The Embassy of Japan in Pakistan in collaboration with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts and the Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association Islamabad inaugurated the painting exhibition Japan in Art at the National Art Gallery, PNCA. The opening brought together H.E. Mr. Akamatsu Shuichi, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Mr. Ayoub Jamali, Director General PNCA, and artist Mr. Jamal Shah, drawing young artists, art enthusiasts and civic figures from across Islamabad.
Japan in Art presents around 40 works by emerging Pakistani talents who reinterpret Japanese social and cultural life through diverse mediums. Visitors will find delicate brushwork, colored pencil studies and the traditional craft of woodblock printing among pieces that blend imagination with thoughtful cultural observation.
Director General Ayoub Jamali praised the exhibition as a reflection of deepening cultural exchange between the two countries and an opportunity to showcase Pakistani creativity. Ambassador Akamatsu commended the skill and imagination of the participating artists and described the exhibition as a meaningful celebration of Japan-Pakistan ties rooted in people-to-people exchange.
At the inaugural ceremony Ambassador Akamatsu presented the Ambassadorโs Commendation for 2026 to Mr. Jamal Shah, President of PJCA Islamabad, in recognition of his sustained efforts to strengthen cultural links. The Ambassador noted Mr. Shahโs role as Director of the Pakistan Pavilion at Expo 2005 Aichi, his support for Embassy events such as the Emperorโs Birthday Reception and the Japan Foundation traveling exhibition Yakishime, and his recent Remains of Ruins exhibition that highlighted the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The exhibition is open to the public from 25 March to 6 April 2026 at the National Art Gallery, PNCA, Islamabad. Galleries will be closed Friday to Sunday. Japan in Art offers Islamabad audiences a chance to engage with creative interpretations of Japanese culture and to observe how cultural diplomacy continues to foster collaboration between Pakistani artists and Japanese institutions.
