Japan comes to Burgas with history, cinema, literature, EXPO and pop culture

Japan will be revealed to the Burgas audience through stories from the past, film screenings, literature, personal impressions of EXPO 2025 and the energy of contemporary pop culture.

From July 21 to 24, the Department of Japanese Studies of the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" will bring together these different points of view in four consecutive evenings at the Burgas Branch.

All events will be held at the NHK Cultural Center and are free to attend. Everyone who already loves Japan, as well as people who are just starting to discover it, are invited.

The event begins on July 21 at 6:30 p.m. with a journey through the centuries. Senior Assistant Professor Dr. Martin Dimitrov will present the topic "Introduction to Japanese History", and Senior Assistant Professor Dr. Alexander Ivanov will trace the development of the Japanese language through different historical periods. The first evening will provide a key to understanding a country where the past continues to be present in language, social relations and contemporary culture.

On July 22 at 6:30 PM, the NHK will turn into a summer cinema with a screening of “Ghost in the Shell” – the world-famous animated film by Hayao Miyazaki. The story of little Chihiro and the extraordinary world she finds herself in will be presented with a commentary by Prof. Dr. Gergana Petkova.

Prof. Petkova is among the leading Bulgarian Japanese scholars and Dean of the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology at Sofia University. For the Burgas audience, she is already a well-known interlocutor with her fascinating lectures. At her previous meetings at the Burgas Branch, the questions continued long after the official end, and the audience had a hard time parting with the topic. This time, her commentary on “Ghost in the Shell” will direct viewers to the symbols, mythological images and cultural layers in the film, which often remain unnoticed upon first viewing.

On July 23 at 6:30 PM, the program will move on to the contemporary image of Japan, from the scale of the World Expo to the philosophy of the economic model and the energy of pop culture. Desislava Petkova will share what she saw and experienced at EXPO 2025 in Japan, as well as her impressions of the Bulgarian participation. The audience will have the opportunity to look beyond the official footage and hear a personal story about the atmosphere, meetings, and ideas gathered at one of the largest international events.

Miroslav Varbanov will present the topic "Philosophical and Cultural Aspects of the Japanese Economic Model" and will look for the cultural foundations behind the way Japan organizes labor, production, and relations in society.

Anelia Ivanova will take the audience into the world of Aniventure Comic Con - the great Bulgarian meeting of fans of anime, manga, cosplay, video games, comics, and Asian culture. It's a world of impressive costumes, beloved characters, fan communities, and creativity, where Japanese pop culture leaves the pages and screen and becomes a real experience.

The final evening on July 24 at 6:30 p.m. will be dedicated to women in Japanese literature. Prof. Dr. Gergana Petkova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vyara Nikolova and doctoral student Milena Sahakyan will present female images and authorial voices in different periods and genres. The conversation will follow how literature reflects the place of women in Japanese society and how the writers themselves are changing the ideas about it.

This is another summer in which the Japanese scholars of Sofia University come to Burgas with a program open to the general public. The events accompany the traditional summer course in Japanese language and culture at the Burgas Branch and give everyone curious about Japan the opportunity to meet people who study, teach and talk about it with knowledge and passion.

The Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology continues to expand its presence in Burgas with new bachelor's programs, teaching initiatives and training opportunities. The Burgas Branch is already developing programs related to the Japanese and Chinese languages, and from the new academic year in a specialty with Korean language.

The entire program of events:

July 21 (Tue.): NHK, Branch Hall – Burgas at Sofia University

18:30 – 20:00

topic: “Introduction to Japanese History”, Senior Assistant Professor Dr. Martin Dimitrov

topic: “The Development of the Japanese Language Through the Centuries”, Senior Assistant Professor Dr. Alexander Ivanov

July 22 (Wed.): NHK, , Branch Hall – Burgas at Sofia University

18:30 – 20:30 summer cinema at NHK

“Ghost in the Shell” film by Hayao Miyazaki, with commentary by Prof. Gergana Petkova

July 23 (Thursday): NHK, , Branch Hall – Burgas at Sofia University

18:30 – 20:00

Desislava Petkova - Japan EXPO 2025 and the participation of Bulgaria

Miroslav Varbanov - presentation of MT on the topic: “Philosophical and cultural aspects of the Japanese economic model”

Anelia Ivanova - Aniventure Comic Con

July 24 (Friday): NHK, , Branch Hall – Burgas at Sofia University

18:30 – 20.00 Women in Japanese Literature, Prof. Dr. Gergana Petkova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vyara Nikolova and PhD student Milena Sahakyan.