Japanese Music Sounded Through the University

11. 4. 2025 Author: Michal Kolmaš Metropolitan University Prague hosted a captivating Japanese cultural event featuring a live performance of traditional music and dance. The performers including some notable cultural figures from Japan such as Mayumi Ono and Eiren Nishikawa introduced the audience to the elegant and refined world of buyō dance and traditional Japanese instruments, including six kotos and a shamisen. Their performance combined grace, precision, and deep cultural symbolism, leaving a strong impression on all attendees.

Following the performance, the artists conducted an interactive workshop attended by approximately 40 students. Participants had the unique opportunity to try playing the koto, a traditional stringed instrument, under the guidance of experienced Japanese musicians. Students also learned the basic movements of buyō, experiencing firsthand the meditative and expressive qualities of this classical dance form.

The event offered an engaging and memorable experience that deepened students’ appreciation of Japanese culture and performing arts. It successfully blended artistic presentation with active participation, creating a bridge between cultures through music and movement.