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18 October 2022

Exhibition of books and documents and accompanying events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of “friendship” between Lithuania and Japan

Source of funding and value of the project (Eur)

The project is funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture, the TOSHIBA foundation, the EU-Japan fest, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania and Ltd "Giantera". The total value of the project is EUR 30 200.

Project objective

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Japan as seen from the perspective of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania – an institution of information, memory and culture.

Project objectives

  1. To prepare and present a conceptual exhibition of important documents, books and other media stored in Lithuanian and Japanese memory institutions at the National Library.
  2. To publish a printed and electronic catalogue of the exhibition in Lithuanian with summaries in Japanese and English.
  3. To create an electronic resource base in the National Library’s Information System.
  4. To organize a meeting with popular contemporary Japanese author Sayaka Murata.
  5. To prepare and present a programme of Japanese films.

Project results

Quantitative project results:

  1. An exhibition of important documents, books and other media preserved in Lithuanian and Japanese memory institutions was prepared and conceptually presented at the National Library. The projected number of visitors is 2000.
  2. A printed (300 copies) and electronic catalogue of the exhibition in Lithuanian with summaries in Japanese and English.
  3. Creation of an electronic resource base in the National Library Information System.
  4. A meeting with popular contemporary Japanese author Sayaka Murata was organized. For the physical event, the estimated number of participants is 300.
  5. A programme of Japanese films was prepared and presented in Vilnius (at the National Library and the “Skalvija” Cinema Centre), Kaunas and Šiauliai.

Qualitative results of the project:

  • The 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Japan was commemorated as seen from the perspective of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania.

Project duration

Project start date: 1 October 2021.
Project end date: 31 December 2022.

Project promoter

Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania

Project partners

  1. Embassy of Japan in Lithuania
  2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania
  3. Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania
  4. Literary festival “Vilnius Pages”
  5. Vilnius University
  6. Vytautas Magnus University
  7. Cinema Centre “Skalvija”

Target groups of the project

  1. Orientalists, Japanese scholars, historians, cultural researchers, cultural and art creators.
  2. The general public interested in Japan and its culture.

Project team

  • Viktorija Pukėnaitė-Pigagienė, Director of Communication and Marketing Department
  • Ugnė Rinkevičiūtė, Cultural Activities Manager, Project Management Department
  • Birutė Vaitkutė, Head of Marketing and Intellectual Services
  • Laura Strabulė, Cultural Project Manager, Marketing and Intellectual Services Department
  • Gediminas Akstinas, Cultural Activities Manager, Marketing and Intellectual Services Division
  • Vaida Gasiūnaitė, Chief Designer, Marketing and Intellectual Services Division
  • Aušra Trakštelytė, Cultural Project Manager, Marketing and Intellectual Services Division
  • Nijolė Jonaitienė, Senior Cultural Project Manager, Marketing and Intellectual Services Division
  • Asta Mukienė, Chief Cultural Project Manager, Marketing and Intellectual Services Division
  • Žydrė Vėtienė, Head of Public Relations
  • Monika Bučiūtė-Petrauskienė, Cultural Activities Manager, Public Relations Department
  • Jolanta Budriūnienė, Director of the Documentary Heritage Research Department
  • Eglė Karalienė, Cultural Project Manager, Documentary Heritage Research Department
  • Asta Stirbytė, Editor-in-Chief, Publishing Department

Planned impact of the project

  1. For the first time in the history of Lithuanian-Japanese relations, an exhibition of books, documents and other media with unique content will be presented, using traditional physical forms and modern technologies, opening up a panoramic view of more than a hundred years of bilateral historical, diplomatic and cultural relations. The exhibition will contribute to the further development of bilateral relations, strengthen intercultural dialogue, and increase Lithuania's international visibility and prestige.
  2. The project will include historiographical research, collection and/or digitization of significant sources and documents related to the project’s subject matter stored in Lithuanian and Japanese memory institutions; selection, systematization and conceptual presentation of the unique historiographical, documentary, literary and audio-visual material.
  3. The database of electronic resources created during the project will become a significant open access resource for students and researchers of Japanese studies, history, literature, art and other humanitarian fields, scientists, as well as professionals in the fields of art, culture and creative industries, and will contribute to the further development of Oriental studies in Lithuania and Lithuanian studies in Japan, as well as to the dissemination of culture and art.
  4. The project will create new intellectual and artistic products - lecture presentations, unique music programmes, visual art exhibitions, and video reportage.
  5. The general public will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in the broad thematic field of the project, to develop cultural competences and aesthetic taste.

Summary of project activities

To mark the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Japan in 2022, the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania will present an exhibition of books and other documents, opening up a panorama of more than 100 years of bilateral historical, diplomatic and cultural relations, highlighting the most important events, personalities and their works, and organizing a visit by the Japanese author Sayaka Murata, as well as a screening of cinematographic films based on works of Japanese literature.

Representative

Viktorija Pukėnaitė-Pigagienė, Director of the Communications and Marketing Department, mob. (8 5) 239 8518, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.