Japan-Scotland Community Cultural Festival 2026 by JETAA Scotland
2026/7/18
Between Saturday 18th – Sunday 19th July, the Japan-Scotland Community Cultural Festival 2026, organised by the JET Alumni Association Scotland (JETAA Scotland), was held at Easterbrook Hall, The Crichton in Dumfries.
The festival officially opened on Saturday 18th July, with welcoming remarks from Katsutoshi Takeda, Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh, Dr Fiona Armstrong (Lady MacGregor of MacGregor), Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfries; Dr Joseph Morrow, The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms; and Major Charles Milroy, Deputy Lieutenant of Dumfries.
The festival officially opened on Saturday 18th July, with welcoming remarks from Katsutoshi Takeda, Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh, Dr Fiona Armstrong (Lady MacGregor of MacGregor), Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfries; Dr Joseph Morrow, The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms; and Major Charles Milroy, Deputy Lieutenant of Dumfries.
Over the course of the weekend, a wide variety of programmes showcased Japanese culture and its connections with Scotland. These included talks comparing Scottish heraldry and Japanese family crests (kamon), as well as presentations on Japanese literature, traditional performing arts, Isabella Bird, Japanese whisky, the Shinkansen, and symbolism in Japanese culture.
Visitors also enjoyed an ikebana demonstration, Japanese dance performances and workshops, a cosplay competition, exhibitions of bonsai and kanji-themed LEGO creations and realistic food replicas, calligraphy and origami experience booths, and opportunities to try on yukata and happi. This was all made possible thanks to the support of numerous volunteers.
Visitors also enjoyed an ikebana demonstration, Japanese dance performances and workshops, a cosplay competition, exhibitions of bonsai and kanji-themed LEGO creations and realistic food replicas, calligraphy and origami experience booths, and opportunities to try on yukata and happi. This was all made possible thanks to the support of numerous volunteers.
This year's festival also featured collaboration with the Dumfries Museum, where a new Japan Corner has been established.
The Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh co-organised and supported the event by providing cultural displays and hands-on experience booths using cultural items, as well as a number of talks and workshops. Zeljka Letica, Chair of JETAA Scotland, also gave a presentation introducing her experiences as a participant in the JET Programme.
The Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh co-organised and supported the event by providing cultural displays and hands-on experience booths using cultural items, as well as a number of talks and workshops. Zeljka Letica, Chair of JETAA Scotland, also gave a presentation introducing her experiences as a participant in the JET Programme.
In addition, under the theme of "Celebrating the Marine Environment," the festival included exhibits on community-led marine conservation initiatives and art works highlighting a Japan-Scotland seaweed project.
The festival attracted many local residents, with visitors expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to experience Japanese culture in Dumfries. One attendee commented that, as opportunities to encounter Japanese culture are usually limited in the area, hosting the festival in Dumfries provided a particularly valuable experience for the local community.
The festival attracted many local residents, with visitors expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to experience Japanese culture in Dumfries. One attendee commented that, as opportunities to encounter Japanese culture are usually limited in the area, hosting the festival in Dumfries provided a particularly valuable experience for the local community.
The JET Programme (Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme) was established in 1987 to promote internationalisation at the grassroots level by inviting young people from overseas to Japan to support foreign language education and international exchange. The programme marked its 40th anniversary this year.
Further information about the JET Programme is available at: http://jetprogramme.org/en/about-jet/
Further information about the JET Programme is available at: http://jetprogramme.org/en/about-jet/