▶ July 3–5, 2026 [Overseas Activities] Japan Art Festival in the Republic of Malta
Republic of Malta Japan Art Festival
The Japan Art Festival was held in the Republic of Malta from July 3 to 5, 2026, at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta—a World Heritage site and the largest conference center in Europe.
The Republic of Malta is a beautiful island nation located in the Mediterranean Sea, approximately 100 kilometers south of Sicily, Italy; about half of the island is designated as a World Heritage site.
In recent years, it has enjoyed great popularity as a tourist destination within Europe. For this event, around twenty representative artists were selected from Japan to exhibit their outstanding works in Valletta, a city renowned as a World Heritage fortress.
Among the exhibits, Suzaku Ranbu (The Wild Dance of the Vermilion Bird) by Shu Arakawa was showcased as a special featured work by the Japan-Europe Palace Art Association, garnering high praise from attendees.
The exhibition featured not only leading Japanese artists but also a vocal performance by the renowned Maltese soprano Maria Costa during the ceremony. The event opened with remarks from prominent artist Joseph Barbara, followed by speeches from Yoji Yasuhiro (Representative Director of the Japan-Europe Palace Art Association), Dr. Joseph Pirotta (former diplomat and member of the Malta-Japan Association), and Ryuichiro Kobayashi (Ambassador of Japan to Malta). Suzaku Ranbu received high acclaim from Ambassador Kobayashi and representatives from the Consulate of Côte d’Ivoire, who made a special visit to the event.
On July 3rd—the third day of the event—ink wash artist Shu Arakawa, who creates art without using a brush, held a special live performance that drew a packed crowd, including many visitors from abroad. All 200 seats were filled, and the venue was so crowded that the audience extended all the way to the back of the hall. The artworks created by Arakawa during the performance are scheduled to be displayed at key locations within the Republic of Malta, such as embassies.
