Museum of Ethnography
H-1146, Budapest, Dózsa György út 35.
Phone: +36 1 474 2100
Email: info@neprajz.hu
On May 9, 2026, the Museum of Ethnography will host a full day of events in connection with the Manga – Hokusai – Manga exhibition—a day when manga will not only be read but also experienced. The journey leads from Hokusai’s drawings to contemporary manga, but much more happens along the way: characters, stories, images, rhythms, flavors, battles, and experiences come together in a single space.
Kamishibai Paper Theater – Momotaro, the Peach Boy
Kamishibai is a traditional Japanese storytelling technique originally used by Buddhist monks and later by street performers. What makes it unique is that the story is presented using illustrated cards displayed within a wooden frame. The storyteller captures the audience’s attention by switching the cards. The performance will be in Japanese with Hungarian interpretation.
Performers: Anri Matsukuma, Japanese language instructor (Japan Foundation), Dr. Judit Vihar, literary scholar (Hungarian-Japanese Friendship Society, Károli Gáspár Reformed University)
Momotaro, the Peach Boy, is one of the most famous folk heroes in Japanese folklore. An elderly couple finds the little boy inside a giant peach, and when he grows up, he decides to defeat the demons living on a nearby island.
Kamishibai Paper Theater – The Statues with Umbrella-hats
The Statues with Umbrella-hats is a well-known Japanese folk tale whose main characters are the magical Buddhist Jizo statues that protect children, travelers, and those in distress.
The guided tour offers an introduction to the richness of Hungarian traditions and folk art through the museum’s collection exhibition. Instead of focusing on outstanding masterpieces, the tour highlights cultural heritage as it appears in furniture, costumes, and handcrafted objects. Visitors encounter Matyó embroidery, Székely attire, painted peasant furniture, and the diversity of folk art forms, while gaining insight into their social and cultural contexts. Meeting point: Central information desk (-2 level)
Children’s Day Workshop: Making Koinobori (Carp kites)
The koinobori, or carp kites, are the most important symbol of Japan’s Children’s Day, celebrated on May 5. This traditional decoration represents the courage and determination of carp swimming against the current, and according to tradition, it brings health and success to children. During the workshop, the children will work together to make the carp out of colorful paper.
The workshop will be led by Japanese language instructor Anri Matsukuma (Japan Foundation) with Hungarian interpretation.
Mizuhiki Workshop – Japanese Cord-Tying Workshop with Mizuhiki Master Craftsman Kuwana Kazue
Mizuhiki is part of traditional Japanese culture and has existed for nearly 1,400 years. Mizuhiki is a traditional Japanese decorative cord made from paper twisted in a unique way. It is often used for gift wrapping, decorating envelopes, and as decoration for festive occasions—such as weddings or New Year’s celebrations. Mizuhiki is not only beautiful but also meaningful: the shape of the various knots and the way they are tied symbolize luck, relationships, respect, or good wishes. The beauty and delicacy of the curved threads in the art of mizuhiki are uniquely Japanese. During the workshop, you’ll learn the basic techniques and create your own unique decorations. We’ll make keychains, bookmarks, earrings, and necklace pendants.
The workshop will be led in Japanese and Hungarian! English instructions upon request!
Taiko Drum Concert and Guided Group Drumming Session with the Dobolda Taiko Association
Dobolda Taiko is a Budapest-based taiko drum ensemble and drum school founded in 2013 by musician and drum instructor Tamás Varga, who has been practicing Japanese drumming since 2002. The group’s current members have been playing together since 2017–2018, dedicated to representing the tradition and communal experience of taiko drumming. In addition to classic, traditional rhythms, we also perform original pieces at our concerts. After the concert, you’ll have the opportunity to get acquainted with Japanese drums and participate in a guided group drumming session.
Japanese Martial Arts Demonstration – with the Kagami-ryū Martial Arts Association
Kagami-ryū is an armed martial art that honors Japanese samurai traditions and values; “kagami” means mirror or role model, while “ryū” means school, making it the School of the Mirror. In addition to unarmed, realistic self-defense, you can also learn about various Far Eastern weapons (nunchaku, sai, and tonfa) as well as the katana-style samurai sword.
Concert by the Szakura Ensemble
The Budapest-based Szakura Ensemble performs Japanese melodies on traditional Japanese instruments. Through their artistic and educational activities, they aim to strengthen cultural ties between Hungary and Japan by introducing Japanese music to as wide an audience as possible. In Budapest, they have performed at venues such as the House of Music Hungary and the Museum of Ethnography, and they are also welcome guests in provincial cities such as Gyula, Békéscsaba, Keszthely, Debrecen, and Veszprém.
Members:
Sakai Keiko, vocals – soprano Iwase Tohko, flute, shinobue Görbe Károly, Tsugaru-jamisen Kuwana Kazue, oboe, koto, shinobue, composition, arrangement Farkas Yuki, piano, composition
Kokeshi Doll Exhibition
The contemporary kokeshi exhibition at MÉTA Space, open all day, features the works of Réka Tóth-Vásárhelyi, a representative of the modern school of kokeshi doll-making.
Réka Tóth-Vásárhelyi (artist name: Renka) is a Hungarian applied artist, art teacher, and internationally renowned kokeshi doll maker. In 2015, she was the first foreign recipient of an award at the Japan National Kokeshi Competition held in the city of Siroi, and in 2016, she became the first foreign winner of the competition’s grand prize.
In 2015, she became the first foreigner to compete in the 57th Japan National Kokeshi Competition, and received the Governor of Miyagi Prefecture’s Award for her doll named Kaguya-hime. In 2016, at the 58th Japan National Kokeshi Competition, she competed as the sole foreign entrant for the second time and won the Grand Prize in the Creative Category—the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award—for her work titled “Dress-Up Kokeshi with Wardrobe.”
In the creative kokeshi category, she began to find her own style and developed her signature technique. She uses high-gloss lacquer, which makes her dolls much shinier than typical kokeshi. She paints meticulously and delicately detailed patterns, and each doll’s face is unique. From the functional characteristics (a children’s toy that reflects both the religious beliefs of Japanese culture and its status as a souvenir), she retained its suitability as a gift item; from the formal characteristics (traditional and free forms), she retained creativity and shaped it according to her own taste and capabilities.
One of her two prominent themes is the depiction of Hungarian folk costumes on wooden dolls. So far, she has painted the costumes of 54 regions, but there are still quite a few left; she hopes to illustrate a book with them in the future. Her goal is to integrate tradition into today’s modern environment and way of life. Her other theme is the depiction of women’s destinies, which, beyond mere charm, aims to reveal the true face of the soul, along with all the pain it has borne and gathered.
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We reserve the right to alter the program.