The National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted the opening ceremony of the exhibition «Central Asian Cuisine» by internationally renowned Japanese manga artist Kaoru Mori as part of the international «Japanese Spring» Arts Festival. The project was organized by the Degdar Humanitarian Foundation with the support of JTI Kazakhstan.

The Central Asian Cuisine manga exhibition was created to mark the 10th anniversary of the «Japan + Central Asia» Dialogue, established in 2004 between the Government of Japan and the five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

Deputy Director of the National Museum Akmaral Ibrayeva noted that the exhibition is one of the unique cultural projects that combines traditions and customs with culinary heritage, showcasing the distinctive aesthetic values of each nation through the art of food.

«The Japanese Spring Festival is a form of diplomacy through art that promotes friendship and mutual understanding between nations. We would like to express our gratitude to the National Museum for its support in organizing this exhibition», said Yasumasa Iijima, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Kazakhstan.

According to the Ambassador, this is the second exhibition of the famous manga series by Japanese artist Kaoru Mori to be presented at the National Museum in Astana. Manga is read throughout Japan by people of all ages, from schoolchildren to the Prime Minister. It has become one of the symbols of contemporary Japanese culture and has gained worldwide popularity.

«The protagonists of the manga are young women from the countries participating in the Dialogue who introduce their Japanese friend to their national cuisines. They share stories about the most popular traditional dishes and the unique methods used to prepare them. Thanks to its detailed and engaging presentation of culinary traditions, the manga can be appreciated not only as a work of art but also as a distinctive cookbook», the diplomat noted.

According to Timur Kurmanchiyev, the Festival’s Artistic Director, a distinguished musician and Honored Cultural Figure of Kazakhstan, the Japanese Spring Festival has become one of the largest and longest-running cultural events dedicated to Japanese culture in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia. Guests attending the exhibition’s opening ceremony also enjoyed a vibrant cultural program featuring choral performances and traditional dance presentations by local artistic groups.