CAMAGÜEY. — From May 20th to 24th, Camagüey will dress itself in cherry blossoms and Japanese tradition with the celebration of Hanami, the annual Japanese culture event organized by the MangaQ'ba project. This year’s edition carries special symbolism: the collective’s fifteenth anniversary.

 Carlos Oliva Rodríguez, president of the project, explained during a press conference that this year’s program is divided into two essential moments: one dedicated to the project’s origins and another focused on the community that has been built over more than a decade and a half.

The first part will take place on Thursday, May 21, at the Nuevo Mundo Audiovisual Complex, featuring a screening of Samurai Champloo, an anime with strong emotional significance for the collective. “It was the first screening and the first activity the project ever organized in its early days,” the president recalled.

 The event will continue with a panel discussion featuring special guests: Ihordan Torres, president of the Proyecto Vitruvio at the Galería Alejo Carpentier, and Sayuri Shikui, coordinator of the committee of Japanese descendants (nikkei) in Camagüey.

 “The panel focuses on the central idea of why Japan in Camagüey — why the need emerged to create a project based on Japanese culture here,” Oliva explained.

 As the highlight of the first day, a collective exhibition by two visual artists and illustrators who have collaborated with the project since its beginnings will open at 7:00 p.m. at the Mira Gallery in the House of the Young Creator.

 The featured artists are Adianys Millet Ramos, a mangaka artist with international publications who has already participated in Japanese manga competitions, and Ismel Cabrales Bolaños, also known as Iscabol, designer of MangaQ'ba event posters for more than five years.

Friday, May 22, will be dedicated to the community through the Konichiwa Expo, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Bosque Tecnológico.

 “The goal of this activity is to bring together not only communities, but also individuals,” explained Oliva. The event will feature various cultural expressions cultivated by the project over the years, including crafts, origami, traditional clothing, martial arts, cosplay, and enthusiasts of Japanese culture, video games, and board games.

 “The idea is for people who may not be directly connected to the project, but who have a specific interest in some aspect of Japanese culture or other communities, to come there and share that passion — to create a meeting space among communities,” he added.

 Later that afternoon, at 2:30 p.m. in Nuevo Mundo, an open panel titled “The Real Impact of MangaQ'ba on Society” will take place. Due to transportation difficulties and the challenges of bringing guests from other provinces, the project opted for a virtual format.

 “We asked former presidents of other projects, people who no longer live in the country, the embassy, and institutions such as JICA to send us videos talking about the project, the importance of the communities we’ve created, and the connections that exist,” Oliva explained.

 Saturday, May 23, will feature the traditional cosplay gathering, with the usual activities that bring participants together. Oliva emphasized the remarkable ability of these events to attract new audiences. “We’re always surprised by how each cosplay event brings people we’ve never seen before. Children, parents with their kids, people who grew up attending our events, and who now bring their own children.”

 The celebration will conclude on Sunday with the traditional Hanami gathering in the Japanese park, the outdoor space that gives the event its name and annually gathers lovers of Japanese culture in the city. “In simple terms, the project’s purpose is to promote values through Japanese culture. Our goal is not to become Japanese, but rather to connect with the values we admire in that nation — values we encounter not only through anime and manga, but also through more traditional elements. It’s about enriching our Cubanness and our own identity.”

After fifteen years, MangaQ'ba has consolidated itself as an intergenerational meeting space where Eastern traditions intertwine with Camagüey's identity.

Translated by Linet acuña Quilez