Cultural relations between Hungary and Japan are basically determined by the fact that Japan is the main consumer of Hungarian cultural and art products and productions in the region. Concerning cultural exchange, cooperation between the two countries is excellent. Contacts are regular between leaders of governmental and civil organizations in fields of education and culture.

Exchange programs between the two countries are realized mainly on market basis via impresarios. Classical music - including opera and operetta -, folkdance, folk music and gipsy music are the traditionally well-known and popular spheres of the Hungarian culture heritage among the Japanese. Besides, Hungarian representatives of other forms of art such as movie, modern dance, theater, sculpture, painting, graphic arts and literature are also present with their works in Japan on a regular basis.

It is noteworthy that the Japan Foundation, the most important institution of Japanese cultural diplomacy has been operating its Budapest Office - the only representative of the 15-member Japanese overseas cultural network in the Central and Eastern European region - since 1992. The office, which organizes Japanese cultural and educational programs throughout the Central and Eastern European region, offers wide-ranging scholarship opportunities for Hungarian artists, teachers and researchers.


Educational possibilities

The number of primary and secondary schools in Japan is more than 40 thousand. 508 colleges and 709 universities take part in higher education. Over 3 million students study in academic education in all including around 100 thousand foreign students. The most frequented universities among foreign students are the University of Tokyo, Waseda University, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Josai International University, Kyoto University and Nagoya University.

Hungarian university students can participate in Japanese academic education in the framework of exchange programs based on intergovernmental agreement. The Hungarian Scholarship Board and the scholarship branch of Mombukagakusho (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) can offer information on the reciprocally provided scholarship programs.