Japanese Spring Starts in St. Petersburg - 28 March, 2003

The festival "Japanese Spring in St. Petersburg" starts in the northern capital on Friday.

A business conference "Russia-Japan: Insight into the 21st Century" will open the festival, the international cooperation centre in St. Petersburg told RIA Novosti. Russian and Japanese businessmen are to discuss cooperation in the spheres of economy, industry, high technologies, investments, science, culture, tourism, management and marketing.

Organisers of the Japanese Spring have prepared a cultural programme on the history and modern life of the Country of the Rising Sun. Fashion, ikebana and kimono shows, calligraphy master-classes and an exhibition "Articles of Japanese Culture and Life" will be held as part of the festival.

A concert of the traditional Japanese music and performances of the Miyagi Daisan choir and the Japanese Youth Theatre (Osaka) are in store for Petersburg residents.

Most festive events will be held in the Shuvalov Palace. The festival will close on May 11.