The Embassy of Japan in Bosnia and Herzegovina has announced the Japanese Film Festival in Sarajevo, taking place from 16 to 18 January 2026, in cooperation with the Japan Foundation and Kino Meeting Point. The festival will feature three Japanese films, with free screenings and special cultural events for the public.
One of the festival highlights, ITOMICHI, centers around the traditional Japanese musical instrument Tsugaru shamisen, which plays a key role in the story and adds cultural depth to the film.
On 17 January at 16:30, a special lecture on Tsugaru shamisen will be held by Mr. Akira Tomita, Associate Professor at Hirosaki University, Japan. The lecture will be followed by the screening of ITOMICHI at 18:00. Admission to both events is free.
The festival comes ahead of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Bosnia and Herzegovina, serving as a bridge of friendship and cultural exchange between the two countries. All films will be in Japanese with English and local language subtitles.
