The Bratislava University of Economics and Business hosted the Sakura Festival at EUBA on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, as part of the 4th annual Sakura and Art Festival 2026. The university participated in the festival for the first time and thus brought to light the meaning of cherry blossoms, which in Japan are a symbol of beauty, transience, and new beginnings.
The event was opened by Boris Mattoš, Vice-Rector for International Relations, who emphasized the importance of connecting cultural traditions with the university’s international activities and developing relationships with partners in Japan. The event was co-organized and moderated by Vladimír Grežo, founder of the Sakura Festival and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bratislava Cultural Hub. In his speech, he introduced the creation of the Slovak-Japanese festival and the symbolism of cherry blossoms. According to him, EUBA’s entry into the Sakura and Art Festival is a valuable moment that connects the academic environment with culture and international understanding.
The event was also attended by H.E. Yasuhiro Kawakami, Ambassador of Japan to Slovakia, who appreciated EUBA’s activities aimed at developing relations with Japan. He personally thanked EUBA’s Rector, Prof. Ferdinand Daň, for supporting and developing ties with Japan. Pavol Demeš, former Minister of International Relations of the Slovak Republic and author of the publication Slovakia and Japan: The First 30+ Years, also spoke at the event, pointing out the development of mutual relations between Slovakia and Japan.
Student experiences and Japanese poetry
The program also included a Haiku moment, during which a student from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, who is on an exchange study stay at EUBA, recited his own poem dedicated to sakura. This was followed by short interviews with EUBA students who had previously completed study stays at Tokyo International University. In the discussion, they shared their expectations before leaving and their specific experiences of life in Japan. They agreed that the stay had brought them not only new academic knowledge, but also a strong personal experience. They appreciated the approach of the local people, the organization of everyday life, and the opportunity to get to know a different culture up close.
Japanese and interactive program
An interesting element of the program was also an interactive mini-lesson in Japanese, prepared by a first-year student at the Faculty of International Relations of EUBA Serhii from Kiev. As a holder of an international certificate in Japanese, he introduced the participants to basic phrases and introduced the language in a playful way.
The accompanying program offered space for creative activities, during which participants could try origami folding, Japanese calligraphy, or view a photographic exhibition of sakura. The event culminated in an informal meeting by the sakura on the EUBA campus, where conversations continued and joint photographs were taken.
Thus, in its first year, the sakura festival at EUBA showed the potential to become a tradition that connects cultures at the university, builds friendships, and strengthens international relations.
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