Asia

#OpenMonday at the Japanese Cultural Institute

JDZB’s #OpenMonday brings together art, dialogue, and cultural exchange in Berlin

April 04th, 2025
Alice Dacome, News from Berlin
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On April 7, the Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB), in collaboration with The Japan Foundation, invites visitors to an inspiring evening of cultural exchange, dialogue, and discovery as part of its #OpenMonday initiative.

At the Networking Lounge, guests can explore the pop-up exhibition "Watashi no Doitsu" ("Mein Deutschland")—a vibrant celebration of German-Japanese friendship. This annual art contest, organized by the German Embassy in Japan, invites students from Japanese primary and secondary schools to express their views of Germany through art. The exhibition will feature 125 winning pieces from the years 2007 to 2024, offering a colorful glimpse into young perspectives on intercultural connection, shared traditions, and fresh dialogue.

Meanwhile, in the Atrium, visitors can experience the ongoing exhibition "Expo Dialogues: Japan and Germany – Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow." This visual journey showcases the evolution of Expo architecture, focusing especially on German and Japanese pavilions. The exhibition features drawings, collages, and striking photographs by Thomas Schriefers, bringing decades of design and collaboration to life.

At the Info Lounge, attendees will be able to join a presentation of key insights from the recent symposium "Rethinking Tourism – Japanese and German Perspectives on Challenges, Trends, and Sustainability," which took place on March 19. The session explores forward-looking approaches to tourism, tackling themes like sustainability and global trends. A highlight will be a talk by Fritz Schumann, a German photojournalist who will share reflections from his extensive work in Japan.

With its blend of cultural tradition, creative expression, and modern dialogue, #OpenMonday at JDZB is more than just an event—it's an open invitation to strengthen the long-standing friendship between Japan and Germany.

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News from Berlin