Official website of the President of Russia

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Question: Dmitry Anatoleyvich, you have visited two exhibitions related to Japanese culture. What are your impressions?

President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: The exhibitions were very interesting and absolutely original. They give an idea of how Japan has developed, and of how its crafts, culture and traditions have developed.

It is obvious that Japan’s particularly distinctive culture is far from static: it has changed as society has changed, from ancient times, of course, right up to the present, as evidenced by the swords that the samurai wore, the kimono, and lots of other household items that will no doubt be of interest to anyone who cares about history in general and the history of Japan in particular.

There’s something else I’d like to say: it is very good that this exhibition is taking place within the walls of the ancient Kremlin. This makes for a special sort of feeling: on the one hand, there’s the culture of Japan and, on the other, the space created by ancient Russian culture. This creates a very powerful effect. I think that everyone who visits this exhibition will enjoy it.

My thanks to our Japanese colleagues.