At the stand of the Foundation “For Serbian People and State”, within the International Book Fair in Belgrade, the promotion was held of the bilingual edition of the comedy “Pokondirena tikva” by Jovan Sterija Popović, as one of the most beautiful examples of cultural cooperation and friendship between Serbia and Japan.
This book was published in the cooperation of the Foundation “For Serbian People and State” and the Association of Serbian-Japanese Friendship “Hanami”. Ljiljana Marković, PhD, the recipient of the high Japanese imperial decoration “Order of the Rising Sun”.
The speakers at the promotion were: Professor Ljiljana Marković, PhD, Japanologist and university professor, Atsushi Saito, Chargé d’Affaires of the Japanese Ambassy in the Republic of Serbia, Adrijana Barši, the President of the Association “Hanami”, and Natalija Jovanović, the representative of the Publication Activities Sector of the Foundation „For Serbian People and State”.
The promotion was attended by the representatives of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, professors of the University of Belgrade, professors of the University of Priština, deans of the faculties, visitors of the Book Fair and admirers of Jovan Sterija Popović’s personality and work.
In the introductory speech, it was emphasized that this publication was the result of the years-long cooperation of Serbian and Japanese cultural institutions, as well as a continuation of a number of activities realized by the Foundation and “Hanami” with the aim of bringing these two cultures closer.
The translation of “Pokondirena tikva” into Japanese is a bridge between the two nations – through humour, social satire and universal human topics elaborated by Sterija, the work was given a new life in a completely different cultural context.
“With this beautiful publication we have managed to bring Japan and Serbia closer in yet another way, through a successful experience of the modernization of these two countries in the 19th century, when both of them were preparing for a sortie to the modern era. That is one of the reasons why we have chosen exactly Sterija. Culture is a very important element in cultural diplomacy, so the Foundation and the Association “Hamani” have made a huge success with this publication in this very segment, which is also proved by the book promotion at 2025 World Expo in Osaka”, Ljiljana Marković emphasized.
The speakers emphasized that Serbia and Japan, although geographically distant, are spiritually close countries pursuing the same values – respect for tradition, aspiration towards education and deep love for culture.
This promotion was at the same time an opportunity for presenting the results of the joint work of the Foundation and the Association “Hanami”, initiated during the promotion of this book in Japan, the event dedicated to Serbian literature and culture. The continuation of this cooperation at the Book Fair in Belgrade once again confirmed the significance of cultural diplomacy and the power of literature in connecting nations.
In the following period, the Foundation will continue with the projects affirming Serbia’s cultural heritage and its international cooperation, in the spirit of mutual respect, art and friendship.
