On the last Saturday of August, the KYŌSŌ festival, based on a fusion of Japanese and Hungarian culture, will be held for the second time. A joint event organised by the Japan Centre Veszprém and House of Arts Veszprém, the festival was born from the meeting of respect for tradition and contemporary cultural and artistic values. The programme showcases authentic collaborations rooted in Japanese–Hungarian cultural relations.
KYŌSŌ Programme
The summer-themed day is organised around the themes of furoshiki, ikebana, mizuhiki, okō, sashiko, shibori, suminagashi, watoji and shodō. In addition to the creative arts workshops, the programme will feature a Japanese music concert with Okinawan sanshin, Okinawan karate, culinary demonstrations, as well as visual arts and photography exhibitions.
Organised by: Japan Centre Veszprém, House of Arts Veszprém
Our supporters: Embassy of Japan, Japan Foundation, EU-Japan Fest, Nissin Foods, Asahi Beer, Minerva Alternative Learning Foundation, Municipality of the City of Veszprém, Veszprém-Balaton European Capital of Sport Region 2026
風呂敷 Furoshiki (traditional Japanese cloth wrapping)
Lecture, demonstration and exhibition – with the participation of Aurélie Le Marec, head of the French L’Atelier du Furoshiki, and Anna Pápai Vonderviszt, Japanologist and head of the Furoshiki Section of the Hungarian–Japanese Friendship Society. Environmentally friendly, reusable French, Japanese and Hungarian-designed cloths for gift wrapping and bag-making.
水引き Mizuhiki (Japanese decorative paper cord knotting)
Mizuhiki is the traditional Japanese art of decorative knotting, used for gifts and to express good wishes. During the workshop, participants can learn the basics of this unique craft technique. Workshop leader: Miho Muto
お香 Okō (Japanese incense-making and appreciation)
Ferenc Dinya has been working with Japanese incense and the rituals, ceremonies and customs associated with it for nearly ten years. During the workshop, we will explore and learn about incense made and used in Japan, together with the rituals, methods and customs associated with it. We will try fermented incense, powdered incense and valuable fragrant resinous wood chips.
刺し子 Sashiko (traditional Japanese stitching embroidery)
Sashiko is a traditional Japanese hand-stitching technique originally used to reinforce and repair clothing. The repeated stitches – forming geometric patterns – not only made textiles more durable, but also gave them a distinctive aesthetic quality. During the workshop, we will learn the basics of this special Japanese stitching technique and the tools required. The workshop will be led by Eszter Marton (Varródoboz Community Sewing Workshop). With the participation of: Bálint Boros.
絞り Shibori (traditional Japanese textile dyeing and resist-dyeing)
Shibori is a traditional Japanese textile-dyeing technique dating back to the 8th century. Its essence is to create patterns by using various methods – such as folding, crumpling, twisting, pressing, tying and stitching – to prevent dye from reaching certain parts of the fabric. The workshop will be led by Judit Németh-Hamerli, visual artist. With the participation of: Borbála Cseperke Dohnál.
Sashiko and shibori are also upcycling techniques. They are excellent examples of how we can repair damaged or torn clothes in our everyday lives, as well as give new life to garments we have grown tired of.
墨流し Suminagashi (Japanese ink marbling on water)
Suminagashi is a Japanese paper-marbling technique in which ink patterns floating on the surface of water are transferred onto rice paper placed over them (suminagashi = floating ink).
The suminagashi workshop will be led by visual artist Szabolcs Mészáros. Szabolcs graduated from the Hungarian University of Fine Arts. In addition to painting, he teaches drawing and art history at the Nándor Handler Technical School in Sopron.
和綴じ Watoji (traditional Japanese bookbinding)
Japanese bookbinding is a unique branch of traditional Japanese craftsmanship that has preserved the harmony of paper, thread and precise handwork for centuries. Workshop participants will learn classic stitching techniques and then create their own unique notebook or journal by hand. During the process, they will gain an insight into the fundamental principles of Japanese aesthetics while taking home a timeless and practical object.
書道 Shodō (the art of Japanese calligraphy)
Shodō is not only about the beauty of the characters: the rhythm of the brushstrokes, the harmony of movement and the artist’s inner expression also play an important role. Workshop leader: Anri Matsukuma
Workshops:
Doors opening: 9.30
10.00 – 13.00 Workshops / mizuhiki, okō, sashiko, shibori, suminagashi, watoji, shodō
Venue: Courtyard of Dubniczay Palace; in case of bad weather, Baroque rooms on the 1st floor
14.00 – 17.00 Workshops / mizuhiki, okō, sashiko, shibori, suminagashi, watoji, shodō
Venue: Courtyard of Dubniczay Palace; in case of bad weather, Baroque rooms on the 1st floor
11.00 – 12.00 Furoshiki workshop for children
Venue: Dubniczay Palace, Castle Gallery
15.00 – 17.30 Furoshiki workshop for adults
Venue: Dubniczay Palace, Castle Gallery
Programme:
11:00 – Exhibition opening: “My Love, Okinawa / Okinawa mi amor” – photographs by Dr Zoltán Korsós (With the participation of Takaki Ando, sanshin performer, and Nana Shimizu, Goju-Ryu karate master and performer)
Guest of honour: Tetsuya Kimura, Ambassador of Japan to Hungary
12:00 – Exhibition opening: What We Take with Us – watercolours by restorer and painter Hanna Bernát-Hinkó
13:00 – 生け花 Ikebana demonstration led by Judit Várhelyi
15:00 – 建築 Japanese Architecture – lecture by Bence Kovács
17:00 – Júlia Néma: Liquid Earth – book launch / With the participation of visual artist Júlia Néma and geographer Barnabás Korbély
Participation in the workshops and programmes is subject to capacity and is on a first-come, first-served basis.
The event can be visited with a discounted admission ticket of HUF 1,000 per person. Please note that holding an admission ticket does not automatically guarantee participation in the workshops; places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets: https://helloveb.hu/esemeny/kyoso-2026
Japanese tea, food & drink: Csillagerdő Moments, Szezam Sushi and Intercooperation Zrt. will offer a selection of culinary treats for an additional charge.
The organisers reserve the right to make changes to the programme.
The programme is realised as part of the Veszprém-Balaton European Capital of Sport Region 2026 Programme. #sportrégió2026 #mozgásban
