From Thursday, February 13 to Sunday, February 16, 2025, Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center (CJCC), in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Cambodia and the Japan Foundation Asia Center Phnom Penh Office, hosted the Japan-Cambodia Kizuna Festival 2025. Since its inception in 2012, this annual February event has served as a valuable platform for promoting cultural and educational exchange between Japan and Cambodia.

The opening ceremony on February 13 was honored by the presence of H.E. Atsushi Ueno, Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia; H.E. Pen Moni Makara, State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts; H.E. Samedi Sivatana, senior official of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports; and H.E. Heng Sour, Minister of Labor and Vocational Training. The ceremony featured an exhilarating on-stage collaboration between the Japanese dance troupe Shochiku Nihonbuyo Lab and a Cambodian dance ensemble.

Under this year’s theme, “The Harmony of Diversity,” the festival offered a variety of cultural experiences designed to transcend borders. Activities included an interactive session with traditional carp streamers (koinobori) and Japanese taiko drumming, demonstrations of Japanese martial arts such as karate, kendo, and aikido, as well as a vibrant fashion show incorporating Cambodia’s iconic krama scarves. In addition, visitors enjoyed live musical performances, an information session on study opportunities in Japan, and a special workshop on making fruit daifuku hosted by Chef Izawa, the official chef of the Japanese ambassador’s residence.

This year’s festival welcomed approximately 20,000 visitors from diverse backgrounds and nationalities, including students, Japanese residents in Cambodia, and international guests. Such a remarkable turnout was made possible by the generous support of our sponsoring companies, booth exhibitors, stage performers, and dedicated volunteers, to whom we extend our deepest gratitude.

Our next major annual event at CJCC will be the Tanabata Festival 2025, scheduled for Friday, July 12 to Sunday, July 14. This festival will provide a unique opportunity to experience the traditions of Tanabata, such as writing wishes on tanzaku (small strips of paper) and enjoying authentic Japanese cuisine. A variety of other engaging activities are also in the works.

We are currently welcoming sponsorship applications. If you are interested, please refer to the link below for more details, and we encourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience.

Click here for Sponsorship Information