Politics / Japan
Ukrainian Literature Festival in Japan
The Himawari Ukrainian support center in Shibuya, Tokyo, hosted the first Ukrainian literature festival in Japan from December 12 to 14, 2025. Organized by Darya Murakami and Victoria Matusha, the event brought together various Ukrainian writers and musicians, supported by a grant from the International Renaissance Foundation. This festival aimed to promote Ukrainian literature among Japanese audiences and strengthen cultural ties.
Source material: Voices from Ukraine: Ukrainian poets visit Japan for the first-ever-festival: Hope through poetry
Summary
The Himawari Ukrainian support center in Shibuya, Tokyo, hosted the first Ukrainian literature festival in Japan from December 12 to 14, 2025. Organized by Darya Murakami and Victoria Matusha, the event brought together various Ukrainian writers and musicians, supported by a grant from the International Renaissance Foundation. This festival aimed to promote Ukrainian literature among Japanese audiences and strengthen cultural ties.
Teteana Vlasova showcased her poetry collection 'Freedom,' which serves as a personal wartime diary reflecting the experiences of Ukrainians since the full-scale invasion. Mariana Savka presented her book 'Forever Tender,' emphasizing resilience and the value of human life, resonating particularly with Japanese culture. Both poets highlighted the emotional weight of their works during performances.
Mariana Savka incorporated singing into her poetry performances, creating an intimate atmosphere that deepened audience connections. Pavlo Matiyusha read war-themed poetry and shared his book 'Paris, Spleen,' which reflects his experiences before the conflict. The festival featured a blend of poetry and music, enhancing the emotional impact of the narratives presented.
Pavlo Matiyusha discussed the emotional toll of war and the importance of sharing Ukrainian narratives with the world. He emphasized that literature provides a voice to lived experiences, contrasting with the often detached nature of news reporting. The festival aimed to reveal the human reality behind the headlines, fostering understanding and empathy.
Perspectives
Ukrainian poets share their experiences and emotions through literature at a festival in Japan.
Ukrainian Poets
- Showcase personal wartime experiences through poetry
- Highlight resilience and the emotional impact of war
- Emphasize the importance of sharing Ukrainian narratives
- Create intimate connections with the audience through performances
- Use literature to convey lived experiences beyond news reporting
Japanese Audience
- Engage with Ukrainian culture through literature
- Experience the emotional weight of war-themed poetry
- Understand the complexities of Ukrainian narratives
- Appreciate the cultural exchange facilitated by the festival
- Recognize the significance of human emotions in storytelling
Neutral / Shared
- Festival aimed to promote Ukrainian literature in Japan
- Supported by a grant from the International Renaissance Foundation
- Featured a blend of poetry and music to enhance emotional impact
Metrics
event
three-day event days
duration of the festival
The length of the event indicates its significance and the level of engagement it aimed to achieve.
A special three-day event took place in this small library from December 12th to 14th of 2025.
participants
several Ukrainian writers
number of writers invited to the festival
The inclusion of multiple writers enhances the diversity of perspectives shared at the festival.
making it possible not only to invite a single writer, but several.
performers
two musicians
number of musicians accompanying the poets
Musical performances added depth to the literary event, enriching the cultural experience.
the poets were accompanied by two musicians.
publication_date
May 2025
Teteana Vlasova's poetry collection
The publication date highlights the recency of the work amidst ongoing conflict.
Teteana showcased her second poetry collection, Freedom, published in May 2025.
publication_date
2024
Mariana Savka's poetry collection
The publication year indicates the work's relevance to recent historical events.
Mariana Savka featured her book Forever Tender, published in 2024.
publication_year
2019 year
publication year of Pavlo Matiyusha's book
It provides context for the author's experiences leading up to the conflict.
Published in 2019, the book reflects the author's French period and a life-shaped by pre-war experience.
Key entities
Timeline highlights
00:00–05:00
The Himawari Ukrainian support center in Shibuya, Tokyo, hosts one of the city's two public Ukrainian mini-libraries and was the venue for the first Ukrainian literature festival in Japan from December 12 to 14, 2025. The festival, organized by Darya Murakami and Victoria Matusha, featured various Ukrainian writers and musicians, supported by a grant from the International Renaissance Foundation.
- In Shibuya, Tokyo, the Himawari Ukrainian support center houses one of the two public Ukrainian mini-libraries in the city, which is part of the Ukrainian Book Club, Literary Evenings in Tokyo. The first Ukrainian literature festival, Voices from Ukraine, took place from December 12 to 14, 2025, bringing together novelists, poets, translators, readers, and musicians from the Ukrainian diaspora in Japan
- Darya Murakami and Victoria Matusha played crucial roles in organizing the festival, with Darya actively supporting Ukrainian refugees and promoting Ukrainian literature in Japan since the onset of the war. The festival was made possible through a grant from the International Renaissance Foundation, allowing the organizers to invite multiple Ukrainian writers instead of just one
- During the event, poets Teteana Vlasova, Mariana Savka, and Pavlo Matusha shared their unique creative voices, with Pavlo drawing from his direct military experience in the armed forces of Ukraine. The evening included musical performances based on works by Ukrainian composer Victor Recallo, featuring musicians who are evacuated Ukrainians living in Japan since the full-scale invasion
05:00–10:00
Teteana Vlasova presented her poetry collection 'Freedom,' published in May 2025, which serves as a personal wartime diary. Mariana Savka's book 'Forever Tender,' published in 2024, reflects resilience and resonates with Japanese culture through its themes of strength and tenderness.
- Teteana Vlasova showcased her second poetry collection, Freedom, published in May 2025. The book serves as both a chronicle of the present and a deeply personal wartime diary, reflecting her experiences during the ongoing conflict
- Mariana Savka presented her book Forever Tender, published in 2024, which spans two challenging years from August 2021 to August 2023. Her poems reflect resilience and the value of human life, resonating well with Japanese culture due to its themes of strength and tenderness
10:00–15:00
Mariana Savka's poetry incorporates cranes as symbols of strength and tenderness, resonating with both Japanese and Ukrainian cultures. Pavlo Matiyusha read war-themed poetry and showcased his book 'Paris, Spleen,' published in 2019, reflecting his experiences before the conflict.
- Mariana Savkas poems reference cranes, symbolizing strength and tenderness in both Japanese and Ukrainian cultures. She often incorporates singing into her performances, creating an intimate atmosphere that deepens emotional connections with the audience
- During the festival, Mariana performed several poems in song, enhancing their emotional impact and engaging the audience on a personal level
- Pavlo Matiyusha read war-themed poetry alongside his pre-war collection, Paris, Spleen, and included combat poetry by Dmitro Lazutkin, who could not attend due to military service
- Matiyusha expressed a desire for the festivals atmosphere to resonate deeply, despite being 10,000 km away from Ukraine, highlighting the emotional weight of being away from home
- He showcased his book, Paris, Spleen, published in 2019, which reflects his experiences during his French period and offers insights into life before the conflict
15:00–20:00
Pavlo Matiyusha and Mariana Savka highlighted the emotional toll of war and the importance of sharing Ukrainian narratives. The festival serves as a platform for literature to convey lived experiences, contrasting with the often detached nature of news reporting.
- Pavlo Matiyusha shared that his experience during the war has been both emotional and unbearable, highlighting the stark contrast between moments of happiness and the harsh realities of life. He expressed a deep fear that accompanies the experience of war, describing it as an overwhelming darkness that leads to feelings of helplessness
- The importance of sharing Ukrainian voices about the war was underscored by Pavlo, who stated that the world needs to know their fate and truth. He emphasized the strength found in their collective memory and the significance of their presence at the festival
- Mariana Savka echoed Pavlos sentiments, noting that war transforms not only daily life but also peoples perspectives and values. She highlighted that while some things may lose their meaning, human emotions remain constant
- The festival serves a crucial purpose by providing a platform for literature to convey lived experiences, contrasting with news that often presents facts devoid of context and emotion. Tatiana Vlasova emphasized that this human connection is central to the event