Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Korea Cultural Center in Japan, Korea-Japan Traditional Culture Exchange Event

On the 18th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that it will hold the Korea-Japan traditional culture exchange event "Touch of Tradition, Meeting of Today" at the Korean Cultural Center in Tokyo, Japan, until April 2.

This event was planned to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, aiming to exchange traditional cultures of both countries and create a space for harmony. The Korea Craft & Design Foundation (KCDF) and the Korean Cultural Center in Japan collaborated on this event.

The event consists of four main programs. The four programs are ▲ "Paper, Connecting Cultures," which exhibits crafts and representative works using the traditional papers of both countries, 'Hanji (韓紙)' and 'Washi (和紙),' and holds an international exchange seminar on the modern use of traditional paper ▲ "Similar but Different, Food Culture of Korea and Japan," which compares table settings, seasonal foods, and traditional sweets of both countries, exhibits Korea's jang culture registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and operates tasting experiences of feast foods ▲ "Hanbok, Connecting Time," which offers various participatory events such as Hanbok exhibitions, trying on Hanbok, and photo zones ▲ "Play, Connecting Generations," which includes traditional games like Jegichagi, Gonggi Nori, top spinning, and virtual reality (VR) experiences of kite flying, encompassing all generations.

On the 19th, an opening ceremony will be held with government officials, cultural and artistic figures, and academics from both countries in attendance. Traditional tea and sweets from both countries will be provided, and celebratory performances such as a gayageum solo of "Pine Tree" composed by Minoru Miki, Korean traditional dance "Chunaengmu," and a Hanbok fashion show are scheduled.

On the day of the opening ceremony, the Korean restaurant "Yoon Ga" located in Ginza, Tokyo, will operate a "Korean Food Culture Concept Restaurant." Chef Yoon Mi-wol, Korea’s 66th designated Food Artisan, and Head Chef Yoshihara Masayasu of Tokyo’s "Orion Sushi" will collaborate to prepare traditional dishes from both Korea and Japan.

Geographically close, Korea and Japan share similar ingredients such as broth, doenjang (fermented soybean paste), and soy sauce, yet each has developed a unique food culture reflecting their own identities. Master chefs from Korea and Japan will present course meals that combine these traditions with modern sensibilities. Through the cultural value of their cuisines, the event aims to foster mutual understanding and promote friendship. Yoon Ga was selected as an "Outstanding Korean Restaurant Overseas" by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation in 2023 and was a Michelin 2-star restaurant from 2014 to 2019.

Detailed information about this event can be found on the websites of the KCDF and the Korean Cultural Center in Japan.

Lee Jung-woo, Director of the Culture and Arts Policy Office at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "Korea and Japan, which have maintained exchanges for a long time, coexist with both originality and similarity in their everyday cultures. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, I hope that understanding and exchanges in the field of traditional culture between the two countries will deepen further."