Cambodia Festival in Tokyo Marks 10th Anniversary, Strengthening Bilateral Ties

PHNOM PENH, May 7, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia Festival 2026 concluded in Tokyo after drawing tens of thousands of visitors and celebrating a decade of cultural exchange and growing diplomatic ties between Cambodia and Japan, officials said Monday.

Held May 3–4 at Yoyogi Park Event Square, the annual festival has become Japan’s largest Cambodian cultural event, serving as a platform for promoting mutual understanding, people to people connectivity and closer cooperation.

The opening ceremony was attended by senior Japanese officials, including Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Shimada Tomoaki and Hisayuki Fujii, Secretary General of the Japan Cambodia Friendship Parliamentary League, alongside ambassadors, diplomats and private sector representatives.

Cambodia’s Ambassador Designate to Japan Chum Sounry described the festival as a symbol of enduring friendship, noting its role in strengthening relations under the Cambodia Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He said the event also contributes to economic diplomacy by promoting tourism, trade and investment opportunities.

The two day program featured traditional Khmer performances, contemporary shows by Cambodian and Japanese artists, and more than 90 booths showcasing cuisine, handicrafts, agricultural products and tourism destinations. A highlight was the promotion of the “Krama,” Cambodia’s traditional scarf recently inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

The festival continues to serve as a bridge connecting the peoples of both nations and a symbol of their enduring partnership.