to create a space where Lithuanian history can be seen in a broader international context and where different cultures can meet and enter into dialogue. We already share several projects with Japan. This year, the House of Histories presented an exhibition about Ainu culture and the research conducted in Japan by the Lithuanian-born Bronisław Piłsudski. On 5 September, the National Museum of Lithuania exhibition Lithuania: Songs Echoing Through Baltic Forests will open in Nagoya. Events such as Bon Odori are therefore a natural continuation of this cultural dialogue – an opportunity not only to introduce Japanese culture to Lithuanian audiences, but also to create living connections between people, institutions and countries,” says Simona Širvydaitė-Šliupienė, Director of the House of Histories, a branch of the National Museum of Lithuania. A Team with a Personal Connection to Japan Behind the festival’s extensive programme lies not a randomly chosen Japanese theme, but the genuine experiences of the people creating it. Each member of the team has a different, deeply personal connection to Japanese culture that has developed over many years: for one, it is her native culture and a desire to build a bridge between Japan and Lithuania; for another, it is a lifelong interest in martial arts, travels across Asia, architecture and East Asian aesthetics; and for the third, it is nearly a lifetime of practising Kyokushin karate, creative work and journeys to Japan. These three stories came together to form the shared idea behind the festival. For its creators, Japan is not merely an event theme – it is an important part of their lives. Bon Odori therefore seeks not only to present individual traditions and activities, but also to create a genuine and meaningful cultural connection, allowing people in Lithuania not only to see Japan, but to truly experience it. The People and Organisations Behind the Festival The Bon Odori Japanese Culture Festival is organised by DOZO Events and the Asian Arts Centre. Sponsors and partners also contribute to its implementation, helping to create a living encounter between Lithuanian and Japanese cultures. Festival sponsor and programme participant Shin Vilnius Kyokushin Karate Club will invite visitors to discover Japanese culture through one of its best-known martial arts. In Awakening of the Soul, a performance created especially for the festival, traditional kata techniques will be combined with music, movement and contemporary stage interpretation. Festival sponsor Kabukio Kelionės will invite visitors to discover Japan not only during the event, but also through real travel experiences. “After travelling to Japan in our imagination during the Bon Odori festival, let us set off on real adventures as well. I invite you to discover Japan together – not only through what we see, but through authentic experiences. After all, a journey begins long before we reach the airport. Once a dream has a date, even the anticipation becomes part of the adventure,” says Kamilė Aleliūnienė, founder of Kabukio Kelionės. Organisers: Japan-born and currently Lithuania-based Ayano Honda, founder of DOZO Events Dominyka Kybartaitė, and the festival’s Creative Producer Jelizaveta Aleksandrova, with the support of Vilnius City Municipality. Sponsors: Vilnius City Municipality, Tokvila, Shin Vilnius Kyokushin Karate Club and Kabukio Kelionės. Partners: The House of Histories of the National Museum of Lithuania, the Embassy of Japan in Lithuania, Tokyo Koenji Awa Odori Kikusui-ren, Eskedar Coffee, The Japan Foundation and VILNIUS TECH. The Bon Odori Japanese Culture Festival will take place on 5–6 September, from 12:00 to 21:00, at the House of Histories of the National Museum of Lithuania, T. Kosciuškos St. 3, Vilnius. Admission is free. Advance registration will be required for some workshops, and a participation fee will apply to selected sessions. The full programme and registration information are available at japonukulturosfestivalis.lt.