A celebration of Japanese culture, traditions and artistic heritage brought a glimpse of Japan to Karachi as the Consulate-General of Japan hosted "Japan Festival (Japan Fest) 2026" at Beach Luxury Hotel on Friday. Organised in collaboration with the Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association, Sindh (PJCA) and the Pakistan-Japan Business Forum (PJBF), the festival featured a range of cultural activities and performances aimed at promoting friendship and mutual understanding between Pakistan and Japan. Addressing the gathering, Consul General of Japan Hattori Masaru highlighted the importance of cultural exchange in bringing people from both countries closer. He said Japan Fest had evolved into a meaningful platform for introducing Japanese culture to the local community and strengthening bilateral friendship. Sindh Governor Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi, who attended the event as the chief guest, described the festival as a vibrant and beautiful evening. He thanked the Japanese Consulate for providing Karachi's youth with an opportunity to experience Japanese culture and encouraged them to look beyond Japan's technological advancements and anime. He urged young people to learn from Japan's nation-building journey and draw inspiration from its development and progress. The festival offered visitors a variety of cultural attractions, including a cosplay competition, traditional Bon Odori dance performances and an appearance by Japanese dance group Atsushi Crew. Visitors also explored traditional Japanese art forms through Ikebana (flower arrangement), Bonsai displays and Origami, while fun games and interactive activities added to the festive atmosphere. The event provided an opportunity for Karachi residents, particularly young people, to experience different aspects of Japanese culture and traditions under one roof. The Consulate-General of Japan thanked its partners, participants and attendees for contributing to the festival and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cultural ties and friendship between Japan and Pakistan. Japanese culture has changed greatly over the millennia, from the country's prehistoric J?mon period, to its contemporary modern culture, which absorbs influences from Asia and other regions of the world. Since the Jomon period, ancestral groups like the Yayoi and Kofun, who arrived to Japan from Korea and China, respectively, have shaped Japanese culture. Rice cultivation and centralized leadership were introduced by these groups, shaping Japanese culture. Chinese dynasties, particularly the Tang dynasty, have influenced Japanese culture throughout history and brought it into the Sinosphere.