Tokyo to Host “Voices From Ukraine,” First-Ever Ukrainian Literary Festival in Japan

Tokyo will host the first Ukrainian literary festival held in Japan, Voices from Ukraine, on December 12–14.

Over the course of three days, the Japanese capital will welcome Ukrainian writers, poets, and publishers, with audiences invited to attend poetry performances, readings, presentations, discussions, and other events showcasing the contemporary Ukrainian literary voice.

Participants include Dmytro Lazutkin, Olena Herasymiuk, Tetiana Vlasova, Pavlo Matiusha, Maryana Savka, Olena Hrabb, Tamara Horikha Zernia, and Viktoriia Matiusha. The full program, curated by Daria Murakami, will be announced soon.

Viktoriia Matiusha, director of the OVO Literary Agency and the initiator of the festival, emphasized the significance of bringing Ukrainian literature to East Asia.

“For us, it is extremely important that Ukrainian literature is heard in the East—where the Ukrainian voice has remained almost unheard for many years,” said Viktoriia Matiusha, director of the OVO Literary Agency and initiator of the ‘Voices from Ukraine’ festival.

She added that the team is bringing to Tokyo the stories, experiences, and ideas that have shaped Ukraine in recent years, noting that contemporary Ukrainian authors write about war, freedom, dignity, memory, and the future—subjects she believes resonate strongly with Japanese audiences.

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Matiusha noted that the Voices from Ukraine festival is intended to build cultural bridges, introduce Ukraine to new readers, and explain who Ukrainians are and why their voices need to be heard now more than ever. She expressed confidence that the event would mark the beginning of a lasting and meaningful Ukrainian literary presence in the East.

Earlier, the installation Circularity on the Edge, a new architectural and artistic project, was featured at the Venice Biennale Architettura 2025.

Developed by spatial researcher and architect Kateryna Lopatiuk together with IT developer Herman Mitish, the work illustrates how artificial intelligence can shape Ukraine’s post-war rebuilding process, with a focus on materials and circular-economy principles.

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