Lviv’s Rynok Square hosted the main festival day of Japan Days, an event celebrating traditional Japanese arts, culture, cuisine, and contemporary pop culture. Throughout the day, Rynok Square and other venues across the city hosted workshops, lectures, martial arts demonstrations, theatrical performances, exhibitions, and other Japan-themed activities.

Lviv City Mayor Andrii Sadovyy also attended the festival.

“Japanese people are beginning to learn Ukrainian, and Ukrainians are gaining a better understanding of Japan. Today is the second day of Japan Days in Lviv. There are many visitors, and the atmosphere is wonderful. The food is delicious, with all kinds of tasty treats. Japan is a country that supports Ukraine, and we are grateful for that. Japan and Ukraine stand together until victory,” said Lviv City Mayor Andrii Sadovyy.

The festival’s main programme took place on the northern side of Rynok Square. Visitors could take part in workshops and explore interactive zones hosted by World of Comics, RetroMagaz, Knyharnia Ye, and Anime Barakholka.

A Japanese Street Food area offered Japanese dishes, desserts, and drinks. Participating venues included Yaponskyi Pryvit, Red Monkey, Shima, Katsuteira, and Omma.

Another highlight was a series of workshops dedicated to traditional Japanese arts, including sumi-e ink painting, kintsugi, ikebana, and origami. Visitors could also explore an exhibition of kimonos and yukatas, as well as purchase Japanese goods, books, and anime merchandise.

During the sumi-e workshop, participants were introduced to the Japanese art of ink painting.

“Sumi-e is a Japanese art form that uses ink to convey a sense of space and the natural world around us. It carries many layers of meaning, allowing us to express ourselves and explore nature. Sumi-e is not about depicting the outward form of what we see, but about capturing its essence,” said Anna, who led the workshop.

According to Anna, the art form attracted considerable interest, with participants registering in advance for subsequent sessions.

“People find it very interesting because it is something unusual. There are queues for the next sessions, and people have already signed up for the five o’clock workshop. I think people who try sumi-e have a strong appreciation for life and nature. They want to get it right. On the one hand, this can make things a little more difficult because they strive to create a perfect picture. But when a person can relax, let go, and connect with nature, the results can be beautiful,” Anna said.

Throughout the day, the Grand Session Hall of Lviv City Council hosted a series of lectures covering the Japanese language, Japanese mythology, traditional Japanese weapons, and the tea ceremony. A separate lecture on Japanese business etiquette took place in the Small Session Hall.

Restaurateur Misha Katsurin also took part in the festival’s culinary programme.

“How could I say no when Lviv’s wonderful city administration invited me to do something I love — cook Asian food? I love Lviv, I love Japanese cuisine, so it was a perfect match. I’m very happy to help make the event delicious,” Katsurin said.

Japan Days in Lviv began ahead of the main festival day, with individual events taking place across the city from 13 September. The programme will conclude with Japan Weekend at Horikhovyi Hai Park, running from 25 to 27 September.

On 24 September, Lviv also hosted the first-ever Lviv Japan Business Forum. The event brought together more than 350 participants, including representatives of Ukrainian and Japanese businesses, government institutions, international organisations, and the financial sector. The forum provided a platform for establishing new partnerships between Ukraine and Japan.

A year ago, Lviv opened Japan Desk Lviv, a municipal service designed to develop cooperation with Japan. It serves as a point of entry for Japanese companies interested in operating in Lviv and Ukraine, while also helping Ukrainian businesses establish connections with Japanese partners.