Today, during the visit of Lithuania’s Acting Minister of Culture Šarūnas Birutis to Japan, a cooperation agreement was signed between the National Museum of Lithuania and the Nagoya City Museum. This event marks a new stage in strengthening Lithuania–Japan partnership in the field of culture.

“The agreement signed today is the second inter-institutional document between cultural institutions of Lithuania and Japan. It demonstrates the strength of our ties and mutual commitment. This cooperation will continue the dialogue, strengthening our partnership and helping us to get to know each other even better,” emphasized Minister Š. Birutis at the signing ceremony.

The event was attended by the Director General of the National Museum of Lithuania, Dr. Rūta Kačkutė, who, together with the Director of the Nagoya City Museum, Yoshinori Kondo, officially confirmed long-term cooperation. The city leaders of Nagoya and other distinguished guests were also present.

“I believe this cooperation agreement is a great opportunity: both to learn from Japan’s museum professionals and to share our own experience. The exhibition to be opened in 2026 at the Nagoya City Museum will allow a wider Japanese audience to discover Lithuania’s history and culture, while the creative process with international partners will enrich the National Museum of Lithuania’s team. We will broaden our horizons, deepen our knowledge, think about future projects, and strengthen cultural ties between our countries,” shared Dr. R. Kačkutė.

The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between Lithuanian and Japanese museums by promoting knowledge exchange in the field of museology through various projects, including exhibitions, academic research, preservation and management of cultural assets, and talent development. With these activities, museums seek to foster mutual progress and deepen understanding between the two nations.

Training for museum professionals in Nagoya will be part of the museum competency program Marta, coordinated by the National Museum of Lithuania. The program includes training, seminars, internships, and residencies on relevant museology topics, led by highly qualified lecturers from Lithuania and abroad. Museum specialists not only learn from the best international practices but also share their knowledge with colleagues in Lithuania upon return, thereby contributing to the growth of the entire sector.

The signed document is also significant because of the 2026 exhibition “Lithuania – Echo of Songs in the Baltic Forests” to be held at the Nagoya City Museum, which will introduce Japanese audiences to Lithuania’s history and culture. This project will be the first exhibition after the ongoing reconstruction of the Nagoya City Museum.

Cooperation between Nagoya and Lithuania, initiated by an informal group of members of the Nagoya City Council, has been actively developing since 2023. Among the most important joint projects are an exhibition of old photographs of Vilnius dedicated to the city’s 700th anniversary and an event in Nagoya showcasing Lithuanian culture.

On Friday, the minister’s agenda includes honoring the memory of diplomat Chiune Sugihara at his memorial museum and memorial site in Yaotsu, Gifu Prefecture, and participating in the official opening of the annual “Lithuania Now” festival in Gifu, which promotes Lithuanian culture in Japan. The event will feature a performance by Jievaras, the Vilnius University alumni song and dance ensemble.

On Saturday, the delegation led by Š. Birutis will take part in the official Baltic Unity Day celebration at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka.