VIDEO, PHOTO: On 2026, “IROHA” Center On...

On March 29, 2026 “IROHA” center once again celebrated Hanami. This year center celebrated Hanami in a garden full of apricot trees on Vedi, which didn’t yield to sakura in its beauty. At first the group, which comprised of 90 people, among which there were many Japanese, who have already become locals and other Japanese who have visited Armenia as tourists, set for visited the Khor Virap monastery. Details in the video. After getting to the place, everyone set on to his work. Details in the video The games were followed by the ceremony of handing the...

PHOTO:Presentation of the Activities of ...

Armenia, located in the Caucasus, is a small country with a population of about 3 million, yet it has around 250 learners of Japanese. Japanese can be studied at three universities, and a Japanese language specialist from the Japan Foundation is dispatched to Brusov State University. As a university specializing in foreign language education, it has a long history, and in September 2024, a specialized Japanese language program was newly established. In addition, the university hosts a speech contest organized by the Armenian Association of Japanese Language Teachers, and...

In the Armenian Sky the Day of the Verna...

March 20, 2021 is the day of the vernal equinox. In the Armenian sky, sunrise occurs exactly at 7:00, on the eastern side of the horizon (azimuth 90°). However, before dawn—exactly one hour before sunrise, at 6:00—at azimuth 98° and altitude +10°, the principal Alpha star of the constellation Aquarius, Sadalmelik, appears. In this era, it can be called the “Harbinger” or “Bringer of the Sun,” because it is precisely through highly accurate astronomical calculations that the beginning of the Age of Aquarius is demonstrated. Moreover, on that day and at that...

PHOTO: The Knowledge Gained in Japan is ...

We received wonderful news from Mr. HAYRAPETYAN Vardan (aka “Vard-san”), an Armenian alumnus of the JFY 2025 “Strengthening Seismic Disaster Risk Reduction Countermeasures for Critical Buildings” program. After returning to his country, Vard-san – who is a head of Department for Seismic Vulnerability Assessment Specially Important and Publicly Important Objects, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia – applied for the Mini-Grant Program for alumni of JICA programs, administered by the JICA Georgia Office, which oversees JICA projects in...

VIDEO, PHOTO: Hinamatsuri at IROHA Cente...

On March 8, 2026 at IROHA Armenian-Japanese Educational and Cultural Exchange Center there took place Hinamatsuri. Details in the video In the beginning of the event, a student of the center with the help of a slide show made beforehand told the attendees what is the Holiday of Hinamatsuri. Details in the video Then, the attendees were divided into two groups and went to two rooms, where, under the guidance of Sawada sensei Details in the video and Tomoki sensei, they prepared dolls for the Hinadana, Details in the video with which they decorated the hinadana of...

PHOTO:Reception of the Minister of State...

On March 2, Ambassador Monika Simonyan was received by Ms. Ayano Kunimitsu, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. Congratulating State Minister Kunimitsu on her reappointment, Ambassador Simonyan noted that bilateral political and economic relations between Armenia and Japan are consistently developing, and to maintain the dynamics, mutual high-level visits, as well as the proper coordination of potential, are of primary importance. State Minister Kunimitsu touched upon subjects on the agenda of bilateral cooperation, also emphasizing the importance of continuing...

VIDEO:Japanese Traditional Washi Paper a...

February 24 – March 6, 2026 (except Mondays), 11:00 – 20:00 at the NCA Gallery (13 Abovyan Str., Yerevan) Embassy of Japan in Armenia is presented an exhibition of Japanese Traditional Washi Paper and Origami. Detals in the video. Author: H....

PHOTO:Representatives of the Japanese Un...

On February 17, the IROHA Center was delighted to host representatives from the University of Tsukuba, Japan . During the meeting, the guests gave a detailed presentation on the educational programs available for international students and the exceptional opportunities the university offers. We would like to express our gratitude for their visit and for taking the time to answer all of our questions. We are confident that this meeting has inspired our members with new energy to continue their Japanese language studies even more vigorously and to strive toward pursuing an...

19 Armenian Wine Companies will Particip...

With the support of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia and the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia, 19 Armenian winemaking companies will participate with a unified pavilion at FOODEX Japan, Asia’s largest food and beverage business platform. Japan’s wine market has grown by approximately 110% over the past 10 years, while consumption has increased sixfold over the past 40 years. FOODEX Japan brings together around 3,000 companies from over 80 countries, with approximately 85,000 visitors, and plans about 1,400 B2B meetings over four days. Dates: March...

VIDEO:Demonstration of the Japanese Tea ...

On　February 20, 2026 at the Iroha Center, as framework of the “lessons related to origami and other interesting Japanese culture” Takumi  san conducted an interesting course on the topic “Japanese tea ceremony “. Details in the video Author: H....

VIDEO, PHOTO:Celebration of the 66th Bir...

On February 19, 2026, the 66th birthday of His Majesty Emperor of Japan Naruhito was celebrated at the Armenia Marriot Hotel from 18:30 to 20:30. Detals in the video. Author: H....

PHOTO:The Annual Meeting of the JICA Alu...

On February 13, the Annual Meeting of the JICA Alumni Association of Armenia was held, during which the results of the 2025 fiscal year were summarized. The participants were welcomed with opening remarks by Mr. Wakui Junji, Resident Representative of the JICA Georgia Office. Greeting remarks were also delivered by Ms. Yoko Anazawa, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Japan to the Republic of Armenia. The event brought together representatives of partner ministries and agencies, as well as alumni of JICA training programs. During the meeting, the results of two Mini...

VIDEO: Setsubun holiday – beginning of t...

On February 8, 2026 at IROHA Armenian-Japanese Educational and Cultural Exchange Center there took place the event Setsubun.　At the begining, the attendees were told about the holiday in Armenian with slide show. Details in the video Then the attendees divided in the 2 separate rooms and prepared the ehomaki with their own hands, but of course under the instruction of the teachers. Details in the videos After which together looking at the direction of that year and keeping silence, they ate the ehomaki they had prepered. Details in the video After that was the...

Japanese volume about Diana Abgar

Tokyo’s Fujiwara Shoten publishing house has released the Japanese-language work by Meline Mesropyan and Arisa Ohta, “The Diaspora Living in Japan: Diana Abgar and the Armenian Genocide.”This is the first work in Japanese about Diana Abgar (1859–1937), the Japan-based businesswoman, publicist, philanthropist, and Honorary Consul of Armenia in Japan. As Meline Mesropyan noted in her Facebook post: “In 2012, when I began this study, there was almost no scholarly literature on Diana Abgar’s life in Japan.” There were almost no articles at all, and among the few...

PHOTO:Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Taka...

On January 15, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi received Armenian Ambassador Monica Simonyan at her residence on the occasion of a meeting with female ambassadors accredited to Japan. During the meeting, views on the role of women in the international arena, their activities, leadership, and efforts aimed at promoting equal rights have been exchanged. The sides expressed a mutual interest to further continue cooperation in this format. the material is taken from Embassy of Armenia to J apan...

VIDEO, PHOTO:On the 2026 “Japanese...

On January 18, 2026 at  “IROHA” Armenian-Japanese Educational and Cultural Exchange Center there took place the event “Japanese New Year”. In the beginning of the event  the president of the center, Ruzan Khojikyan, told the participants a little about the Japanese New Year. Details in the video Next, the employees of the center hold a small quiz, which would help the participants to learn how they celebrate New Year in Japan. Details in the video After that, under the direction of center’s Okuyama Tomoki with help of and joint efforts of the attendees...

VIDEO, PHOTO: The Eleventh Anniversary o...

On December 21.12.2025 the IROHA Arnenian-Japanese Educational and Cultural Exchange Center NGO hosted the eleventh anniversary of the establishment of that NGO and New Year’s Eve celebration for 2026 at Ani Plaza Hotel. Details in the videos Author:  H....

PHOTO:Armenian-Japanese friendship in th...

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Anna Vardanyan’s book “Diana...

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VIDEO: Shodo lesson at the Iroha Center

On Օctober 16, 2025, at 18:15 p.m., Daiki San, a friend of the center, visited the Iroha center and conducted a shodo course. Details in the video. Author: H....