Kathmandu – A solo photo exhibition by Japanese photojournalist Noboru Takaoka was held at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square in Kathmandu on Monday, showcasing Japan’s cultural heritage, traditional festivals and everyday life.
Organised by the National Forum of Photo Journalists Nepal (NFPJ Nepal), the exhibition was inaugurated by Kathmandu Metropolitan City Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol. 
The exhibition features Takaoka’s photographs of Yatsuo and Shinminato, two historic cities in Japan’s Toyama Prefecture, highlighting local festivals, cultural traditions, natural beauty and everyday life. It also features photographs of the Hikiyama float festival held at Hojozu Hachimangu Shrine in Imizu City, capturing one of the region’s distinctive traditional cultural celebrations.
The event attracted visitors throughout the day, coinciding with Haritalika Teej, when thousands of women and other visitors gathered at Hanuman Dhoka to celebrate the festival.
NFPJ Nepal President Pradeep Raj Onta said the exhibition would help strengthen professional and cultural relations between photojournalists of Nepal and Japan. He said NFPJ Nepal plans to organise similar exchanges with photojournalists from other Asian countries and take Nepali photography abroad.
Acting Mayor Dangol highlighted the cultural similarities between Nepal and Japan and said photographic exchanges could help promote Nepal’s art, culture, heritage and tourism internationally.
NFPJ Nepal has previously organised exhibitions featuring photographs by Bangladeshi photojournalists and an exhibition of photographs taken by Nepali photojournalists in China, continuing its efforts to expand regional photographic and cultural exchanges.
