Events

Have you spotted pink blossoms in your neighborhood? Spring has arrived, and cherry trees are beginning to bloom across the city. It’s time for hanami, the Japanese tradition of enjoying sakura.

Japan In CPH has created a guide to some the best places in Copenhagen to experience the cherry blossoms. From the famous sakura trees at Langelinie Park to the beautiful blossom tunnel at Bispebjerg Cemetery, there are several spots to enjoy this short but magical season. A new Cherry Blossoms / Sakura section has also been added to the Japan In CPH map, making it easier to find blossom locations around the city.

The bloom usually lasts only one to two weeks depending on the weather, so now is the perfect time for a walk, photos, or a small picnic under the pink trees.

Join Saito for a series of hands-on Japanese cooking workshops exploring classic dishes and techniques from Japanese home cooking. Across four dates, you’ll learn to prepare Washoku, Temakizushi, and Onigiri, while gaining insight into ingredients, seasonality, and practical kitchen skills. Instruction is given step by step as you cook together, making the techniques easy to recreate at home. Each workshop concludes with a relaxed shared meal—dishwashing is taken care of, so you can simply enjoy the food.

Designmuseum Danmark presents a collection of 40 woodblock prints by Katsushika Hokusai, created during Japan’s Edo period. The exhibition traces the evolution of woodblock printing from hand-coloured impressions to richly layered multi-colour works. Hokusai is best known for The Great Wave off Kanagawa, part of Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji from the 1830s – widely regarded as the golden age of Japanese woodblock printing.

Japan Modern Poster is the largest exhibition in the history of Designmuseum Danmark dedicated to Japanese graphic design. On display are more than 100 posters from the 1950s to today, highlighting how Japanese designers have shaped visual culture through typography, photography, illustration, and bold conceptual ideas. The exhibition traces Japan’s post-war optimism, rapid modernization, and contemporary design language—revealing a unique balance between tradition, experimentation, and visual precision.

The Japanese Café at the University of Copenhagen is an open and welcoming social space for anyone interested in Japan—whether you study Japanese, are from Japan, love Japanese culture, or simply want to meet new people. Held at South Campus KUA2, the café offers a relaxed afternoon with tea, board games, language exchange, and plenty of good vibes. It’s a great place to make friends across borders, practice Japanese (or other languages), or just hang out in an informal, friendly setting. No registration needed—just drop by and join the conversation.

Paris’ perhaps most hyped restaurant, AT, visits The Pagoda in the Japanese Tower at Tivoli. Chef Atsushi Tanaka blends Japanese precision with French haute cuisine in a poetic, boundary-pushing tasting menu where single ingredients unfold across multiple textures and temperatures. Expect elegant, surprising dishes balancing sweetness, smoke, freshness, and deep umami. Don’t miss this rare chance to experience one of Paris’ most talked-about Japanese chefs in Copenhagen.

Japanese master architect Kengo Kuma and his studio KKAA present Earth | Tree, a site-specific architectural installation at Copenhagen Contemporary. Inspired by the Japanese concept komorebi (sunlight through leaves), the immersive work invites visitors into a poetic space exploring natural materials, light and form. The installation combines Japanese and Nordic sensibilities with wood and brick, and includes a hands-on workshop zone where visitors can experiment with architectural materials and creative processes. The project is part of CC’s educational CCreate series and encourages playful engagement with architectural ideas.

The quietly heartbreaking adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s debut novel A Pale View of Hills arrives at Gloria. Directed by Kei Ishikawa, the film unfolds across two timelines – post-war Nagasaki in the 1950s and England in the 1980s – exploring memory, loss, and the lingering impact of war through a deeply personal story.

Beautifully shot and emotionally restrained, the film reflects Ishiguro’s signature themes of recollection and unresolved pasts, brought to life with a Japanese–British perspective and performed in both Japanese and English.

Deepen your ceramics practice with this six-week evening Japanese wheel throwing course at Yonobi Studio. Taught by ceramicist Daito Takefusa, the class explores traditional Japanese methods such as spiral wedging, throwing off the hump, and working with classic trimming tools like Shippiki and Nameshi leather. Each weekly session (approx. 3.5 hours) builds skills in form, decoration, and glazing, all with materials, firing, and refreshments included. Finished pieces will be ready for collection a few weeks after the course ends.

A full day of manga drawing for kids aged 9 and up at FOF København, on two separate dates. At the Manga Marathon, participants create characters, comics, and their own visual worlds – guided by illustrator Louis Kønig-Wheatley, who has extensive experience with drawing, visual storytelling, and teaching young creatives. He introduces the fundamentals of manga, including character design, storytelling, and core techniques, while encouraging each participant to develop their own unique style and ideas.

Is Japan too rooted in tradition to face the future? This talk at Gladsaxe Main Library explores how Japan balances centuries-old cultural values with rapid technological development and global political change. Journalist Malene Jensen shares insights into Japan’s current political and social landscape, offering perspective on a country often seen as both ultra-modern and deeply traditional. The talk is in Danish.

The event is part of “Konnichiwa Gladsaxe” a month of activities exploring Japanese culture and literature at the library.

Take a A Whisky Journey Through Japan with an exclusive tasting event at Juul’s Vin & Spiritus. Guided by whisky expert Carl Secher – who has visited more than 30 distilleries – this evening offers a rare chance to explore the depth and craftsmanship of Japan’s whisky culture. Participants will taste a curated lineup from some of Japan’s most renowned distilleries, including expressions from Mars, Chichibu, Nikka, and Akkeshi. The tasting is held in Danish and also gives guests the opportunity to purchase bottles at special prices.

Japanese rock band ONE OK ROCK hits the big screen as ATLAS Biograferne shows their massive Detox Japan Tour 2025 concert from Nissan Stadium. Known for their explosive live shows and global fanbase, the band delivers a high-energy performance blending rock, alternative, and emotional anthems. Experience the scale, energy, and raw power of one of Japan’s biggest rock acts in a cinematic setting – perfect for fans who want to feel the concert up close.

Join an exclusive evening of Japanese whisky at Luke’s Bar, featuring a guided tasting led by Joakim Wallén, Nordic Brand Ambassador for Suntory Whisky. The night begins with a refreshing Toki Highball before moving through a curated selection of some of Suntory’s most celebrated whiskies. The line-up includes Hibiki Harmony, the award-winning Hibiki 21 Years, Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve, and Yamazaki 12 Years – offering a journey through balance, depth, and craftsmanship. Expect insights into the history and philosophy behind one of Japan’s most iconic whisky producers.

Cinemateket screens Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s award-winning anthology Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (2021), a triptych of stories exploring coincidence, relationships, and the subtle shifts of fate.

The film unfolds in three loosely connected episodes: a love triangle where emotions and intentions quietly collide, a tense and seductive attempt at manipulation that spirals in unexpected ways, and a final encounter shaped by mistaken identity in a near-future touched by technological disruption.

The film won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival and is shown in original Japanese with English subtitles.