The Romanian Cultural Institute in Tokyo, in collaboration with the Romanian Embassy in Japan, is organizing our country’s participation in one of the largest street festivals in the Japanese capital—the Minato Kumin Matsuri. The event will take place between October 10-11, 2026, in the pedestrian area near Zojo-ji Temple and Shiba Park. The festival annually brings together over 190,000 visitors and features stands from countries with legations, embassies, cultural centres, and institutes in Tokyo's Minato ward.
The stand will be structured on two major levels: cultural and gastro-tourism.
· Musical traditions: On Saturday, October 10, between 2:35 PM and 3:30 PM, the public will attend a recital of authentic folk music from the Argeș-Muscel area. The concert will be performed by the Orchestra „Doina Argeșului", with the involvement of ICR Tokyo. The performance will be moderated by Sebastian Gheorghiu, cultural manager and musicologist.
· Lectures and gastronomic workshops: There will be a series of presentations dedicated to culinary identity and crafts, highlighting Romanian desserts (Gabriela Dumitrescu - Gaby's Cucina Cafe), the regional diversity of sarmales and dishes (Monica Nakagawa), the national wine potential (Tomoko Miura-Scutariu) and the similarities between Romanian and Japanese decorative motifs (Akiko Shimizu).
· Exhibitions with sales: Sunday, October 11, the program will be dedicated exclusively to exhibitions with sales of traditional Romanian products and selected wines.
The event is organized with the logistical support of the Romanian Embassy in Japan and the Argeș County Council, which ensures the transportation of the artists. Logistics and local promotion are provided by Minato City Hall.
About the participants
· Sebastian Gheorghiu, a music project manager for over 20 years, will introduce the artists and the songs performed and moderate the interactions between performers and the audience. His solid education in music, together with his extensive experience in the cultural field, have helped him understand and contribute to the development and promotion of the cultural-artistic environment. During the performances by the „Doina Argeșului” Ensemble, he will present and moderate the interactions with the audience.
· The one that most faithfully promotes the beauty and variety of Romanian folklore preserved so well in the Argeș region is the „Doina Argeșului” Orchestraof the „Doina Argeșului” Cultural Center. On July 1, 1955, the „Doina Argeșului” Orchestra was founded, an orchestra designed to contribute to the overall promotion of popular culture. The orchestra was born from the need to promote the folklore specific to the Argeș-Muscel area, in order to collect, take over and transmit it to the general public, lovers of authentic folk songs. They have built a good reputation through numerous tours in the country and abroad, the artists of this orchestra being the messengers of a flourishing musical folklore. Throughout the more than 7 decades of activity, several personalities have passed through the conductor's desk: George Moreanu, Alexandru Busuioc, Emil Gavriș, Emil Tănase, Florian Economu, Ionel Budișteanu, Dorel Manea, Marin Mihalcea, Cătălin Iancu and, currently, Virgil Iordache. Vocal soloists known and appreciated throughout Romania have been part of this orchestra: Maria Ciobanu, Ionela Prodan, Ion Dolănescu, Maria Dragomiroiu, Tita Bărbulescu. Renowned names of Romanian folk music have performed with this orchestra: Maria Tănase, Maria Lătărețu, Irina Loghin, Ioana Radu, Fărămiță Lambru. Currently, the „Doina Argeșului” Orchestra of the „Doina Argeșului” Center carries forward the tradition of Argeș and Romanian folk music, promoting new talents as well as authentic folk music.
